Today we’d like to introduce you to Tania Cardenas.
Tania, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My love of Arts & Crafts, like many people, reaches back to my childhood. I grew up in a household that loved all things artistic and vintage; where creativity and ingenuity were always encouraged. My first venture into the business side of the Arts & Crafts world was selling hair accessories in summer camp. My peers started saving their lunch money to spend on my creations, which, as you can imagine, was not popular with our parents. Thus ended my first streak of success. As a young adult, I began creating personalized baby gifts, which became very popular with friends and family, and so I decided to start my first official small business. All of my inventory was handmade by either myself or my mom, who was an absolute fiber-arts magician.
For the next year, we delighted in sharing our creations with folks nationwide, both online and via craft shows. We even made it on the local news! I spent a lot of time online researching events for us to set up, and I was flabbergasted at how difficult it was to find vendor information for upcoming events. Typically, we wouldn’t hear about an event until it was either happening or over. I began keeping an extensive calendar with detailed reminders to plan the upcoming year. At each event, I would chat with fellow vendors, and they shared similar struggles of simply trying to find events where they could connect with their local community. There was an audience out there that would benefit from my leg work, and I was exhilarated at the idea of helping local crafters share their amazing art with the world. And so, DFW Craft Shows was born.
A little over a year later, my mother suddenly passed away at the age of 54. It felt like my heart had been ripped from my body. I packed up our business, and I knew it was likely those boxes would never open again. Luckily, my connection with the Arts & Crafts community continued to blossom through DFW Craft Shows. After a brief stint of time off, I refocused my passion for creativity into helping connect the local Arts & Crafts community–lifting up vendors, helping event coordinators, and sharing event information with North Texans who love to shop local and support our local artisans. And I have continued to do so for nearly ten years now!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting a new business can be choppy, but I was lucky to have the support of a good friend, who also happens to run one of my most favorite events, Funky Finds. Jessica encouraged me to take the leap with DFW Craft Shows, and she was the very first person to share my work and help me grow my business.
I am constantly telling vendors that their time is money and they have to charge accordingly, but the truth is, every small business owner struggles with this. I am no exception. I spend a lot of time researching and processing events, attending craft shows, highlighting vendors, writing articles, managing social media… But DFW Craft Shows is largely a free site, and my workforce is me. I am deeply passionate about supporting our local Arts & Crafts community. And, over the last seven years, I have been blessed with the indescribable joy of becoming a mother. As our lives continue to evolve, I am driven to perfect my business model and establish healthy boundaries so I can feel good about both the time I spend on my business, and—most importantly—the time I cherish with my family. It is one of the many reasons I am rebuilding the website for 2020, and I am excited to see where the new year takes us.
Please tell us about your business.
DFW Craft Shows is a hub for local artists, crafters, events, and shoppers to connect. I specialize in curating event information for the extended North Texas region, and I distribute that information across all our thriving social media channels. Event coordinators come to me for two main reasons: help finding unique, diverse vendors, and assistance increasing exposure and boosting attendance at their events. Vendors use DFW Craft Shows to easily and quickly fill out their event schedule and grow their businesses. I offer advertising and design services for both events and small businesses to help them develop their brand and reach their marketing potential. Every week, a Weekend Guide is curated full of event information to help folks all across DFW discover these incredible events and realize the overwhelming talent that North Texas has to offer. I also run a flourishing Facebook group where locals can connect and celebrate all things crafty.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
If I had to start over, I would do so with the knowledge that running a free site is rarely free. It is always good to start a new business with a solid support system (but we all have to start somewhere!). The joy it has brought me to help the North Texas community over the last decade is something that I will always treasure, and I hope to continue doing this work for a long time still.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dfwcraftshows.com/
- Phone: 469-464-9180
- Email: dfwcraftshows@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
dfwcraftshows/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
dfwcraftshows/ - Twitter: https://twitter.com/
dfwcraftshows - Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/
dfwcraftshows/ - Community Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
groups/DFWCScommunity/
Image Credit:
All photography by DFW Craft Shows
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