Following your dreams is the hardest choice anyone has to make. But, when you have family and friends who support you, what’s stopping you?
Alexa Mitchell, the owner of Peachfuzz Art Studio, was born and raised in New Brunswick, New Jersey. They graduated from Central Jersey College Prep Charter School in 2019 and decided to pursue further education at Loyola University in New Orleans. After one year of attending they withdrew to pursue other hobbies with their partner. Mitchell didn’t know it yet, but taking a small break from school during the pandemic would eventually be the start of something they never would have thought to be anything more than a side hustle.
“We left to chase a thousand passions,” Mitchell said. Leaving college wasn’t an easy decision, but it was a necessary one. With the support of their family and friends, Mitchell began exploring her passion for art which they have had since elementary school. They went fully into making prayer cards and digital oracle cards. At first, it wasn’t easy to come up with the right designs and come up with different concepts for cards. However, it all became much simpler when they decided to post their first set of digital affirmation cards called “Don’t Panic.”
There are a number of reservations that business owners have when starting out. Will it be worth it? Will I be in debt? Did I bite off more than I can chew? Am I capable of doing this? “I didn’t think anyone would want to buy it,” they said. Mitchell works as an auditor full time and admits there was some anxiety about leaving school to chase this dream. But then it happened: their first sale.
That’s when they knew that it was worth it and thus began the mission of how I could take my business to the next level. Mitchell now creates digital and physical copies of their cards and is working on a website in order to promote them for better prices.
Tarot, oracle, prayer and affirmation cards are separate fields and have multiple meanings and reasons for being the way they are. It’s important when creating something that it is as precise as possible. “Doing research on the art you are making,” stressed Mitchell. PeachFuzz Art Studio makes oracles and affirmation cards depending on your mood or how you feel spiritually. Everything you do has to be intentional when designing each deck. The energy, the time and dedication it takes to create decks by hand is not easy, so it’s essential to recognize that and take all the time you need as an owner to perfect it.
Reviews and comments from your customers or general audience are extremely essential. “Feedback is very important,” Mitchell exclaimed. Criticism is necessary for each business. Without feedback or comments, a business can remain stagnant and can fail to meet the needs of its customers. Communication between the buyer and the owner is important in order to not only get your money’s worth but also help improve your business.
Be aware that this is a new field and accept that new challenges will arise. When starting their business, Mitchell soon realized that there was a lot to learn. “I didn’t know how to ship anything. I had never even sent a letter before. I had to learn how to do a lot.” Things may seem overwhelming, and it may feel like you don’t know how to do anything, but recognize that you are learning how to do something you love before even starting. As an entrepreneur, it’s important to recognize that you are capable of learning all aspects of your business and no one is going to do it the way you want it done besides you. Your vision is yours alone and no one is going to see it the way you do.
Mitchell’s family supported her dreams and encouraged her to be headstrong when it comes to her goals. Regardless of who supports you and who doesn’t, as long as your business matters to you and is important to you that is all you need.
A business takes time to create a concept and exploit, have patience with yourself and realize that it isn’t easy to get a business completely off the ground and it doesn’t happen in the blink of an eye. The best thing anyone can do for themselves is doing what makes them happy. Risks don’t always pay off, but if you decide that this risk is worth it then that’s all that matters.
APN 