Small Business Spotlight: Mooncraft Crochet

12/18/2018

Last month my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ImclydeCE2/ ran a little contest to promote “Small Business Saturday” and encourage people to shop small businesses as much as possible. We asked people to nominate their favorite small business or business owner during the week. The business with the most nominations at the end of the week won a feature blog post here. Our winner was Mooncraft Crochet! Mooncraft Crochet is located in Portland, OR and is owned by Joshua Gross.

Josh is a smart and creative young man and a very talented writer. I asked him to reply to some interview questions. The interview follows with some interruptions by me to add content related to the interview topics. (Josh’s responses are in italics.)

When did you open your Business?

Back in 2013 I started an E-reader cozy business on Facebook and would occasionally showcase other items I crocheted. E-reader cozies were not really in demand so I gradually just used the page for random posts about new crochet items.
Here is a photo of one of Josh's E-reader cozies

In 2017 I learned a basic doll pattern and tried making my very first voodoo doll. It turned out really cute, and I made several to be sold at my local metaphysical store, Moonshadow Magick, in SE Portland. I sold several voodoo dolls through Moonshadow on consignment, with the store taking a percentage and then me mostly spending what was left at the store.
The first voodoo doll that was made

In 2018, I saw an ad for the Season of the Witch craft fair at a witch shop in Tigard, OR, a place I had been and met the owner already. This seemed like the perfect foray into the craft show world, and I had a lot to do to prepare. I set up and established an online presence on Facebook under my new brand, and set up my new Etsy page so I'd have somewhere online to send customers. I printed out business cards, got a table and sign, and downloaded the square app for card purchases. Then I crocheted like crazy to set up a good amount of stock. The craft fair was extremely successful, in particular for me and my new business, and I also got several other in person sales and online sales.
I maintain my Etsy site and am always on the lookout for the next craft fair.

What inspired you?
My mother initially inspired me to crochet. My whole young life she crocheted and it was always something I wanted to learn. Voodoo dolls in particular were inspired by my time living in the South and by my love of customizing things. I also like strange and unusual gifts and collectibles.

What kinds of products do you offer?
I sell pre-made voodoo dolls as well as custom - made voodoo dolls. I also sell other crochet items when needed or available. I also currently sell jewelry.

Where can customers find your products?

My Facebook page is MoonCraft Crochet

My Etsy shop is called MooncraftCrochet.

I'm also available by email:
[email protected]

Screenshot of Josh's Etsy Store

Tell us about your internet presence

In addition to my email, Etsy, and Facebook presence, I also use Instagram as Portland Book Stores to encourage people to shop at local book stores.
With the new year, I will also be starting a voodoo doll Instagram where we'll feature different voodoo dolls in little scenarios, so be sure to keep up with my Facebook page for more info. on that in the future.

I also have my own blog, Portland Stair Adventure, where I explore all the staircases in the
Portland Stair Book by Laura O Foster.

What else would you like your customers to know about you?
I am a big advocate of small business, in particular the local independent book stores of Portland and the family and friends who operate businesses online. I am a voracious reader and passionate advocate for reading, encouraging others to read and shop at local bookstores and other small businesses.

Following are links and contact info that Josh provided in this interview. I encourage you to take the time to visit these links and enjoy the creativity of this talented young man. You will enjoy his blog(s) I am certain.

LINKS:

Mooncraft Crochet Etsy ~ https://etsy.me/2CgdW3n
Mooncraft Crochet Facebook ~ fb://page/484116454995861
Blog ~ Portlandstairadventure.wordpress.com
Instagram ~ Portland Book Stores

Email ~ the [email protected]

Please make an effort to support small business owners in your community!

*Note: Clyde Enterprises / Chameleon Essentials (CE2) sponsored this promotion
any businesses mentioned by CE2 during the promotion did not count as a nomination.

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Small Business Spotlight: Mooncraft Crochet

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