This week’s podcast guest, Twinkie Chan, has been a favorite of mine for years. I discovered her brand during my early attempts at running an Etsy shop. She was my creative crush when I got started selling things online way back in 2009. Twinkie Chan is a crochet designer who creates fun, food-themed accessories like cupcake scarves, hamburger mitts, and hot dog purses. Her unique work has been featured online, in print, and on television, from BuzzFeed to Mollie Makes to HGTV.
In this episode, we discuss how she got started as a crocheter, why she decided to create food-themed accessories, her initial reluctance to becoming a YouTuber and how she’s maintained longevity in the handmade industry.
Full Episode (Right-click to download)
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BEST MOMENTS:
- [3:00] – How Twinkie Chan got started
- [7:20] – The impact of her work on the younger crowd
- [8:45] – Embracing YouTube to grow her brand
- [11:45] – Breaking the rules on Instagram
- [14:25] – Monetizing as a handmade artist
- [18:52] – Over the top craft shows booths and creating the Twinkie Chan experience
- [22:45] – Branding and staying consistent
- [25:00] – Being herself and her brand
- [26:45] – Keys to success and challenges
- [34:50] – Biggest lesson she’s learned in her entrepreneurial journey
- [36:40] – Pimp Your Brilliance action challenge
VALUABLE RESOURCES:
- To Checkout – Craftcation
- To Read – I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson (affiliate link)
Thank you for having Twinkie Chan on your podcast! She is my crochet hero and I follow her blog and have both of her books. I love her designs because not only are they cute designs, they are also FUN designs to make! She has inspired me to start my own ETSY shop and I am in the early stages of that. I have learned a lot from this podcast and have enjoyed listening to it very much! Thanks again!
She was such a fun guest to interview. I’m so glad you enjoyed the episode.