Chlosuniblog Yorkshire Artist Shop
Based in Manchester, Leia runs a small business selling gorgeous prints including some ditsy floral designs, positive quotes and even sells some earrings with her patterns on them! She says that she was ‘fed up of seeing social media in a negative light’ so started sharing her positive artwork and prints in January. Her Etsy shop is filled with beautiful stock and you can even get custom prints made too.
I love your patterns and prints! Do you think your art represents you?
Thank you! I think my older collection wasn’t as personal as my new designs. The dots and ditsy florals and everything coming now, I feel like it is me on paper!
How did you start up your own business?
I first opened my Instagram account at the end of January to share artwork with positive quotations because I was fed up of seeing social media in a negative light and from there I started creating prints to spread positivity. People started asking me to buy them so I created a digital Etsy so people could download and print but after a while I bit the bullet and actually started printing them to send out. I do it for fun and I love the fact I can mix florals and positivity, plus some of the profits went to mind charity – so if I can raise money for good causes along the way too that’s a bonus! I have just raised £300 for Mind Charity from selling my prints and I am going to continue with that from August onwards!
What was the hardest part about setting up your business?
Trying t find people who will be interested in your work. As an artist there is a lot of other great people creating other things too. If you can help out a small shop in any way, word of mouth really does help – and it’s free, so if you want to support a small business, just share their work on any platform and we will always be grateful!
What is the most satisfying thing about selling your products?
When all my orders are finished after building up, and seeing them all piled up ready to go! Even though it takes a while and I’m a perfectionist and want it to all go smoothly!
Which products are your ultimate favourite at the moment?
That’s hard but I love my mini prints and bookmarks! Especially my new range that starts at £2.50, which makes my shop more available to more people! There is something new coming soon, so keep your eyes peeled.
Is making business decisions scary or does it make you feel in control and productive?
Well, I naturally fell into a business so it wasn’t really that scary. Because it is something I do for fun, it didn’t feel too overwhelming and I really enjoyed it – and it helps pay off some of my student overdraft which is always helpful!
What is one piece of advice would you say to other small businesses or artists who are looking to do a similar thing to you?
Do what you want to do, for you! Do it out of your own passion and not for other people. If you don’t feel passionate about it, try turn it around so you do feel enjoyment from it or don’t do it! As an artist, I go through phases of artwork that I love and then I want to venture into a different style, which is why I’ve brought out a new collection – I want to keep the passion in my work.
I see you do lots of collabs with creators, which collabs have you most enjoyed creating or looking forward to?
I’m looking forward to a collaboration with @georgiejade.fashion because it will be involving sunflowers and I just really love it.
You have recently introduced your earrings to your Etsy shop! Are more products like this going to keep coming out alongside your prints?
Yes definitely! Again, it’s a passion project so Im purely doing it for fun. They will keep coming – probably quite randomly, but more products are on the way.
Tell me about your waste not sales!
I am a perfectionist. There are some prints I see minor imperfections so I’ve turned it into a waste not sale! They are usually at a lower price and most people wouldn’t be able to see any mistakes, but it’s a good way to make sure there is no wastage!
You can find Leia’s beautiful prints on her Esty Shop – YorkshireArtistShop and her instagram is @yorkshire.artist
Loving local shops and supporting small businesses really isn’t that hard, plus with such gorgeous products, like the ones highlighted in this blog, how can you say no? Seeing businesses grow is beautiful, especially for the people behind the products who work so hard at developing and creating them! Be sure to give these small businesses a follow and check out their websites!
Look out for another ‘Loving Local and Supporting Small’ blog next time!
