In 2008 at the not so fresh age of 32, Finki began whilst I was on maternity leave with baby number two.
I started by making hand stitched bowls, baskets and journals in my spare time and selling them on Etsy and at small local craft markets.
In 2009, a fantastic opportunity came my way to join an artist collective in Brunswick called Olive Grove studios. It was a retail space, that represented the work of 10 designers.
Excited by the prospect of being in a retail space, mixed with equal parts fear of whether or not I would sell enough to pay my rent, I began the next part of my creative journey.
Selling my craft in a retail space, where I set the prices, did my own displays and got to work in store once a week keeping in touch with customers, fellow collective members and the crafty community was my idea of the best job ever.
I was a part of Olive Grove for over 4 years and loved having the opportunity to learn more about myself and my label. It was an amazing time to be a part of the crafting community and it taught me so much about the business side of running a creative space.
In 2013 Olive Grove studios closed it doors when the founder decided to take a step back from retail and focus on teaching.
Fortunately the shop space was available to rent and as I dearly loved the community I had become a part of over the years, I decided to continue renting the space and formed a partnership with fellow collective member Anna Flynn of Polly Pratt.
Our new shop Ruby's Nest, was born Jan 2014, a home for our labels, Finki and Polly Pratt.
It was so awesome to build something from the ground up, create our own look and inject our own personality into.
Each week the space evolved and grew into something we just loved more and more.
As the end of our 2 year lease approached though, it was decision time and life was to change, yet again.
Just when thought I had it all sorted out.
My business partner Anna was having a baby, moving house and setting up shop on the other side of town so I was at a crossroads, needing to make a decision as to which way to go.
Knowing the rent of our Brunswick premises I really didn't think it was an option to go it alone, so begun a period of seeking advice from accountants, bookkeepers and business mentors to test the viability of staying at 159 on my own.
Easy is not a word I would use in describing the decision making process and easy is not a word I would use to describe the job that I had laid out before me ...
but I have never been one to take the easy road.
I'm not afraid of a challenge and I believe with all my heart that if you come from a good place, with heartfelt intentions you are on the right track.
Back it up with a bit of hard yakka and 110% commitment and you have a wonderful foundation from which to spring board life in any direction you want.
So began, the next phase of my life ...
In Dec 2015 I opened my own shop space called 'Finki'.
Representing my handmade range, along side the work of over 40 independent designers, makers, jewelers and artist.
It was so exciting to take this step and bloody scary too !
It's not all crafty parties and fabric shopping.
So it was a huge balancing act to keep it all afloat, one only made possible by the artist/designers and makers who brought awesome stock my way each week and of-course the community of customers who supported our work and kept the dream alive for all of us.
I lasted an extra 4 years at Brunswick going from strength to strength and loving every minute of it.
My husband and daughter joined team Finki and what started as my side gig had now become a family business.
Alas with Brunswick as an inner city suburb, only growing in popularity more and more with each passing year, so to did my rent. In 2020 we decided that the stress of having to pay such high rents was entirely taking away from the enjoyment of making and being creative.
We decided to downsize to a more affordable location closer to home, so we could spend the extra time and money on our products instead of our rent.
It was hardest decision of my life, to let Brunswick go.
We absolutely adored our community, our makers and our shop.
But I had to remind myself that these things are not confined to a building or a particular address.
We did not have to lose sleep over paying the rent, just to keep the dream alive.
So onward and upward ... we found a sweet location closer to home that we could continue Finki at.
In 2020, Finki Northcote began.
Close to trains, trams and buses and big enough to fit all our favorite things in.
We look forward to continuing to serve our community of makers and customers here for many years to come and I'm forever grateful that I'm still able to run my own business and work in an industry that I adore.
Thank you to all of you.
My village, my tribe.
Running my own shop is a dream come true and I could not do it without you.
Jay x
