Meet Marcy Gardner of Simply Hooked

Today we’d like to introduce you to Marcy Gardner.  

Marcy, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I learned how to crochet in October 2012. I simply had a desire to learn something new, and crochet came to mind after a coworker told me she was crocheting a blanket for her mom. I went to Michaels after work one day and bought a beginner’s kit. I spent the entire weekend watching YouTube videos until I figured it out, and I was simply…hooked! Once I learned more stitches and got more comfortable with it, I started making stuffed animals. I saw value in what I was making and decided to start a handmade business called Simply Hooked. I opened an Etsy shop and started selling at craft markets on the weekends.

Simply Hooked was mostly a hobby until last year. I got more serious about the business in 2022, and I’ve been actively trying to grow it into something that can really generate revenue. I’ve since started writing crochet patterns of my original designs in addition to selling finished pieces. I also make coffee mug cozies, sublimate mugs and have designed a few print-on-demand pieces. Developing digital products like these has been key in the business’ growth. I also wrote and illustrated a children’s book about one of my beloved crochet characters, Hank the Hippo, which is now sold as a book and toy gift set. My customers are often shopping for baby shower gifts or something special for their toddler’s birthday. I specialize in making animal loveys with unstuffed bodies so it’s easy for little ones to carry around and snuggle with. You can also rub lavender essential oil on them and make them bedtime book buddies. It’s a great way to wind down the day with little ones.

I absolutely love being creative, and I’m so thankful I stumbled across the art of crochet all those years ago. It has been such a blessing in my life. It’s so much fun growing the business and trying new things. Today, I sell on Etsy, Amazon and my Shopify site.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
For the most part it has been a smooth road because I love my craft, but my biggest hurdle is time. I work full-time in an unrelated field, and have a toddler, house, and husband to take care of in addition to my business, so I fit in time wherever I can. I wake up early, stay up late, and spend most of the weekends working on the business. It’s tough and frustrating sometimes, but you make time for things you care about. I care about my business, and I want to see it grow so I can help provide more for my family.

I love this quote from Napoleon Hill, “There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.” I know what I want, and I have a burning desire to achieve it. Time is my obstacle, but I figure out ways to overcome it every day.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
When I started Simply Hooked, I only crocheted stuffed animals and cozies, and it didn’t take long to realize I could only crochet so much. It can make your wrists sore after a while! It was just a side hustle in the beginning, so I didn’t think much of it, but when I got more serious about the business last year, I knew some things had to change. I brainstormed all the ways I could scale a handmade business. I didn’t think it was possible at first, but after taking a deep dive into small business podcasts, I realized there were several roads I could travel to achieve this goal.

I became a sponge for all things business-related and listened to literally hundreds of hours of podcasts. I highly recommend Business Made Simple with Donald Miller, The Product Boss, Handmade Sellers Podcast, Grow My Etsy Shop, and Manifest with Cathy Heller. I also recommend the book, Think & Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill. These all played a pivotal role in getting my creative juices flowing and inspired me to keep going.

I learned about the importance of passive income and began writing crochet patterns. I learned the importance of developing systems that enable me to make products more quickly, i.e., using heavier-weight yarn for my animal loveys, and learning how to use a knitting machine to make cozies. I also learned about print-on-demand and how I could design giftable items for crocheters and knitters. Most recently, I’ve learned about the importance of Search Engine Optimization, or SEO. I enrolled in online courses to learn the art of SEO for selling online. This has been a gamechanger. I’ve spent several weeks now updating all of my online listings and I’m starting to see the impact of those changes.

I think what sets me apart from others is my unwavering will to scale my handmade business. It takes a lot of time, a lot of trial and error, a lot of setbacks, but I keep going — I have to. With every new thing I learn, I get one step closer to my goal. It’s a really exciting time in my business and I’m loving every minute!

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
What is most important to my success is time management and productivity. Because my time is so limited and my products are handmade, I need to be strategic in how I spend my time. I make a plan at the beginning of each week, and I execute it efficiently. I think it’s really important to write down your goals and intentions, create a to-do list, and knock them out one-by-one. Early mornings, late nights, and weekends are my business time, and I try to take advantage of every waking minute of that time.

Time management and multi-tasking is so important, and something I think I’ve come to master. When my toddler is eating breakfast, I’ve got 20 minutes to work on a pattern; when he takes a 2-hour nap on the weekends, I’m doing product photoshoots in the backyard; when he goes to bed at 7 p.m., I crank through my to-do list until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer; and when I drive to work in the mornings, I’m listening to business podcasts and enriching myself with more knowledge. My mind is constantly on the go with what I need to do next because I am so determined to make this business more successful. I have an ongoing list of “needle movers” that I check off each day. It’s all of these small movements and milestones that will add up down the road. As long as there is plenty of coffee, I will keep going!

I think another key to success is the ability to learn from others. See what successful business owners in your field are doing. I love discovering other crocheters that share my dream and are already light years ahead of me. I research their products, website, social media – what are they doing that makes them so successful? Is there anything I can learn from them and apply to my own business? Sometimes I have discouraging moments of comparison, but I remind myself that because they are light years ahead, it shows me that my dream is indeed possible. I could really support my family with my business one day because I see others doing it. At the end of the day, their success helps drive my own, and we all need that encouragement sometimes.

Pricing:

• Crochet Patterns: $3-$7
• Coffee Cozies: $15-$30
• Crochet Stuffed Animals: $30-$60
• Crochet Lovey Animals: $60-$75

Contact Info:

• Website: www.TheSimplyHooked.Etsy.Com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplyhooked1/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimplyHooked1
• Other: www.marcymade.co