A young woman founded a handicraft commission in Plungė: she earned her first money when she was only 15 years old

Not everyone has the courage to offer their crafts to customers, to go to fairs or to be able to publicize their creations on social networks.

For Faustei, it is going very well. The young woman says: “I don’t care if something works better than me, the most important thing for me is to do better every year than last year.”

– What was the start of the business?

– I created an online craft store for four years. I became interested in crafts when I was 15 years old.

Getting started was not easy. My first creative experiments were birthday decorations, I made bouquets of socks suitable for men, then I made chains, pendants from epoxy resin.

Since I did not have a driver’s license, I had to seek help: I ​​went to the fairs with my mother or friends. As a schoolboy, he had no money for either commercial furniture or a commercial tent, which was necessary to sell handmade products not only on social media but also at fairs.

Little by little I created, I worked, I ignored the criticism, and then my parents and then others entrusted me with my occupation and ability to work. I am very grateful to the people who have invested in my business, and especially to Plunge businessman Ernest Pocis, who bought commercial equipment and did not demand anything in return. Of course, when you need help, I always help you.

After painting the house for my grandparents, I received my first contribution to the future of my business, I kept the rights to this money, so my parents now boldly lend me a Renault car to go to fairs.

Everything I created, I transferred it to social networks, another product was on sale. Now, four years have passed since then, my hobby has gradually turned into a business, I have taken individual activities.

Crafts are provided to me by seven regular developers. So I sell not only my own products, but also other handicrafts from Plungė.

– Have you ever had a paid job?

– No. I am only 19 years old, I graduated from the gym this year, I received an invitation to study sewing in Klaipėda. I will learn to sew professionally.

I am a practitioner, I love crafts, I want to create something, not break the theoretical sciences. There are no entrepreneurs in my family, it is my idea, idea and hobby, little by little it becomes a business.

Dad can work with wood, but he, like many people from Plungiškės, works in Vičiūnai, and his mother weaves, he does not go to work after the operation. I have an even younger sister who turned 15 this year, waiting for her talent to show up.

Now knit children’s socks, toys for mom. I make earrings.

Because the people of Plungė know about my activities, they have to plan their time a lot. I start the day checking social networks, seeing if there are orders, then I take photos of the available works, I make them public, and in the afternoons – I immerse myself in creative activities, I produce and create.

– What is the hardest part?

– Many of my colleagues imagine that I do nothing. In his opinion, what he feels here is to take a photo and upload the product to social networks. But these are already marketing things. What I lack most is this knowledge and these skills.

I always wonder how to present a product, what is the best way to photograph it. So far, I’m doing it unprofessionally, on a mobile phone, but I want to grow in that area as well.

After doing individual activities, I learned how to manage cash flows and pay taxes. And going to fairs is not that simple. I have to buy a place, get up before 6 o’clock. In the morning, pack everything to fit in the car, then take the time to set up a commercial tent, fold everything, constantly reload the boxes. Since the fairs are held outdoors, the weather must be followed so that the rain does not damage the product. And people have to agree on all kinds of fairs, not all of them are positive. It happens that a person is sad, angry, in a bad mood.

It is not enough to make a craft, you have to sell it, present it, deliver it. And that is working with people, social networks. It is not very easy and those who have never done it probably will not understand.

– How did you overcome fear?

– As soon as I started creating, nobody knew me, I had no orders, I was very afraid of everything. Especially since there was no such experience in the family, he was never used to handling documents and paying taxes.

My parents had tried something but were unsuccessful, so it took my loved ones time to believe me, the first orders came.

When the business started and the first orders appeared, I felt great motivation, a large circle of followers appeared, even seven Plungė developers trust me with their products.

Although I still do not call my hobby a business, the first steps have already been taken. Now my online craft store is full of knitwear, wooden brooches, costume jewelry, felt items, braided newspaper strip gadgets. Not all people who create can present their work to the client. And now, good for everyone, Plungė crafts come to my order, they are visible, they do not stop at home, they go to the hands that love them.

At first I was reluctant to accept the money, I only made a profit margin of 1 euro. People who wanted to buy it thought aloud that it was expensive, I always dropped it and when I came back from the fair I realized that I had not won anything.

It took me a long time to realize the value of my work and my time. Now, four years later, he realizes that making these products gives him all his heart, manual labor takes time and effort, and costs materials. You really shouldn’t underestimate yourself. Many people do not start anything because they are afraid of not getting it. I think it is better to start doing something, make mistakes and learn from mistakes than to sit down and put your hands together.

– What would colleagues like?

– I would like to wish both my colleagues and myself overcome fears, not be afraid to try. It does not matter that it is difficult to predict who will benefit in the end. Any activity is a hundred times better than sitting at home and thinking that nothing will work out.

You need to learn to believe in your own strength, to dream and to pursue your dreams. And if you fail, learn from your mistakes and try again.