Entrepreneur Interview – Candi King

"Entrepreneur Interview - Candi King" Wooden Toys
January 27, 2018
58 / 100

Entrepreneur Candi King is a mom of four children, ranging in age from 9 to 14. She has worked with wood extensively, and makes a variety of different wood items, including puzzles, doll houses, and barns. She also sews, and makes reusable cloth gift bags.

Entrepreneur Interview Q&A

1. What is your business/Business Name?  What does your business do?

I am co-owner of an Etsy shop called Wooden Ya Play. My mom and I make wooden toys and other crafts as well as eco-friendly reusable fabric gift bags.

2. Why did you get into this field?

What opportunities did you see? My parents started a home business around 1990 when Dad retired and they moved to Oregon. The original business was called Wooden Ya Know. They made wooden toys, crafts and furniture and sold out of their home and at local craft shows. Now the business is called Wooden Ya Play and I thought Etsy would be a great way to sell the puzzles and other small toys Mom makes. I wanted her to be able to continue doing the woodworking she loves even when going to craft shows gets to be too much for her. I also want to be able to make and sell crafts from North Carolina.

3. What have been your biggest challenges?

My biggest challenge is technology. Mom is great with the woodworking, but not so great with pictures or the computer. I knew I would be doing the online part, but I’ve been out of the computer field for so long now that I’m finding that I am also technologically challenged.

4. What has been your greatest reward?

I just started the business a couple of months ago, so I’m just proud that I was actually able to get products into my shop on Etsy.

5. If you could change something, what would it be?

If I could change something, it would be to increase (magically, of course) my ability to promote Wooden Ya Play online and via social media.

6. If you could give a new entrepreneur advice, what would it be?

Don’t procrastinate, I’ve been thinking about doing this for about 2 years. I really could have done it much sooner, but I just didn’t get around to it until this fall.

7. Social Media.  Yay or Nay?

This is my weakest link. I need to use social media to let people know about Wooden Ya Play on Etsy, but I only know how to use Facebook and even with that, I mostly just read friend’s posts. I don’t want to spend time on social media, as it takes time away from the many things I should be doing, but I need to learn more about it to promote my shop.

8. How do you market your products?

I have learned how to create a shop in Etsy and to add items. My next step is to learn to market my products. I hope to learn from friends who do use social media how to promote WoodenYaPlay, without overwhelming anyone with unwanted emails or endless pictures.

9. Is your business a service or a product? If you are a product, how do you handle production?

Mom and I produce wooden toys and crafts and I make fabric gift bags. All of our products are handmade. We handle production in our home shops in Oregon and North Carolina. That is one of the things I love about Etsy, you sell what you make, no need to make dozens of an item. Mass production takes the creative fun out of making wooden crafts and makes sewing backbreaking.

10. What is unique about your business?

Wooden Ya Play makes toys and crafts that are unique. Every puzzle, Welcome sign, and bag are cut, sanded, painted or sewn by Mom and I. There are not too many 80 + year old women still out in a woodworking shop every day creating toys. Mom is really a fantastic role model for me and for my girls.

11. Sell me your product/service.

Wooden Ya Play can help you give fun, unique, and creative gifts to many of the people on your list. We make toys, such as fun and educational wooden puzzles or small wooden farm or zoo animals for children. “Welcome” signs with seasonal decorations that hang from them would be fun to give as gifts or to decorate for holidays and seasons throughout the year. Wrap them all up in my eco-friendly reusable fabric gift bags. New items are added frequently, so check back often to WoodenYaPlay on Etsy.

12. How can people get in touch with you? What’s your website/Contact information?

Currently I can be contacted through my Etsy shop, WoodenYaPlay. A website is in our future plans. I can also be contacted at WoodenYaPlay@gmail.com

Categories

More Posts:

The Power of Women-Owned Small Businesses

     Women-owned small businesses are on the rise, and their impact is undeniable. In fact, in 2019 alone, women-owned nearly 12 million businesses that employed nearly 9 million people and generated over $1.9 trillion in revenue. From retail to technology to finance,...

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

We invite many people who can invest in our Akiba Ya umoja community benefit savings and investment group of Uganda to enable us expand our operations in Uganda

Soe Tun: The Copy Doctor

Autistic kid finds out that he’s unemployable and doesn’t enjoy most social settings. Decides to be a pro copywriter as a result.

Annie Anderson – Business Strategist & WordPress Creator

Annie Anderson is the owner and digital creator at Midnight Rebel Digital Co. With over 25 years experience in design and development and more than 15 years experience with WordPress, Annie is a great person to have in your corner when it comes to websites, tech, and systems.

How Entrepreneurs Can Stave Off Burnout

Have you been feeling more stressed and exhausted than normal lately? Everyone experiences burnout at some point in their career, and this is even more common with entrepreneurs due to the many responsibilities that they have. Here are a few ways to stave off burnout...

Strategies and Technology for Female Entrepreneurs

Since entrepreneurship is the foundation of any nation's economy, it is essential to economic development in developed and developing nations. In the last several decades, there has been a significant improvement in the role of women in our society. Women are now...

Role of female entrepreneurs in a changing society

Over the past few decades, there has been a significant increase in female entrepreneurship. More women are choosing to launch their businesses and participate in the world of business creation, one of the rapidly expanding facets of entrepreneurship globally. But in...

Features Every Health Insurance Plan Should Have

When creating a health insurance plan for your employees, you want to be as thoughtful as possible. Not everyone is in the same situation and they need health plans that are flexible and customizable.  There are some features you can add to your plan to make sure your...

How Entrepreneurs Can Feel More Confident in Their Appearance

When you are an entrepreneur, the way you look is a big part of your success, because people will tend to want to help your business if you make a good impression. It can be difficult to like the way you look, but when you put in the effort, you can improve your...

How to Be a Better Mentor to Your Employees

As an employer, you have a lot of responsibilities on your plate that you need to take care of. And while you can get through your work by just handling those basic responsibilities, you can make a bigger impression with your business if you focus on creating an...
Nyago Michael Emmanuel

Nyago Michael Emmanuel

We invite many people who can invest in our Akiba Ya umoja community benefit savings and investment group of Uganda to enable us expand our operations in Uganda

All Categories

Business Operations

Entrepreneur Interviews

Marketing, Networking, & Social Media

Self Care & Personal Development

Working Moms

Business Software and Technology

Entrepreneurship & Small Business

Organizing Tips

Sales

Career Building

Family Businesses

Inspiration

Starting Your Own Business

Work-Life Balance

Communication

Hiring Help

Management & Leadership

Time Management & Priorities

Women in Leadership

Recent Posts

Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

Elements That Should Be Part of Your Company Retreat

A company retreat is an excellent opportunity for team-building, learning new skills, and fostering relationships between colleagues. Whether your team is large or small, a well-planned retreat can be an invaluable investment in your company's success. We will explore...

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

How to Make Employee Health a Priority

Prioritizing employee health is crucial for creating a healthy and productive work environment. By investing in the health and wellbeing of your employees, you can improve morale, reduce absenteeism, and build a positive company culture. Here are some tips on how to...

Why You Should Run Your Business on the Latest Technology

Why You Should Run Your Business on the Latest Technology

In today's fast-paced business environment, keeping up with technological advancements is essential for success. Implementing the latest technology can offer numerous benefits, such as improved productivity, enhanced data security, and reduced costs.  Improve...

What are local links and how to earn them

What are local links and how to earn them

What local links are and how they might assist local businesses develop an efficient SEO strategy are covered in this article. Local links allow visitors to learn more about a region and its businesses by connecting websites from the same area that are relevant to one another. They must be pertinent to the neighbourhood and offer valuable resources or information. Content marketing, reviews, sponsored content, social media, and directories are all ways to generate local links.

Ways for Increasing Property Management Lead Generation

Ways for Increasing Property Management Lead Generation

Property management is not a simple job, there are multiple tasks that a property manager should complete for various property investors. Marketing is one of the difficult parts, but it’s crucial. You can only attract tenants to your property and gain income after you have generated leads. Therefore, you should try your best to come up with smart and effective strategies to get your company known.