Meet Connie Hearne, the owner of “Fibre of My Being” a small business based in Adelaide, SA.
Connie sells fibre craft supplies like yarn for knitting and crochet, sashiko (a Japanese embroidery style), hand sewing, mending kits, and needle point items. She sells her products online and at artisan markets.
The business coaching. My business coach, Leigh has helped me every step of the way. He’s full of great ideas and even came to my market stalls to give tips. I don’t think I could have started without him – Connie Hearne
Read more about Connie’s business journey so far:
Connie’s Business
I started my business in October 2024. It’s called Fibre of My Being. I sell fibre craft supplies like yarn for knitting and crochet, sashiko (a Japanese embroidery style), hand sewing, mending kits, and needle point items. I sell online and sometimes at local markets.
What were you doing before you made contact with Many Rivers? Why did you want to go into business?
I was a stay-at-home mum and doing crafts for fun.
Working with Many Rivers
Who referred you to Many Rivers?
I found out about Many Rivers through ads on Facebook.
Why did you want to go into business?
I love knitting and crafts. It was hard to find the right supplies, so I thought it would be a good idea to sell them myself. Since I’m a stay-at-home mum, having an online business works really well for me.
What services did you receive from Many Rivers? How did it help?
Many Rivers helped me turn my idea into a real business plan. Leigh, my business coach, has been amazing. He listens, gives advice, and helps me fix problems. We have monthly meetings, and he’s always there when I need support.
What did you find the most useful about the assistance from Many Rivers?
The business coaching. My business coach, Leigh has helped me every step of the way. He’s full of great ideas and even came to my market stalls to give tips. I don’t think I could have started without him.
Did you get a loan from MR? How did you use the loan?
Yes, I used the loan to buy stock for my shop.
Do you have any current employees? If so, how many employees? Are they full-time or part-time?
It’s just me on my own.
Biggest Challenge
I think my biggest challenge is being impatient. I wanted things to grow quickly, but I’ve learned that small businesses take time.
Biggest Success
My first week in business was very exciting—I got lots of orders. I also had a great experience at one of the markets, meeting people and learning about their crafts. I posted every day on Facebook before my website launch and also ran a Facebook ad to promote it. I built my website on Squarespace using a student discount.
Biggest Change
I have better work-life balance. I can be home with my family and plan to home school my daughter. The business fits well with that.
Future Goals
Next, I want to run workshops. Business has slowed down a bit, so I’m trying to build momentum again. I want to grow and teach people how to fix things instead of throwing them away.
Thank you Connie for sharing your business journey with us. We wish you the best of luck with future endeavours and business success.
If you would like to stay updated with Connie’s small business, follow “Fibre of My Being ” through the following links:
We love to encourage people to take the first step towards kick-starting their small business ideas. Do you have a business idea?
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