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Stay Creative With These Local Craft Kits 

by Lauren Publicover   |   March 03, 2021   |   Share this:  

Keeping yourself busy during the COVID-19 pandemic can be difficult. However, Original Noir Custom Creations is here to help! Owner Shadane Brown has a goal “to spread happiness through creativity and art while empowering others to take control of their future through entrepreneurship.” She is reaching her goal by selling craft kits, mobile craft parties, and team-building exercises to anyone who wants to explore their creative side.

Shadane Brown has a love for creating art with others. When asked why she started her business, Shadane shared that it was therapeutic for her to create custom pieces for her clients, bringing both herself and them joy. As her business grew she saw a pattern of people buying multiple pieces to paint in groups. She then realized that “people wanted a fun and creative way to come together, to celebrate many occasions,” and that is how her mobile craft parties were born. As this new side of her business grew, she found satisfaction in bringing happiness to a variety of different clientele. Shadane said that “the outcome of guests' art at an event and also how excited people were to actually create something beautiful” is what motivated her to sell more events rather than individual kits. Shadane’s creativity is contagious, as seen below:

Digital Main Street ShopHERE Program powered by Google Graduate, Original Noir Custom Creations

Prior to working with the ShopHERE Powered By Google team, Shadane sold her products and services through her Facebook page, which you can view here. Just like many small business owners, Shadane worried about taking her business online due to potential monthly fees and the stress of approaching new technology. However, with the help from the ShopHERE team, all of her worries were taken care of and she received a website as beautiful as her artwork. 

Shadane worked with her eCommerce Coordinator to set a goal for her online store, and pick a platform that met her budget. Shadane and her Coordinator decided that Square was the best platform to sell her products and services because of its easy-to-use features, and free basic plan. From there Shadane, gave all of her photos and ideas to the Coordinator to build the online store with. Shadane praised the process, mentioning that her Coordinator was able to aesthetically showcase her business and services. Shadane complemented Square’s navigation and platform, saying the setup is simple and easy to understand.  

Digital Main Street ShopHERE Program powered by Google Graduate, Original Noir Custom Creations

While working with her Coordinator, Shadane received the help she needed to get started online, and the continued support to learn her way around the new platform.. “From day 1 [my Coordinator] took notes and listened to what I wanted…When we would do our follow-up calls she answered all the questions I had for her with a smile.” In addition to Shadane’s positive experience with her Coordinator, she had nothing but good things to say about the ShopHERE Program. 

“The ShopHERE Program is wonderful! I have already recommended some of my fellow entrepreneurs to register. The program not only built me a beautiful, informative website but also gave me some really good tips on marketing my brand. I can't wait to utilize all the knowledge I gained going through this program.” 

To buy your own craft kit or schedule a mobile party visit her website at the link here.. If you’re looking for the same great experience of creating an online store for help your own business, you can do so through Digital Main Street

About Digital Main Street

Digital Main Street was created by the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas (TABIA) with direct support from the City of Toronto. DMS is also supported by a group of strategic business partners, including Google, Mastercard, Shopify, Meta, Intuit QuickBooks, Square, Lightspeed, Ebay and Canada Post.

A $42.5-million investment from FedDev Ontario brought together the Toronto Association of Business Improvement Areas, Communitech, Invest Ottawa and the Ontario Business Improvement Area Association to expand the Digital Main Street Platform in order to support more businesses going digital as a response to the impacts of COVID-19 in Southern Ontario.

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