Olivera Bratitch

Olivera Bratitch is making some changes. She's changing the Columbus craft scene. She's changing the way people view handmade and the ethics behind it. And she's changing her kick-ass store, Wholly Craft.

Wholly Craft is moving to a bigger and better store, right next to the current location at 3171 N. High in Columbus, Ohio. Having a store, organizing fashion shows, and being an advocate for community causes is all in a day's work for Olivera! Her store sells handmade goods from all over, with a large percentage from right here in Columbus.

One of the many wonderful things I've come to love about consigning with Wholly Craft is Olivera's openess to discussing my prices, and business practices and ethics. I've found her to be an invaluable source and a very willing ear. It's not just a business.

Olivera took a minute to chat recently and I had to share all the juicy details with you!

=What made you want to have a store?
I’ve always appreciated the quality of handmade items and the stories behind them. Though my own crafting was limited to silly little gifts for friends and the wave of glittery felt vulvas that swept Columbus in 2004, I was definitely aware of the emerging DIY movement and I wanted to find a way to support it. My business skills were a little sharper than my scissors, so I quit my bar-managing job to open a brick and mortar shop featuring handmade goods from dozens of crafters. It allows me to flex a little of
my own creative muscle, but, what’s most important to me is helping artists and crafters make a living (or at least part of a living) from their creative pursuits. And it warms my heart to know we’re kicking sweatshop-labor-based corporations right in the pants.

=How long did you plan before opening?
It was actually a pretty quick process—7 months from conception to grand opening. It was all about just taking the plunge, but, thankfully, we also had lots
of support from the community. And lots of good luck.

=Do you have a business plan? how crucial do you
think it is?
Before opening, I attended workshops at the local Women’s Business Center (check your local SBA office for details) and checked out tons of books from the local library. I spent a couple weeks writing a “real” business plan, but for long-term purposes, the ideas and I goals I came up with were much more useful than the formal structure (which you really only need to get a loan). I think it’s important to document your
goals and write a thorough marketing plan, but it can definitely be bullet points on a napkin as long as you follow through. I still revisit my plan on a regular basis. And part of it is totally written on a napkin.

=Do you have an accountant?
I do my own bookkeeping, but I highly recommend a good tax accountant. They’ll save you money in the long run and can fully decipher the mysterious code known as
tax. Find someone you have a good rapport with too—I LOVE my tax accountant and come away from our annual meetings with really good information.

=Craft fairs: love them or hate them? discuss...
Love em. It’s great to meet the women and men behind the crafty curtain. Everything is much more personal that way.

=Favorite part of your job?
Cruising for new consignors and seeing all the great new things folks are making.

=Do you make stuff on your own?
Oh, there’s a lot of cutting and pasting and occasionally some good comes out of it.

=How do you feel about etsy?
I think Etsy’s revolutionized the indie craft community and for the better. It’s opened up the possibilities of online selling for a lot of creators and exposed a much broader audience to the idea of shopping handmade. Of course troubles arise from such a huge open marketplace, but that’s unavoidable. The folks behind Etsy seem to really care about making it bigger and badder for the good of everyone involved.

=What would you want possible consignors to know?
You’ll get your checks on time. I’ve heard some real horror stories about consignment, and thus it can be hard to convince people to take the risk. Consignment can be a really beneficial relationship for both parties as long as everyone holds up their end of the bargain.

=As a store owner, what are some of the next big trends you see emerging?
In a general sense, I think we’ll see the category of "craft” continue to expand. We’re seeing more and more "functional” items being handmade and “non-functional” items becoming part of our daily lives. In terms of trends, I’d like to state for the record that I totally called the octopus thing.

=Do you have any people you consider mentors of sorts?
This sounds totally cheesy, but my parents have been such a huge influence and supportive presence. They are the walking definition of “work ethic.”

=Any favorite networking ideas?
Appetizers and booze. Personally, I’m much more social face-to-face with a couple Bloody Mary’s in me. And hummus never hurts the situation either.

=I know you often marry "crafting for the hell of it"
with the social crafting movement, how important is the activist component to
you? what is it about crafting that makes it sometimes political?
I think there’s something inherently political about practicing creativity in a culture that promotes conformity. Also, when you bring in the business end, we’re all involved in creating a system of small scale production in the middle of an out-of-control
hyper-capitalist economy. Our work is turning the traditional model of capitalism on its head—yes, we’re making money for our efforts, but we’re cooperating and building communities not crushing each other in a quest to become the next billionaire global
superpower. As crafty business people, we’re trying to take exploitation out of the equation. I think crafting is an important part of building a viable alternative to the madness of our current economic system. And I’m here to help.