As part of a series of interviews celebrating young entrepreneurs at River Market, we explore Taryn Cheremkora’s journey from a creator of community projects to proud entrepreneur.
The inspiration for Craft Cafe originated from the desire to make the arts accessible to everyone, regardless of their age or abilities. The shop, which Taryn opened with her mom Carol in July 2017, holds space for guests to foster their creative spirit and build artistic confidence.
While having previous experience participating in arts events and festivals over the years, ONE Prize grant funding launched Taryn’s foray into designing and executing arts programming of her own. As recipients, she and her sister Tegan used the funds to host a visual and performing arts showcase as well as a series of adult craft nights. “When I worked at children’s festivals, I could see that many of the adults wanted to participate. This is where the idea began to take shape – creating a safe, laid-back environment where people feel free to explore without having to make a masterpiece”, says Taryn. Craft Cafe offers multiple ways for you to become involved in a creative practice. Visit them in store to learn more.
What is the key to your success?
Surround yourself with knowledgeable people and draw from their experience. You’ll never have time to be an expert at everything, so finding peers you can rely on for advice and support in different aspects of the business is very beneficial.
What do you love most about running your business?
As an artist and a creator, it gives me great satisfaction when people walk into our store and pick out something I’ve made from all the other options on the shelf. While it’s only a small slice of what we offer, I’m excited to see our house brand expand. It’s also very rewarding to offer children and adults alike the experience of making, and the feeling it brings to see the outcome of your efforts.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned while running your business?
You can never be too organized. Though it may seem time-consuming, organizing yourself from the get-go saves you many headaches in the long run. Especially when it comes to tax time! And when it comes to licenses and permits, everything takes longer than you think, so put in your applications as soon as possible.
What advice would you give to young and aspiring entrepreneurs?
You’ll encounter a lot of naysayers, but don’t let people persuade you from pursuing an idea you are passionate about. Running your own business is potentially the most rewarding thing you can do.