Today we’d like to introduce you to Bernadette Buentello.
Bernadette, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey started from a personal necessity and I wish I could tell you a fabulous positive story like since I was a little girl, I knew I wanted to work with concrete or I have a background in design and graduated with a bachelor and knew this is what I wanted to do. I only wish that was my story, mine started because I needed to make an income while being able to stay home and raise two kids. I have always been independent but when I became a mom and then we relocated to Dallas, I found myself in a situation.
I tried to go back into the workforce only to find that I would be basically signing my check over to daycare. Then one day I overheard a coworker talk about how she opened an Etsy shop, I didn’t know what that was so I did some research, and to my surprise, Etsy was a place where you could make stuff and sell them online!? Unfortunately, I wasn’t exactly a crafter and the only thing I could possibly put together was jewelry, BUT that market on ETSY was extremely competitive, I had to figure a way to stand apart but at the same time, I didn’t have a lot of money to invest, I needed something that could stretch after browsing every store trying to get ideas the most random thing popped into my head what about concrete?!!
So that is what I did I picked the most random medium, something that is so strange people would have to buy or at least want to look at it, I started teaching myself how to make jewelry and how to work with concrete, I did a lot of reading, looking at videos on YouTube and a lot of research! I became obsessed so in 2014, I opened my first Etsy shop called dotted ends. I thought yay, here I go this is my way out! Nope it failed horribly, I mean I did have some sales but I guess concrete jewelry wasn’t a thing people were into. I eventually started making other things like bowls and magnets with concrete and to my utter surprise, it was actually grabbing buyers and so I rebranded in 2016 as CRETEATION, and the rest is history.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Everything but! and I don’t think we have enough time to cover even a portion of all the struggles. I mean we are talking about every aspect of this has had its own obstacles and through each one I learned what I did wrong and learned how to overcome it. There were plenty of times I wanted to give up but those same challenges made me stronger and more knowledgeable and that learning curve is what has kept me going.
Creteation – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a handmade business and CRETEATION is the name, it’s pronounced ‘creation’ the spelling of it is just a play on words combining concrete and creation. I like to incorporate different materials like clay, resin, beads and leather into my designs but the main go-to is concrete. I make jewelry and homewares from and with the concrete material. When I started, I never had any idea it would become a store, this was just supposed to be able to supplement my income so I could stay home with my kids, I am so proud of how far my little business has come and the fans and supporters I have picked up along the way.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Actually, being able to provide and work from home.
Pricing:
- You can find pieces from $20 to $80
Contact Info:
- Address: 5768 Grandscape Blvd suite 165
The Colony, TX 75056
Between Andretti and Scheels in the Homestead - Website: www.creteation.com
- Email: creteation@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/creteation
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/creteation
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