DayDream River Co. F
or the majority, quarantine has been a time to binge-watch Netflix, try out new recipes, and scroll endlessly through TikTok and other social media platforms. But for Elise Dudley and Sam Martin, owners of Daydream River Company, this has been a time to be creative and make an impact. Daydream River Company is a charming online business selling artisanal décor and accessories through Instagram and Etsy. Located on the Farmington River in northwest Connecticut, the business offers hand-made products ranging from stickers, macrame keychains, bohemian crystal jewelry, and even custom-made functional shelves. The idea for the business was created about a year ago, when Dudley was looking to buy shelves for her dorm room on Etsy. When she ran the possible purchase by Martin, he replied with the idea of building them on their own to avoid paying the high price of the shelves. After purchasing supplies from the hardware store, the couple made their own version of the shelves for only a fraction of the original price. When Dudley decorated her dorm at school with the shelves, she received many compliments. The praise from those around her prompted the couple to start Daydream River Company. They also began to see a high demand for other products, such as jewelry, leading Dudley to learn how to bead and make pendants. They received a great deal of custom orders for various products, such as custom size shelves or jewelry containing a certain crystal or property. Most of Daydream River Company’s sales are made through Instagram and Etsy, and social media has played a significant role in helping to promote the business. “That’s something so great about it [social media]. You see all of these sellers on TikTok and you’re like ‘I can do that!’ so I did it,” Dudley said. The business was able to flourish because of the skills previously acquired by each of the owners. Dudley has always been creative, self-identifying as a “grandmother at heart,” with a lasting passion for crafting in all forms. She taught herself to knit, which led her to pick up crocheting, macramé, and jewelry-making. Dudley purchases cord— which she uses for the keychains—in bulk, as well as the wooden rings and beads used for other products offered in their online shop. Driven by a desire to support small local businesses during the pandemic, all the crystals and gems she uses to make jewelry are sourced locally
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