RANGE | Art by Darcie Gray: Motivation, Murals, and Building a Creative Business

Marketing, Wholesale, and AI for Small Businesses with Jessi McNeal Marketing + Bookkeeping

In this episode of Hey Julie by Moss Bags, I’m joined by Jessi McNeal of Jessi McNeal Marketing + Bookkeeping. Jessi started as a maker, artist, singer, and songwriter before evolving into marketing and bookkeeping support for other small businesses. Today, she helps product-based business owners with websites, email marketing, wholesale pitching, bookkeeping, and the behind-the-scenes systems that make business feel less overwhelming. We talk about what makers often overthink in marketing, how to start when everything feels like too much, what’s working in wholesale and direct-to-consumer sales, and how small business owners can use AI without losing their own voice. In this episode, we talk about: * Jessi’s journey from music and art to product-based business * Why her handmade pet products gained traction * The reality of labor-heavy products and burnout * How she shifted into marketing and bookkeeping support * What makers are overthinking in their marketing * Why your website is often the best place to start * Wholesale pitching tips for makers and product-based brands * How to use Faire without losing track of your margins * Why email marketing still matters * How AI can help small businesses without replacing their voice Favorite quote: “Deep breath, number one. Quiet the voices. Maybe take a little Instagram break from all the business influencers and your peers, and just get a little quiet.” Connect with Jessi Website: jessimcneal.com [https://www.jessimcneal.com] Instagram: jessimcnealmarketing [https://www.instagram.com/jessimcnealmarketing/] Start Your Store on Shopify [https://shopify.pxf.io/oN4ZDY] The ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com [https://mossbags.com/] Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags [https://instagram.com/moss.bags] Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com [https://www.merakiphotographynw.com/]

RANGE | Art by Darcie Gray: Motivation, Murals, and Building a Creative Business

Today I’m chatting with artist and muralist Darcie Gray, the creative behind RANGE | Art by Darcie Gray. Darcie’s work is immediately recognizable: natural landscapes, a limited palette of blue, green, black, and white, and this beautiful balance of calm and energy that feels so connected to nature. In this conversation, we talk about what keeps her creating - how she stays motivated, builds momentum as an artist and business owner, and keeps the work feeling playful and alive even when it became her livelihood. Darcie shares how her background in apparel design shaped the way she sees art in people’s everyday lives, why recognizability builds connection, and how saying yes to new creative ideas - like murals, hand-painted clothing, and public art - has helped her business grow in unexpected ways. Favorite Quote “You’ve gotta infuse fun in your work and do things just because you want to.” - Darcie Gray In this episode, we talk about: * How Darcie’s limited color palette became part of her signature style * Why her apparel design background influences the way she creates art today * How artists can forget their work is still new and exciting to everyone else * What helps Darcie stay motivated as a self-employed artist * Why deadlines, calendars, and saying yes can create momentum * How she protects joy, curiosity, and experimentation in her business * The story behind her murals, hand-painted clothing, and public art Connect with Darcie: My website is: www.rangedesignstudio.com [http://www.rangedesignstudio.com/] Print Shop on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RangeDesignStudio [https://www.etsy.com/shop/RangeDesignStudio] IG: @darciegray_art [https://www.instagram.com/darciegray_art/] Start Your Store on Shopify [https://shopify.pxf.io/oN4ZDY] The ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com [https://mossbags.com/] Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags [https://instagram.com/moss.bags] Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com [https://www.merakiphotographynw.com/]

Shopify Isn’t Just a Website - It’s the Ecosystem My Business Needed

If you’ve ever pieced together your business across Etsy, Squarespace, in-person sales, email, and wholesale inquiries, this episode is for you. This week, I’m sharing why I outgrew the platforms that helped me get started, how Shopify became the home base for my business, and what I think every product-based business owner should consider when building an online store that actually supports growth. In this episode, I cover: * Why outgrowing a platform doesn’t mean you made the wrong choice * The difference between having places to sell and having a connected business * Why Shopify works so well for product-based businesses * How apps, analytics, and integrations can help your business grow * The role of product photos, video, and descriptions in building trust * How to make your website work harder by answering customer questions * Why your website should support your brand, not just your checkout If you’re building a handmade or product-based business and craving a stronger system, this one is for you. "A beautiful store gets attention, a strategic store gets conversions, and a strong store gives you room to grow." Start Your Store on Shopify [https://shopify.pxf.io/oN4ZDY] The ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com [https://mossbags.com/] Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags [https://instagram.com/moss.bags] Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com [https://www.merakiphotographynw.com/]

Mary Morris Solomon of MaryGold Tales on Building a Creative Business One Yes at a Time

In this episode, I’m sitting down with Mary Morris Solomon, the artist and storyteller behind MaryGold Tales, to talk about her path from secret childhood art to building a creative business filled with small-batch stationery, illustrations, paintings, and live event portraits. Mary shares what it looked like to leave behind a career that no longer felt aligned, start creating during a season of massive change, show up to her first market with a four-foot table and seven card designs, and learn to trust the gut feelings that kept opening the next door. We also talk about: * Building a creative business without a rigid plan * Why in-person markets can create instant connection * Seeing social media as community, not just content * Saying yes to opportunities, then knowing when to realign * Why artists and makers need to understand their numbers * Building something that feels like you, not someone else Favorite quote from the episode: “Don’t chase my dream. Chase yours, and let me clap for you.” If you’ve ever wondered whether the creative thing you keep quietly making could become something more, this conversation will remind you: start where you are, follow what feels aligned, and let your story unfold. Connect with Mary: Website: https://www.marygoldtales.com [https://www.marygoldtales.com/] Instagram: @marygold.tales [https://www.instagram.com/marygold.tales/] Start Your Store on Shopify [https://shopify.pxf.io/oN4ZDY] The ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com [https://mossbags.com/] Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags [https://instagram.com/moss.bags] Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com [https://www.merakiphotographynw.com/]

Helen Worthington of Three in Kind on the Trademark Issue That Forced Her to Rebuild Her Business

Helen didn’t plan to rebuild her business because of a trademark issue - but that’s exactly what happened. In this episode, I’m sitting down with Helen Worthington, the designer and maker behind Three in Kind, to talk about her journey from U.S. Navy jet pilot to creative small business owner. Helen first built CAVU Creations, a brand deeply connected to her aviation background and love of making, but after years in business, she received a letter about a trademark issue that forced her to make a difficult decision: fight it, rename it, or close that chapter and start again. We talk about what small business owners should understand about naming, trademarks, research, business insurance, and protecting your work - not as legal advice, but as a real, honest story from someone who lived it. Helen also shares what the early days of selling on Etsy looked like, how she brought her kids into her business and markets, why she eventually wanted to move away from handmade production, and how she created Three in Kind as a brand with more room to grow. If you’re naming a business, launching a product, building a brand, or wondering what to do when your business needs to pivot, this conversation is such an important reminder: do your research, ask questions, and know that starting over does not mean starting from scratch. Favorite Quote: “Sometimes you do not choose the timing of the change, but you still get to choose what comes next.” In this episode, we talk about: * How Helen went from U.S. Navy jet pilot to creative small business owner * The early days of CAVU Creations and selling on Etsy * What CAVU meant and why the name was so personal to her * The trademark issue that forced Helen to decide whether to fight, rename, or rebuild * What small business owners should consider when naming a business or product * Why business insurance does not always cover the issues you might expect * How she chose the name Three in Kind and built a brand with more room to grow * The role her kids played in markets, making, and the heart behind her business * Why research, community, and asking questions matter so much for makers Connect with Helen: Website: https://threeinkind.com [https://threeinkind.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/threeinkind/ [https://www.instagram.com/threeinkind/] Start Your Store on Shopify [https://shopify.pxf.io/oN4ZDY] The ecommerce platform I use and recommend for product-based businesses. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Connect with Julie | Moss Bags: Website: https://mossbags.com [https://mossbags.com/] Instagram: https://instagram.com/moss.bags [https://instagram.com/moss.bags] Photography by Lisa Aamot | https://www.merakiphotographynw.com [https://www.merakiphotographynw.com/]