AriRaeCrochet

“Hi, I’m Ari. I picked up my hook at eleven, and soon enough I had my shop! Running my own business is amazing and I hope to continue working at it.” – Aria, 15

Aria Hayes is one of our 2023 scholarship winners from Michigan! We asked Aria several questions about her business, AriRae Crochet, and here is what she had to say:

What prompted you to start your business and how did you decide what to sell?

Selling my products was a fun and logical option for the future, and it gave more incentive and motivation to keep creating while sharing my craft with others. Figuring out what to sell was not hard to do. Crochet animals and plushies had always excited me, so creating what was enjoyable for me as well as items that others could use for toys and decorations was my go to plan when selling.

What makes your product or service different from other businesses?

My products are unique because I tend to create mostly smaller items with soft yarn. I take plushies that were originally meant to be made in a large form and convert them to small little plushies to act as keychains, desk friends, or stress toys. Some of my products also include bean bag filling rather than just stuffing. This adds texture to the plushie and makes them good stress friends.

What is your goal for your business—in one year, in five years, and beyond?

In the future, I hope to have orders coming in daily and selling my products in other small stores willing to partner with me. I would also like to go to markets when I can to engage in the community.

Awarding Ari a scholarship was an easy decision for us. Her dedication to her products and growing her business really helped her stand out! If you’d like to check out Ari’s adorable crochet cuties, head to her YouTube channel or her Etsy shop, which boasts over 250 amazing reviews!

Youtube: Ari 🌸🌿 – YouTube

Etsy: AriRaeCrochet – Etsy