Past: How did you get started in your business?
Heather Marchiafava and Bono
After working for the past 12 plus years as an assistant trainer/professional caretaker at (1.) Premier Stables (summers during school at William Woods University and after I graduated), (2.) Hollow Haven Farms (four years) and the last six years at (3.) Grey Ridge Farm, I decided I needed a change. It started Christmas time 2006 while walking around a craft store in Louisiana with my mom looking for a “hobby”. We stumbled upon blank barrettes and figured it would be fun to decorate them. That turned into me selling them online and ASB themed ones being sold at the Saddlebred Museum. I opened an online store for them on www.etsy.com shortly after . For those that are not familiar, Etsy is a site where you can buy and sell only handmade/handcrafted items, vintage items or crafting supplies. I became addicted to browsing Etsy discovering such amazing and unique items that people created. Last winter I thought it would be cool to have an actual storefront where people could come in and buy items that were made by the wonderful artists/crafters on Etsy. With absolutely NO experience or real knowledge of what I was doing, I jumped in head first. I opened the gift store portion of Commotion! in March ‘08. It is named after Commotion In Motion, a favorite mare I worked at Hollow Haven. In June ‘08 a good friend talked me in to taking in consignment riding apparel. I was hesitant at first, but so glad I did it now. Who knew it would be so fun! It is like Christmas day every time the UPS man delivers a big box of new consignment items. =-)
Present: What keeps you busy today?
I just tried my hand at developing my own web site for the store. It is not the best in the world but I am proud of myself for making it and I stay busy adding new things as they come in and retaking pictures.
Future: Where do you see your business going in the future?
I hope for Commotion! to be known around Lexington as a place to find fun, unique, unusual items. I also hope to see the consignment riding apparel section grow, it was really needed in the immediate Lexington, KY area.
Fun: What is something most people probably don’t know about you?
I have a serious button addiction!! I collect (sewing) buttons. I especially go nuts over vintage buttons. I have literally millions of newer buttons I happened upon and sell them in my second Etsy store: www.commotionsupplies.etsy.com . I do make “button flower bouquets” that I sell in the store, but really I could just gaze at the buttons all day and be happy.
My Links:
www.shopcommotion.com
www.commotionsupplies.etsy.com
www.barrettesbycommotion.etsy.com
www.myspace.com/barrettesbycommotion
Commotion!
“Eclectic Handmade Goods”
Consignment Riding Apparel
214 W.Maxwell St.
Lexington, KY 40508
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
For some reason I have a random collection of buttons I can’t bear to throw out too! I have no clue what I will ever do with them, but like you said, they are fun to look at. Maybe there is a support group for us
when you get tired of looking at them, you can give them to me. =-D
Heather, I love looking at your website weekly. It’s so helpful to see exactly what you have. I’m sure there’s a suit there somewhere for me. I have lots of buttons, mostly generic, that I know I’ll never use. I’d be happy to send them your way.
Heather has a wonderful collection of consignment show clothes and I am happy she has started this business!
Thank you Becky!
Hi Rider, I just saw you left a reply! Please contact me at hmarchia@aol.com, I’d love to talk about your button donation. =-D