Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Anna Barker, Owner of Ezra’s Dragon, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is called Ezra’s Dragon, and my customers are kids from 0-100. I make handmade crochet Amigurumi, stitched and filled with love.

Tell us about yourself

I, a longtime pastry chef, started Ezra’s Dragon in February 2021 after I crocheted an Amigurumi dragon for my son Ezra’s 1st birthday. I was immediately hooked and began crocheting all sorts of stuffed animals and mythical creatures as gifts or as requests for family and friends. From its humble beginnings, as a hobby merely meant to relieve the stresses of my work in professional kitchens, it soon grew into a thriving small business.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment so far is being approached by a couple of stores in my city to carry some of my items, so now I get messages from people who have bought or seen my items in those stores and want to commission me to make items for their friends or family members.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Pricing items. Trying to find a price point for an item that took me 12 hours to make while still keeping the price reasonable enough to attract a buyer is a very tricky balancing act.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Have fun! Make or sell things that you are interested in. I love making custom orders for people, but I always make sure I make things that I choose between orders to keep things exciting for myself.
  2. Use social media. When I first started Ezra’s Dragon, I hated Instagram. I decided I had to give it a chance if I wanted to expand my market, which previously had just been friends and family. When I started getting more followers, my sales went up.
  3. If you are thinking of doing online sales only, consider also getting your product into a few brick-and-mortar stores to help you get seen. It’s also a nice feeling to have a few revenue streams coming in if online sales slow down.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Whatever kind of business you start, make sure it’s something you’re interested in and will have fun doing!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ezrasdragon/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ezrasdragon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ezras_dragon/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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