Check Out Annie Clay’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Clay.  

Hi Annie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I have always been a very crafty person. I hand-made countless gifts for friends and family, and I was the go-to person to DIY an art project. In 2018 I was painting some canvases for a friend when my husband (but fiancé at the time) said, “You could probably sell these online.” With his encouragement and help, I painted some canvases and listed them on Etsy. 

For 2 years, my business was mostly a hobby and a way to make extra money to put towards wedding expenses. We would always be busier during the holiday season, staying up late every night making signs and packing orders. In March of 2020, I was not able to work my full-time job and saw that as an opportunity to put everything into my business. I wanted to make it something that could sustain me all year long; I just had to prove to myself that it was possible. 

I created my own website and added a variety of new products to my catalog. By 2021 I was signing up for in-person markets and getting my products into shops and greenhouses across the country. 

My business has evolved so much in the last 5 years, and I’m both proud and grateful for where I am today. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I always say running a business is not for the faint of heart. 

When I think about the biggest struggle I’ve had, I think of the 2020 holiday season. This was the first holiday season I was working for my business full-time, so I wanted to take as many orders as possible. This was also the year where all shipping providers had significant delays so we knew we had to work hard to get orders out as quickly as we could. There were a lot of long days and nights to fulfill all of the orders. I think the last two weeks of November, we would work 9 AM-1 AM every day. We joke that my mom practically moved in with us at that point because she was helping so much. 

Orders would take weeks to travel a few states away, and we had to plan for that. I am so thankful my customers were so incredibly kind and understanding, and luckily everything arrived on time. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I make plant-themed art, accessories, home goods, and stationery. I have a huge passion for plants and have a small collection at home, so when I ran out of room for plants, I started drawing them. Now I can carry my favorite plants with me on items like stickers, keychains, and pins. And instead of buying a very expensive plant that’s on my wish list, I can paint it and hang an art print of it on my wall. I have even more items, including greeting cards, sun catchers, cups, bookmarks, cavas bags, and more. 

I am most proud of my collection of hand-painted clay pots. I purposefully painted designs that I thought would compliment the plant they held rather than distract from it. They turned out to be simple and modern, and I really loved how they came together, I even kept a few for my own plants. It felt like the perfect combination of my love of art and plants. 

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My family and friends have always been the most important thing to me. Up until we got married, my husband and I always worked opposite or conflicting schedules. Now I’m able to work what works best for us to have the most quality time together. 

I get to see my mom at least one day a week, and while we spend most of the time working on orders, we also get to catch up, have deep conversations, and watch shows together. This last holiday season we watched Gilmore Girls from beginning to end and cried over how much we value our own mother-daughter relationship. 

I’ve gotten even closer to existing friends because of their support and involvement. My family and friends always come visit me at markets, and it gives us just another excuse to see each other. I also have friends who have helped me work events, build my website, and more. I have incredible people in my life, and Clay Collection Co. has just exemplified that. 

And I’ve made SO many new friends from Instagram, small business events, and markets. Some truly amazing people have become an important part of my life, and I wouldn’t have met them if I didn’t start chasing my dreams. 

Pricing:

• Most products range in price from $3.50 – $25

Contact Info:

• Website: www.claycollectionco.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/claycollectionco
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/claycollectionco