I opened my shop in 2010 and ran it successfully for 3 years part-time while working full-time in Corporate Communications and Graphic Design for a National Franchise in Waterloo Region. I quit my day-job in 2013 to expand my online shop to meet the needs of my wholesale partners and take part in large retail shows for my customers. During this time, I partnered with the Economic Development Team in the City of Waterloo and launched two new markets in our community, the Etsy Local Market and the Etsy Holiday Market, which is the most attended handmade show in the Region. As co-captain of the Etsy Waterloo Region team, I hosted workshops, bootcamps, meet-ups and educational sessions to help our local sellers succeed. After 5 years of running my shop full-time, I was offered the opportunity to work with a great organization, Junior Achievement Waterloo Region (JA), of which I am an Alumni. JA teaches students about entrepreneurship, financial literacy and work readiness; all three of which I am passionate about. I now work with Laurier's Women Entrepreneurship Centre, sharing my experience and expertise with women entrepreneurs globally. I continue to balance my business with my passion, and I am energized by the creativity and collaborative nature of our community of sellers.