The Appalachian
September 18, 2020
On-campus voting site in limbo after lawsuit
App State student finds creative fame online
Men’s Tennis cut devastates players, staff
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Handmade Hustle Local artists adjust to a changing business Ansley Puckett | A&C Editor Within Boone’s local business community are several small artists offering patrons personalized, handmade, unique products. Like normal businesses, these artists had to adapt to a global pandemic, changing the way they create, package and interact with customers. Calligraphy artist Inaya Mack, who creates and sells home decor and wedding signs out of her home, says the pandemic hit some parts of her business harder than others. “There haven’t been many weddings, so I haven’t had signs from there,” Mack said. “But I am grateful to not have been super negatively impacted by the pandemic because I know other people have.” Mack mainly relies on Instagram, word of mouth and Etsy to sell her products, but with larger orders comes shipping difficulties and safety concerns. “A lot of people come to my home as well, especially with wedding signs because it’s hard to ship these really large plexiglass signs and so I’m not able to do that right now,” Mack said. Similar to traditional businesses, artists who create and sell their products must sanitize their inventory and take precautions to protect themselves and customers from infection. Elizabeth Walton, who has sold her handmade jewelry since the age of 8, has also taken safety into account when selling products. “I’ve been intentional (sic) to wear a mask going to the post office for everyone’s safety, and I try to go in the morning when it’s less busy just so I’m around less people,” Walton said. However, across the state, shipping delays caused by COVID-19 have affected delivery dates, and local artists like Walton and Mack have had to rush to keep up. “I’m having to definitely adjust my schedule and how quickly I can get things done, but also not charging them extra because of all of this that is happening,” Mack said. “It’s hard because sometimes it does negatively affect me and how I’m making money off of it.” Walton now relies more on selling jewelry from in-store locations that house her products rather than dealing with long shipping delays. “In some instances, if I’m worried about someone getting something, then I will just try to avoid shipping, and they can go to an in-store location,” Walton said. Despite its challenges, the artists believe the pandemic’s effects on their businesses haven’t been completely negative. Local artist Rachel O’Hare, who has been making and selling her creations since the eighth grade, sells earrings and stationery online and in local stores. Continued on page 3
Kara Haselton