Community Highlights: Meet Marta Mickelsen of Fujibee

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marta Mickelsen.

Hi Marta, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been experimenting with different business ideas since I was a kid, but what really motivated me to give this idea my all was floundering in my unfinished fine arts degree while being overworked in retail jobs. I decided to give up the “smart” career options and pursue the path that made me happiest. I scrounged together money by doing personal art commissions and reinvested every penny I could into printers, supplies, and anything to build my business. I’ve made a lot of expensive mistakes along the way, but the momentum has always been moving forward. I think it’s important to take breaks, but the small success I’ve found has not been due to talent, but just from continuing to push forward.

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?
The biggest struggle has been not having a roadmap to follow. You can find testimonials and advice from other business people, but every business is so unique that there are a lot of unanswered questions. When you’re a lone business owner, every decision comes down to you. I’ve definitely made a few poor choices: too much inventory, not enough inventory, etc., but despite what my anxiety is always preparing me for, nothing has been catastrophic yet! (knock on wood) It helps that my supportive partner and friends have my back! I can’t even count the number of times a friend has helped me carry heavy equipment to a hot outdoor market and made sure I stayed hydrated. Thanks guys!

We’ve been impressed with Fujibee, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Fujibee is an online retail shop specializing in cute things that give you that little drop of serotonin you need to get through tough days. We started with stickers and other paper and stationery goods, but we’ve recently gotten into apparel, accessories, and most of all: plush toys! Designing plush toys has been a lifelong dream that I didn’t even know was achievable. Seeing them well-received has been so fulfilling and made me excited for what the future holds. We also have a Tik Tok and YouTube where I share snippets of my process and sweet and calm lifestyle videos. Fujibee is all about enjoying the little things in life, so I try to share how I do that to inspire others to replenish their energy with good things when the world around them is scary or stressful.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
I’m a strong believer in finding your peers in your industry. People who are at a similar stage in their journey! The support network I’ve found by cheering on and sharing the work of other artists has been the greatest. Remember that the relationship has to work both ways. I try to spend just as much time encouraging and promoting my friends as I do asking them for help and advice. It’s never a nice feeling to have a stranger slip into your DMs to demand help and information without establishing a rapport first.

Contact Info:

• Email: marta@fujibee.com
• Website: fujibee.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fujibeeshop/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fujibeeshop/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/FUJIBEEShop
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrOx2uVZPPmOEzn8MkOhTgg