HONEST TO GOODNESS

BY THE NUMBERS

4Number of peel-and-stick wallpaper prototypes 18 Number of collaborations with other artists

ENTREPRENEUR PROFILE

CHASING PAPER CO.

What do DIYers, renters, and commitment-phobes have in common? They’re all Elizabeth Rees’ target audience. She got the idea for removable wallpaper when a friend asked for help personalizing a temporary work space. Elizabeth used her family’s largeformat printing background to create colorful wall wraps that were easy to remove— # peelsticklove. Realizing it would Ȑ &&0)## ( . " decorating market, she created her company to take the fear out of DIY wallpaper. x chasingpaper.com

Connect & Network

Good news: You’re not alone. Check out these websites and conferences for entrepreneurs.

MAKERMEDIA.COM Ever heard of Maker Faires? These guys oversee them, along with Make: Magazine, Maker Shed pop-up stores, makezine.com, and an excellent mentoring community.

99U.COM Named for the concept that genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration, 99U focuses on making ideas happen.

MAKERS SUMMIT For entrepreneurs who want to grow their alreadysuccessful businesses, Makers Collective (makerscollective.org) focuses on the big picture and day-to-day challenges.

DEARHANDMADE LIFE.COM A website and conference with industry pros leading hands-on creative business panels.

SCHOOLHOUSE CRAFT.COM CONFERENCE Networking sessions and focused small business classes for creatives ranging from how to navigate contracts and legal documents to pricing and marketing your work.

SHEOWNSIT.COM Celebrates, connects, and supports women entrepreneurs.

SKILLSHARE.COM A learning community for creators that off ers online classes in design, photography, and business.

OHMY HANDMADE.COM Connects makers with other communities. The Oh My! Marketplace connects creative makers with services, supplies, and resources to help the not-so-creative side of business.

ETSY SELLERS BY THE NUMBERS 1.5

million+

sellers on Etsy

39

median age 86

percent female 96 percent run businesses from home

18

percent sell goods on Etsy full-time 81 percent motivated by creativity

68

percent motivated by supplemental income

ON OUR WISH LIST

A HANDFUL OF HANDMADE PRODUCTS WE COVET

Wooden matches with candy-color tips in reusable strike-on bottles. $14; skeemshop.com

FIG & YARROW An aromatic blend of sweet almond, rosemary, and lavender oils. $48; fi gandyarrow.com

CHAREST STUDIOS Recycled wire works inspired by Alexander Calder’s mobiles. Pineapple, $37; chareststudios.com

QUIN CANDY Handcrafted lollipops in puckerlicious fl avors like Sour Tangerine. $6 for bag of 10; quincandy.com

BY THE NUMBERS

40 Pages in Elizabeth’s business pitch to Sam $2 billion

Amount spent on mayo each year in the United States

ENTREPRENEUR PROFILE

EMPIRE MAYONNAISE CO.

( &.)Ȑ (-/#. &,*&'(. ),",')'Į-")'' '3)(( #-ġ&#4. "&&/*,-/" ' -)( .)-.  ,. -'&&ĵ. "/-# (--Ġ̙ ),. "̙,))%&3 (ĵ--.),)*(ġ . ",1-/44ķ/44Ġī0, 3)(1-&#%ġĭʞ ,. #- ( &'3)ĩ )1*,. (. #)/- (Portlandiaĵ&#%ġĮĬ&#4. ",&&-Ġ̙/. . , -'*&# (!&&ĵ(. / ,&'3)# (ȓ0),-&#%"#.  , /Ȍġ̙ )( ġ  (ʖ#'#%&ġ , #. #-" (!. "# , . / (Ġʞ0#&&.")& )) - (). ",-*#&. 3 )) -.),-Ġ)&&)1Ł'*# ,'3) )( 1#.. , ),ȓ 0),/*. -Ġx empiremayo.com

pr primer

Amy Flurry, author of Recipe for Press ($23.95) , shares tips for marketing yourself: Take fabulous photos

There’s no better tool than good photography to boost your product and your brand. Smartphones make it easier than ever. Get our tips: BHG.com/Entrepreneur Collaborate

Team up with another small business. Look for like-minded partnerships outside your industry to reach a new audience. Make social friends

Start with Instagram, then opt to share posts on Facebook and Twitter. Also share posts from people you admire. The best engagement often comes from sharing someone else’s product rather than promoting your own. Q

VISIT OUR NEW BHG ENTREPRENEUR HUB

Get details on how to start your own small business and bonus information about our profi led business owners. BHG.com/Entrepreneur

BY KATHY BARNES PHOTOS RACHEL McGINN PRODUCED BY EDDIE ROSS STYLING YVETTE GONZALES

WELCOME TO THE BRILLIANT WORLD of designer Gretchen Bond, whose only decorating rules are simple: If it’s ugly, paint it. If it’s plain, add pattern. And if it makes you happy, go for it. Dip a toe or dive right in.

When Gretchen

THE RULE

REPLACE A Bond and her WORN FLOOR husband, Chris,

BREAK IT bought their 1912

JUST Philadelphia

PAINT IT! home, they knew it could turn into a money pit if they remodeled everything that was outdated or ugly. Paint was her design salvation. The sunroom’s dingy brick floor became a showstopper with a coat of high-gloss navy paint. The basket-weave pattern gives texture to the sheen.

PAINT PICK HOLLANDLAC BRILLIANT INTERIOR IN NAVY BLUE; FINE PAINTS OF EUROPE