Founder Files 2 — Brynn, The Crafty Peanut

What do you want people to feel the moment they interact with your business (walk in, open the package, book the service, visit your site)?

I would like people to be reminded of family and love. When I am talking to clients and eventually provide balloon or event planning services I hope they include me as part of the family because they know I care as much as they do about their event. I hope they can see my passion for the work come through the small details I craft into each event.

What’s a “you have to hear this” moment from a customer that reminded you why you started?

The most rewarding experience I have had with a client so far has been helping to plan a baby shower for a client. I have known this client for my entire life because we go to the same catholic church. She has watched my family grow up through the years and I developed a strong connection with her and her husband. Her husband has now passed on, and she was adamant about using my services for events because she was grateful for my kindness to her and her husband. Now that I am helping her with her baby shower, it has been a full circle moment since I have known her since I was a little girl and now, I am helping her get ready for the birth of her new grandchild. I am honored to be a part of the event and am grateful to be part of the family’s celebration.

Why did you start this business?

From a young age I was passionate about 2 things, being creative and organizing. Once I started looking into possible careers, event planning was the perfect combination. I am passionate about helping people make meaningful memories and elevating events through large and small details. I started the business because I wanted to be in a leadership role and build something from the ground up. I was determined to make my own path for my career.

Where were you in life when you first thought, “This might actually work”?

Obviously, my family is very important to me and both my parents, and my 2 older brothers come with me to help set up events if I need it. My brothers are the biggest role models in my life, and I do not know what I would do without them. I remember sitting with my family one day and my younger of the 2 brothers starts rehashing a conversation he had with another person. The person asked, “How does your sister make those balloons?” My brother then starts to tell me his response, “well she does this, and this, etc.” I was amazed at how he was able to elaborate to this person exactly how I created a balloon arch step by step. In that moment I was extremely overwhelmed, and it made me realize that my success was also a reflection of my family, the business was extremely real to me in that moment. I was reminded of the passion I have for the business, and I knew that if I kept working hard the business might actually work because more people would continue to learn about my services and support me.

What did you not expect about becoming a business owner?

Becoming a business owner, I did not expect the difficulty of communicating with my clients. I grew up always doing craft projects with my talented mom and we are at the point where we know what each other is thinking when it comes to craft projects. With this being said, my family is my sounding board when working through planning an event or balloon installation. Since my family is on the same page and understand the terms/ideas that I am explaining, I am able to communicate my vision with them easily and vice versa. However, when it comes to clients it is harder for me to understand what they are envisioning. I have to remind myself that they do not understand the different terms I am using and it is best to have visuals. Ultimately, I expected my job was to make sure my client’s vision came to life, but I did not expect the difficulty I would have with communicating.

What does a typical day look like for you right now (even if it’s chaotic)?

A typical day for me can be very challenging as a business owner and college student. Not only do I have to balance my class schedule I also work 2 jobs on campus, I am the President of the Women in Business Club, and I am involved in a few other clubs on campus. With this being said I spend a lot of my time going to class, work, meetings, and finding time to study. I am still able to talk with clients and work on anything they need at night or on the weekends. When I have university planned breaks, I work on business tasks to get everything organized, plan for upcoming events, and work on tasks to continue improving. Since I got my LLC, I have constantly been updating spreadsheets and print outs to make it easier for myself to record information and talk to clients.

What’s the hardest part to balance: time, money, family, energy, visibility, something else?

The hardest part for me to balance is my classes and running the business. At this current point in time, I put a lot of work into the business, but my top priority is my degree. I am majoring in Accounting and getting a minor in Entrepreneurship. I have learned an immense amount of information and gained many resources that have helped me start my business. I am truly grateful for the support system that has helped me earn a degree and also start my business at the same time.

What’s a behind-the-scenes task you spend a surprising amount of time on?

A perfectionist at heart I am always overthinking things. I spend a lot of time checking purchase orders and going through my client’s vision. This means I spend a lot of time organizing information because I have a fear of forgetting important information. I believe a lot of people do not realize that I am not just spending time on physically constructing a balloon arch I am talking with clients, ordering materials, organizing schedules, and designing installations. Furthermore, since I am a college student I do not work on projects for every client every single day so it is important that I review information before I start working on a task.

When things get tough, what keeps you going?

During the school semester, it can be hard to take classes and constantly be studying because I am burnt out from doing schoolwork. When things get tough, I think of my future and running the business full time, which is the dream. It is a great reminder that motivates me to continue working hard in all of my classes because it is preparing me for the future. It also helps me to think of classes and everything I am involved in on campus as experience that is building by knowledge and skills. Each day I get one step closer to that dream.

What’s a lesson you learned the “hard way” that you’d tell another woman starting out?

The biggest lesson I have learned so far is that my time is valuable. I struggle pricing my services for clients because it is hard to maintain a balance between a price that will keep them coming back and a price that makes the labor I put in worth it. Even though pricing is a struggle I would tell anyone starting out that you are still learning and more confidence will come in time. For now, it is important that you value your time and make it reflect in the price. It is important to remember that if you did not provide the service your client will most likely find someone else who will.

What are you most proud of since starting (a milestone, a risk you took, a change you made)?

I am most proud of officially launching my business. I knew for a few years during high school that I wanted to start my own business, so it was very invigorating when I finally announced it to everyone. In high school people would ask me what the name of my business was going to be and I would not tell them. “The Crafty Peanut,” is extremely special to me because it comes from the nickname my Dad gave me since birth, “Peanut.” When I was finally able to announce the name to the world and answer questions about it has made me proud that I was able to take the risk and just start.

What’s a moment you realized, “Okay…this is real now”?

A moment that I realized the business was real was when I was applying for my LLC. When I finally got the confirmation and started to get mail that said “The Crafty Peanut” above the address, it was surreal. I remember thinking well it is official, this is a real thing, I am really doing this. At that point all I had to do was tell the world.

What makes Northeast OH special to you?

Northeast Ohio is special to me because it has been my home for my whole life. I have immediate and extended family that live throughout the area. Furthermore, choosing to go to John Carroll University added on to my love for Northeast Ohio, the community that I have found on campus is like no other.

What’s one Northeast Ohio hidden gem you love (coffee shop, park, boutique, event) and why?

A hidden gem of Northeast Ohio is White House Fruit Farm. Not only do they have amazing produce and many bakery goodies, but they also have amazing blueberry doughnuts! The fruit farm is a great reminder of home, and it has the perfect cozy aesthetic inside their barns which are surrounded by their farmland.

If someone is reading this and wants to support you today, what’s the easiest way?

I can be contacted through social media, Instagram (@the_crafty_peanut_llc) and Facebook (@The Crafty Peanut LLC).

Give us a balloon tip.

When it comes to balloon installations, quality is top priority. I use quality balloons because they are easier to use, safer for my skin, and overall help me produce a better product for my client’s vision.

A non-negotiable in your routine (in your daily life).

A non-negotiable in my daily routine is to fill out my journal every night. I keep a tracking journal that records things like fitness activities, sleep schedule, and the number of pages I read in a book each day, etc. All the things I track help me become more aware of my well-being and the things I do to become the best version of myself. Within the journal, I also write down a highlight of the day that helps me reflect on my day as a whole and find something positive even if I had a difficult day.

If your business had a theme song or vibe, what would it be and why?

If The Crafty Peanut had a theme song it would be “Best Day of My Life” by the American Authors. In general, I love upbeat songs that have fun music and are overall positive. This song is also perfect because when I work with my clients I am actually helping them plan the best days of their lives. I love having the opportunity to play a part in many people’s happy memories.