Crafting an Income with Creativity Many of us have likely taken up new hobbies since the start of the pandemic, but some students took this to the next level. It should come as no surprise that at a creative-centric school like Emerson, some students channel their talent into a form of extra income. Last year, over 4.4 million new businesses were created, a 26.9 percent increase from 2019, according to data from the U.S. Business Formation Statistics. So while some students were confined to their homes, people like Tayla Dixon and Eryn McCallum were creating their own small businesses. Dixon, a jewelry maker, began creating at the beginning of the pandemic. She started out by making waist beads and other pieces for herself. Eventually, after realizing she had extra supplies, she created a Depop page (@okok_tay) last semester to sell some of her pieces. Her clients are primarily Emerson students. Dixon makes waist beads, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and anklets with primarily crystals and beads.
The sophomore business of creative enterprises major had never made jewelry prior to quarantine, but it came naturally to her. “I’m a pretty crafty person,” Dixon said. “When I was younger, I would go on YouTube and find little projects, like making slime or making little polymer clay sculptures.”” The shop is not Dixon’s main priority, so she mainly focuses on marketing through Instagram stories and encouraging her friends to do the same. Because her main demographic is Emerson students, she says it’s easy for her to deliver the products to students on campus. Going forward, Dixon hopes to expand her product line. “I started thinking about making rings. I saw someone who made clay rings that were trending, and I think that’d be so fun to make, and I have some clay already,” she said. Junior journalism student Eryn McCallum found inspiration for her necklace business during a meeting for Protesting Oppression with Educational Reform
