We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Lewis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. As a kid I was always crafting and my father owned a wood working business. I believe watching and working with him inspired me to know I could run my own business too. When I became a stay at home mom 6 years ago I picked up crafts that I started selling to fill my down time. That lead me to where I am today designing hats.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Growing up in the country of North Carolina I’ve always been a southern girl and love western fashion! When I stumbled upon the idea of burning hats I thought it was the neatest thing and it sparked my creativity again. In 2020 we all went through a hard time and so my inspiration to be creative dropped. I shifted my focus to making sure my family of 5 was healthy and well taken care of. Today, I’m still working on growing my business and grateful for all the opportunities that have presented within the past few months. Customer service is important when working one on one with someone to bring their vision to life. Being attentive to detail and responding within a reasonable time frame to questions. The biggest challenge faced is finding work/life balance. I’m more than a business owner. I’m a mom, wife, and homemaker. Working from home can have its challenges, especially when your business is busy. I’ve had to learn to schedule my time so that I’m getting everything accomplished within a timely manner between work and family. I want the world to know that you can be a mom, wife, caretaker, and still go after your dreams! These hats are a way of self expression. I love how each one is unique and how happy my customers are when they see them. Once you wear them, they spark self confidence in knowing this hat was made for you!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Here in SWFL there are so many great things to do! The beaches for one are always a great choice. We have a boat and enjoy going fishing and getting a cheeseburger in paradise at Cabbage Key. There is always a festival going on in downtown Fort Myers to enjoy, whether it be food trucks or art. I also love all the farmer’s markets around town. It’s fun for the whole family because many of them have petting zoo’s and afterwards you can get a great meal from their restaurant.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have bounced around with different ideas of what I wanted my small business to be. I’ve dabbled in a few different areas that have been successful but not on the scale of where my hats have taken me. My husband has been the hugest supporter and encourager along the way! No matter how crazy the idea sounded, or the financial investment, he has encouraged me 100% of the way. When I decided to start burning hats I reached out to Carlee Sue with The Copper Bronc and she has been a great mentor in answering any questions I may have. In an industry where there are others doing similar things to you not everyone is willing to share knowledge. I am grateful for her encouragement and support!

Website: https://daffodilthreadsco.com/

Instagram: @daffodilthreadsco

Facebook: facebook.com/daffodilthreadsco

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