Biz Profile: Mythdemeanor

What is your name?

Sandy Baker

What is your business name?

Mythdemeanor!

What is your website URL?

www.mythdemeanor.com or www.crescentwench.etsy.com (the first redirects to the second)

When did you start your business?

Officially in feb ’07.

Why did you decide to start your business & why did you choose the type of business you chose?

I’ve always been interested in clothing and a dabbling fiber artist and seamstress, so it was a natural choice for me. I decided to start my own business because I was getting bored at my regular job at an alterations shop and I needed to make clothes fun again.

What is your favorite thing about being in business for yourself?

No limitations on what I can choose to try. Alterations get really boring after a while – you tend to do the same 8 or 10 things over and over and over . My business gives me a chance to take creative risks and express myself through my work.

What turned out to be harder than you thought?

Marketing! I work 40 hours a week at a regular job and around 20 a week on my clothes – and aside from my regular email and etsy I’m usually too burnt out to spend time on things like myspace or livejournal. I’m actually really glad I did technical theatre for years (wardrobe, mostly) because you get used to having a pretty grueling schedule.

Looking back, what is one thing you know now, but wish you knew back then?

Even making a lot of sales doesn’t mean you’ll turn a profit – re-investing is really important!

Do you participate in any business groups (mentoring, networking, etc) ?

I’m part of an etsy team for Indiana artist, but that’s all.

As a business owner, it can be easy to work all the time – do you have any tips for balancing your business and your personal life?

Know your body! I always try to take rests every 2-3 hours, make sure I’m drinking enough fluids and watch for signs that my body is getting fatigued. It’s much better to take a day off and not get sick than to lose 3 days at both jobs from the flu or an unfortunate muscle strain.

What have been some of your best business successes?

Winning “Best in Show” at a local alternative fashion show really early on. It was a great confidence booster. It helped to cement in my mind that I really could be successful and that there was an audience for my clothing, even in a small Midwestern town.

What are you planning to do with your business in the future?

I’m always thinking of new things to try! It’s just a matter of finding the time and money to do them all. I want to start making more one of a kind sewn items and expand our screenprinting designs. I’m also working on getting some consignment deals up and running.