10th Anniversary

It's easy for me to see that Hazelmade and I have changed immensely since the start in 2014. Ten years ago, I was a young designer starting Hazelmade out of a closet in my studio apartment, printing cards with simple outlines on my tiny Deskjet printer and coloring each by hand. I didn't call myself an “entrepreneur” or “business owner.” When I started, I had a fair amount of design and business experience under my belt but I didn't have illustration skills or an understanding of how to build a product-based business. I started Hazelmade by just working with the knowledge I had and my desire to create something.

 

I knew I wanted Hazelmade to be a place I could grow creatively, and over time I realized that I enjoy making products that connect people to the ones they love. Those two ideas have led me every step of the way. Hazelmade slowly grew as my products became part of your homes and gifts and as I made partnerships with nearly 500 retail stores worldwide. Today, Hazelmade is beyond what I could have dreamed of ten years ago in my tiny studio apartment. Reflecting on where I started and how I've grown makes me think about how Hazelmade can continue to grow and fulfill my creative energy in the future.

 

The truth is, Hazelmade and I are not who we were when I started in 2014. I constantly seek out business advice from my trusted podcasts or online courses, but one thing they didn't prepare me for was that over time, businesses change and you change with it. Like any relationship, Hazelmade and I must change and grow alongside each other as our needs change. Recently, I've found myself at a point where I need to figure out how my brand and I serve each other. I need to find a balance and preserve the things about Hazelmade that bring me joy. This is a complicated process that I am just beginning to unpack, and I'm honestly excited about the challenges that will come with it.

 

One thing that always amazes me is how when I started I didn't let my perfectionism or lack of knowledge stop me; I just dove in. I look back at the woman I was ten years ago, and she was fearless and determined. I made mistakes but I kept showing up and doing the work. That same determination and fearlessness continues to shape Hazelmade today. As I think on my future and the future of Hazelmade, I keep coming back to what's always served me well: work with what you have and keep showing up. 

 

I don't know what's ahead for me or for Hazelmade, but I do know with absolute certainty that I will keep showing up, doing the work and growing. I couldn't be more proud of all I've accomplished. I know that when I look back in another decade with a list of accomplishments I can't imagine at this moment, I'll be grateful to this version of myself and all she has taught me.

 

Finally, thank you for being part of this story and for all your support. Whether we've just met or you've been with me from the start, you are part of the history of Hazelmade. To the very first person who bought a piece of my work, to the folks who've reached out with ways I could improve and to everyone in between, truly, thank you.