This weekend is San Francisco Gay Pride - how are you celebrating?
Check out some amazing Pride-themed goods from our local SF artists, and be Prideful all year long!
Comments
Happy Pride everyone! To learn more about this weekend's activities, please visit the official site of SF Pride at http://www.sfpride.org/
Thank you to everyone who came out last Friday! This upcoming Friday's pop-up in UN Plaza is cancelled for Pride. Enjoy a safe weekend, and we'll see you the following Friday!
Kyla O'Neill of IMPRESSED by nature discusses her experience with Kiva and offers tips to others considering applying for a Kiva loan. Taking the leap to invest in your small business is something a lot of us in the SF Etsy community struggle with, so I wanted to talk to a maker who has gone through the entire process of getting a Kiva interest-free loan, from application through repayment. Some of you may know Kyla O'Neill from our SF Etsy shows. For the past eight years, Kyla has been creating gorgeous jewelry from pressed flowers, under the business name IMPRESSED by nature. In this interview, we talk to Kyla about why she decided to apply for a Kiva loan and what she learned from the process. - Kaelen Van Cura, SF Etsy's Kiva Maven, and owner of Darling Marcelle What was your main motivation for applying for a Kiva loan? I started looking into external funding because I wanted to grow my business. In order to scale up, I knew I needed to streamline my production process and take some of the work off my plate. I felt that raising some capital would give me the freedom to expand my business and still have the money to support myself (my business is my main source of income). Initially, I explored traditional forms of funding, like bank loans, but they required annual revenue levels that I didn't have yet. I was pretty disappointed, but a chat with [SF Etsy Co-Captain] Rebecca Saylor quickly sparked new hope. She was confident that a Kiva loan would be a great fit for what I needed--and she was right! Were you able to accomplish the goals you had with your loan? Yes, I was able to accomplish my goals! I raised $10,000 and set out to use half of it for hiring production help and streamlining my process, a quarter of it for marketing, and a quarter of it to pay off business debt. When my loan was first funded, I spent the first quarter to help pay down business debt that I accrued from doing a number of expensive out-of-town wholesale trade shows. The shows were a successful way to launch my business into the wholesale world, which has created a solid foundation for my entire business to stand on. They are, however, very expensive and hard to keep up with, as many shows require commitment for the next show soon after the previous show ends, so much of my profit from the show went to paying for my next booth fee - it's a difficult cycle to get ahead of. The Kiva loan helped me make a dent in these debts, which were quickly accruing interest, unlike my Kiva loan! The second quarter of the loan was used to fund marketing efforts to continue growing my wholesale business and increase exposure to my wedding offerings. For the latter, I worked with a marketing consultant to pitch my story to blogs and magazines in order to attract more wedding customers to my bouquet preservation package, and I was featured in a few publications! The largest chunk of my loan I used gradually to hire ongoing production help. This was something I wanted to do for awhile but never had the extra funds to make it happen. Having the money set aside for this purpose allowed me to dedicate time to examine my process and see where I really needed the help. And once I hired help, not only did I have more inventory in the end, but it also freed me up to focus on other aspects of my business. What was the hardest part of the whole process between application and repayment? I have to say that the whole process was very straightforward and smooth. The hardest part was probably deciding that I was going to do it. I had a mental block about it at first. I was worried that I wouldn't get the support I needed to fund the loan. Rebecca [Saylor] was really encouraging, and I'm so glad because I was fully funded in just over a week. It was so easy with the support of the SFEtsy Team and the Kiva community! Before your loan is live, create a game plan. Mine included drafting an email template to my personal network and another one to my business network. Once the private round was live, I shared it out to my networks and then kept updating them with my progress. I also added my loan link to my email signature and shared it out on social media a number of times. Is there anything you wish you had known before applying for a Kiva loan?
The whole process was transparent and there weren't really any surprises. One of the things I learned as the loan was live was that there were times when Kiva donors would jump on and double your donations for a certain period of time. I think my mom noticed it first. I ended up reaching out to my network again to encourage them to donate during that time to maximize their contribution. It might have been helpful to know about that possibility in advance and ways to take advantage of those moments. What advice would you give to people considering applying for a Kiva loan? Be clear about your goals! Your friends and family will probably contribute no matter what, but I think having a business story and clear goals for your loan helps to attract other lenders. Don't worry about not getting funded! Of course, there's no guarantee, but the SF Etsy and Kiva communities are so strong, and they'll both help you prepare to maximize your chances. Tap your personal and business networks to support you! Like any good campaign, you have to do the work to gather support. Before your loan is live, create a game plan. Mine included drafting an email template to my personal network and another one to my business network. Once the private round was live, I shared it out to my networks and then kept updating them with my progress. I also added my loan link to my email signature and shared it out on social media a number of times. I was pleasantly surprised when so many from my network chipped in--they all expressed how excited they were to have a tangible way of supporting my small business. Personally, I found it easier to ask for support by emphasizing that it's a loan and you will get your money back. Kiva loans are such a unique opportunity for small businesses to raise capital without the risk of large interest rate loans--I highly recommend considering one for your business! To learn more about applying for a Kiva loan, contact our SF Etsy team After hearing what Kyla had to say about her Kiva experience, would you consider applying for a Kiva loan? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments.
Thank you to everyone who came out last Friday! We will be participating in this awesome event every Friday, so keep checking to see each week's vendors.
This week we'll have:
We hope to see you each and every week at Friday Farmers Market & Bazaar - you’ll never know what you’ll discover!
Learn more at civiccentercommons.org or via the Friday Market Facebook event page. This will be a repeating event throughout the year. Friday Farmers Market & Bazaar When: Every Friday, starting June 7th, 7am-4pm Where: UN Plaza, San Francisco
Thank you to everyone who came out last Friday! We will be participating in this awesome event every Friday, so keep checking to see each week's vendors.
This week we'll have:
We hope to see you each and every week at Friday Farmers Market & Bazaar - you’ll never know what you’ll discover!
Learn more at civiccentercommons.org or via the Friday Market Facebook event page. This will be a repeating event throughout the year. Friday Farmers Market & Bazaar When: Every Friday, starting June 7th, 7am-4pm Where: UN Plaza, San Francisco
SF Etsy will have a variety of vendors at the UN Plaza in San Francisco this Friday from 10a-4p
Check out who will be there, on our Pinterest board
We hope to see you each and every week at Friday Farmers Market & Bazaar - you’ll never know what you’ll discover!
Learn more at civiccentercommons.org or via the Friday Market Facebook event page. Register for the first event on Eventbrite! This will be a repeating event throughout the year. Friday Farmers Market & Bazaar When: Every Friday, starting June 7th, 7am-4pm Where: UN Plaza, San Francisco SF Etsy is joining with Civic Center Commons again this year - on Fridays! Come to UN Plaza on Friday for delicious lunch bites, pick up the best produce to jumpstart the weekend, and browse crafts, textiles, jewelry and more from local SF Etsy creators, Square artisanal shops, and UN Plaza Gift Gallery vendors! And pick up a new summer read from Friends of the Public Library! Other features include DIY arts activities, free outdoor games and picnic seating. Join us at the Friday Farmers Market & Bazaar - A NEW market day is launching in UN Plaza: every Friday, starting June 7th, from 7am to 4pm, UN Plaza will feature the best of San Francisco! Grab fresh fruits and veggies, buy gifts from local vendors, and grab lunch at delicious food stalls representing cuisine from diverse communities throughout the City. This new Friday market will feature local farmers and producers from Heart of the City Farmers Market, who already operate in UN Plaza every Wednesday and Sunday. Buy eggs from Great Valley Poultry, pick up a fresh baked loaf from Sour Flour breads, grab seasonal produce and flowers from Mellow’s Farm & Nursery and more. In addition to food producers, this market features rotating craft and retail vendors - there will be an unending supply of unique products you’ll want to get your hands on! Shop vendors curated by SF Etsy and Square, alongside vendors from the UN Plaza Gift Gallery, who operate on the plaza every Thursday and Friday. You’ll find everything from locally made crafts to jewelry, sunglasses, and hats. And, the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library will be selling books, so come to the market to snag that perfect summer read. Vendor stalls are open throughout the day, but if you stop by during the lunch hour, you’ll have the chance to check out many lunch options, including the much-loved Roli Roti. Join us to eat al fresco with colleagues at the City’s longest picnic table. Challenge your co-workers to a game of giant Jenga, chess, or Connect Four while you’re at it! And, get your creative juices flowing with DIY activities at noon - including creating your own market tote with spray paint artists - make sure to come and create before supplies run out! We hope to see you each and every week at Friday Farmers Market & Bazaar - you’ll never know what you’ll discover! Learn more at civiccentercommons.org or via the Friday Market Facebook event page. Register for the first event on Eventbrite! This will be a repeating event throughout the year. Friday Farmers Market & Bazaar When: Every Friday, starting June 7th, 7am-4pm Where: UN Plaza, San Francisco |
Welcome to SF EtsyWe're a collective of over 2700 Etsy sellers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Archives
November 2020
Just Added on Pinterest
|