How I Started My Small Business: The Journey of Debra's Den
Introduction
Debra's Den was born in 2007 when I discovered my love for handmade crafts. What started as a hobby, making gifts for friends and family, soon transformed into a small business opportunity. I wanted to share my creations with more people and realized that crafting could be more than just a passion — it could also bring in an income.
Starting Out
I’ve always loved experimenting with different crafts. From handcrafting wooden canvases to crocheting and vinyl crafting, I’ve dabbled in just about everything. However, it wasn’t until November 2023 that I ventured into sublimation. That December, I received an overwhelming number of orders, making me realize that sublimation could be a great business opportunity. But, as with any venture, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. After the Christmas rush, things slowed down, and I momentarily gave up on sublimation.
Then came March, and I discovered amigurumi. I filled a whole crate with crocheted items and decided it was time to explore markets. A work friend suggested I add my sublimation items to my stall, and I haven’t looked back since my first market in July 2024.
Challenges Along the Way
Like many small business owners, I’ve faced my fair share of challenges. When I first started, I struggled to balance crafting with my full-time job. After being retrenched in 2008, I opened my own shop, but the biggest challenge I faced was keeping my business finances separate from personal ones. After six months, I had to close the shop.
Even today, getting my name out there remains a challenge. But I’m determined to make Debra's Den a brand people know and trust.
Learning and Evolving
When I started with sublimation, it was all about research, testing, and trial and error. Every new technique and skill I’ve learned came from either self-teaching or hours of research.
Debra's Den has evolved over the years — from handcrafted wooden canvases and crafts to designing and publishing my own Christian colouring book on Amazon, to painting stones, vinyl crafting, and crocheting. Now, my focus is sublimation, but I always enjoy trying something new. If I make too much of one product, I start looking for fresh ideas. I’ll test new creations for myself before bringing them to markets.
Milestones and Successes
I’ve been lucky enough to hit a few significant milestones in my business journey. I made 100 client gifts for my day job and 235 coffee mugs for a school event. Getting into markets I’ve always wanted to participate in and doing well at some of them has been incredibly rewarding.
Juggling Responsibilities and Time Management
Balancing my business with other responsibilities is still a work in progress. My best tool so far has been writing everything down in my planner and prioritizing tasks. I focus on what’s urgent and important, ensuring I meet deadlines and maintain a level of calm.
My Advice for Market Newcomers
If you’re thinking about selling at markets, just go for it! Don’t go in with the mindset of making a lot of money right away. Instead, focus on getting your name out there and showing people what you can do. Enjoy the day, meet new people, and let everything else follow naturally.
Looking Ahead
My ultimate goal is to grow Debra's Den into a well-known personalisation brand — the go-to place for special, personalized gifts. As for upcoming projects, I’m excited to be part of the Craft Expo at Silverstar Casino from November 23rd to December 24th.
