For many entrepreneurs and small businesses, social media can be an absolute game-changer! All it takes is one viral post and a business can suddenly take off.
At Like A Voss Social Media, we’re highlighting local businesses and entrepreneurs who are killing the online game. This week’s spotlight is on Ashleigh Kasaboski, Creator and Owner of Clay and Ash Ceramics!
Clay and Ash Ceramics is a small batch ceramic studio created and driven by Canadian potter, Ashleigh Kasaboski. The aim of Clay and Ash is to promote the idea that art takes many forms and can be integrated into people’s everyday lives and rituals. Functionality takes priority, but each piece is carefully crafted with meticulous decorative details to ensure that each piece is truly one of a kind.
Our CEO Mandi interviewed Ashleigh about her secret to success in business and in life. We also got some awesome insights into what they think makes social media such an effective tool in business.
A Little Bit About Being a Female Entrepreneur
1: How long have you been in business?
A: I have been working professionally as a ceramicist since December 2018.
2: What made you decide to break away from the 9-5 and start Clay and Ash Ceramics?
A: Although I haven’t completely shrugged off the part-time day job, I have always been driven to find a way to support myself that includes artistic creativity. Ceramic design has given me the opportunity to work independently and therefore control how productive I can be, which allows me to make new goals and reach them. The reason ceramic design continues to fuel my small business dreams is also because I found that through creating pots I can combine my love of hospitality, food and drink, and home decor. I need there to be purpose and passion in what I create so incorporating those other elements of my professional life has made the shift all the more satisfying. I would love nothing more than to create work that people treasure in their homes full-time, and so everyday I work toward that goal.
3: What do you love most about being a female entrepreneur?
A: What I love most about being a female entrepreneur is feeling independent and in control of my goals. I get to carve out a path for myself with my creative energy powering the engine. On top of that, the connections I get to make with other female entrepreneurs and customers creates a feeling of community and empowerment. There is a great deal of support between makers, sellers, and buyers, and that in itself feels very special to be a part of.
4: What is the hardest thing you have had to overcome as a female entrepreneur?
A: One of the hardest things to overcome as a female entrepreneur is knowing my worth as a creator, artist and business owner. Knowing how to value my time and energy and being able to stand by my work, knowing the hours that went into a given project. It can be hard to put a price on work that is made by hand in such a painstaking way, but there are many people along the way to help remind you and encourage you. Keeping self doubt out of the picture is always a challenge as a creator.
5: What is one thing about working in the maker industry that people would be surprised to learn?
A: There is a ton of failure. Lol For every successful new design there are multitudes of failures and misses that never get seen, and are only used as examples to grow from. All of this time is factored into the value of each piece. The finished products you see come from countless hours of trial and error. It is a beautiful, quiet, and at times, frustrating part of the process, but it is nonetheless the foundation for successful work.
And Now Onto The Social Media Questions!
6: Do you have a favorite social media platform? Why?
A: I prefer to use Instagram as my primary social media platform. It provides a medium where my functional art can be viewed in various settings. From meticulously art directed tableaus to works in progress and still lives in the quiet hours of the studio. It allows people to glimpse into not only into the showroom of the maker but into the life of the maker as well. All of this creates a lasting impression, which is the key to good advertising.
7: What made you decide to start using social media as a way to promote your company?
A: For all the same reasons I stated above plus the opportunity of real time community engagement. This is especially true now that so much of our lives has transitioned to online. We live in strange times, and although social media may not always be used for the powers of good, it does certainly allow us to connect in ways we all need. To connect to our friends and local small businesses is crucial for a community to be happy and healthy. It’s my hope I can continue to create a community that shares in that kind of positivity.
8: How has social media impacted your business? Would you say that it’s an effective marketing tool?
A:I would say it is a decently effective marketing tool when used casually, and a very effective tool when used with strategy in mind. I have had both experiences, but I keep working towards having consistent success in creating a more lucrative social media presence.
9: What advice would you give to other businesses and entrepreneurs who want to use social media as a way to connect with customers?
A: Be consistent in your branding as early as you can and engage with your followers in a genuine way. I feel as though I’m still learning so I would not feel I’m the one to give great words of advice just yet.
Connect with Ashleigh
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Do you know a female entrepreneur who loves social media as much as we do? Contact us today – we’d love to tell her story!
