Farmhouse Traders®
Karen Reilly, Proprietor Farmhouse Traders®, Est. 2020
Creative Outlet to Small Business
In 2020, Karen found herself searching for a creative outlet. She revisited needle-felting, a craft she had dabbled in before. Needle felting involves sculpting wool into shapes and figures using a specialized barbed needle. It began as a hobby and soon blossomed into something bigger: a small business. Throughout this journey, her husband and two teenage children have been supporters, offering ideas, inspiration, and even hands-on help to bring her creative visions to life.
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Navigating the Learning Curve
Karen’s needle-felting projects quickly gained attention, drawing interest from local businesses and future customers. This encouraged Karen to transform her hobby into a full-fledged business.
This path involved more than just needle-felting and wool. Karen embraced the learning opportunities, diving into building her own website, mastering the intricacies of managing social media, and designing logos and packaging that reflected her brand’s personality. Navigating the complexities of some steps like taxes and trademarks proved challenging, but it has added valuable experience to her entrepreneurial journey.
Community Connection
What started as an interest in needle-felting has grown. Her business reaches customers and fans across various communities, allowing her to share her creations with a wide audience.
One of the most fulfilling aspects of this experience has been the personal connections she’s made. Fans of Woodstock and Duke—two popular topics linked to her felting projects—have shared their own stories and memories, adding an unexpected level of depth to Karen's work. These interactions have transformed her business into more than just a transaction; they feel like a shared experience, bringing a personal dimension that continues to motivate and inspire her.
Featured on WPDH 101.5 fm, May 2021
The "Home of Rock & Roll" spotlighted an article featuring the newly released DUKE figures! This brought exposure, leading to new orders and valuable connections.
CLICK TO READ on WPDH https://shorturl.at/o24d9