Today we’d like to introduce you to Maleah Galvan.
Hi Maleah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Yeah, absolutely! Well, my small business journey has definitely been full of twists and turns and honestly, it all sort of started by accident.
Alright, 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?
It has actually been anything but smooth! I would say it’s like that for most small business owners, though. Ironically, I think things went the smoothest when I first started because there was just so much interest in what I was doing, and it was right before resin became as well-known as it is now. However, I definitely underestimated the time and dedication it takes to own and operate a business.
When I started Rose & Resin, I was still in school and working full-time, so I was hardly getting any sleep. In fact, during my first year as a business, I almost quit. It was finals week, the week of my first-ever pop-up event, and I had orders plus a full work schedule, so I overloaded myself like crazy and ended up getting pretty sick. Shortly after that, I even got COVID, which was not fun at all, and I was sick for like two months straight. Because of that, I ended up having to take a break from events right after my first market. When I got better, I then hit another wall of suddenly struggling with resin. Everything I made kept coming out wrong and I was just so busy with everything else that I ended up taking a break for nearly a year.
During that break, I often would study at this boba shop in downtown Arlington after classes, sometimes for hours. One day I saw a flyer for a vendor market there, and just like that…it got me back into it. I just hit the ground running and started doing markets at least once a month from then on. I soon after left my job and started really focusing on building my brand and attending more markets. I also worked hard to manage my social media, improve my packaging, and even designed a new logo for myself!
I have much more room to grow, but I have come such a long way. Although there were a ton of challenges along the way, I really appreciate my past self for taking that leap. It is such a surreal feeling to see people buying the things that you made, and the artist/small business community I have become a part of means so much to me.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As you may have guessed by the name, my main medium is resin! However, I also draw and paint, so I utilize those skills to create one-of-a-kind pieces. When I first started, I also genuinely found a passion for including body representation in my work, and that is something I have now become known for! It really has taken the main stage and it’s now the focus of my overall brand. I am beyond grateful that I have been able to stand out in that way because it truly is something that means so much to me. It’s great to create art that is visually appealing, but it’s even more rewarding to create something that people are able to truly connect with. The body figurines I create, “goddesses,” have been a part of peoples’ lives in so many unique ways. I love hearing people’s stories and why it resonated with them. These figurines are also featured in an art journal published by my alma mater, which is focused on health and healing!
Another thing that is a bit unique about Rose & Resin is that I don’t stick to just one niche or particular style. I do have my own style preferences, but I love the idea of creating something for everyone. I also offer custom orders for just about everything I make and even go as far as drawing designs and turning them into vinyl!
Many of the flowers I use in my pieces are sourced from old bouquets, too. I do occasionally buy them already dried and or pressed, but I get many of them from local stores. Usually, I take the ones that are “unsellable”. Every now and then, I buy old bouquets in bulk from a local boutique, too. It allows me to support a small business, save flowers from going to the trash, and offer a unique assortment of flowers! I occasionally include ethically sourced insects like moths and butterflies in my pieces as well.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Formally, I run Rose & Resin alone, and that can sometimes get really overwhelming because you have to wear so many different hats. I definitely couldn’t have made it to where I am now without my support system. I am incredibly grateful to my partner, friends, and family for being so supportive and sometimes helping me set up at markets. I am especially appreciative of my partner for dealing with my terrible sleep schedule, acting as my own personal proofreader, product tester, occasional manufacturer for displays and such, and for overall just keeping me grounded. I also love the huge artist community here in DFW. I have met so many inspiring small business owners, artists, coordinators, and creatives through this process.
Pricing:
- Earrings: $5-$20
- Rings: $3-$8
- Necklaces: $10-$20
- Goddess figurines: $20-$30
- Suncatchers: $10-$80
Contact Info:
- Website: https://msha.ke/rose_resin
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/rose.resincraft
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rose.resincraft
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rose.resincraft
Image Credits
Eddie Mendiola