Today we’d like to introduce you to Arielle Lindsey
Hi Arielle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started Lemesto back in 2012 – I was working entry level at an architecture firm and desperately needed a creative outlet, and I’d always been artistic and crafty; I graduated with a BFA in interior design from SCAD the year prior. So, I bought some materials – leather, metal, and stone – and Lemesto was born. It took off fairly quickly, and I kept it going on the side for years – even moving across the country to Los Angeles for a few years, then back to Orlando in 2018. Over time, the business grew, and when I moved back to Orlando and could afford the space for an extra bedroom/home studio, I started experimenting with new materials: fluid art like acrylic and alcohol ink, applied to homegoods like planters and coasters. I had a product go viral, and that launched me enough that I could afford to quit my day job and take the business full time. In addition to making and selling products, I started teaching workshops, which I really loved. However, after a year of running my own business, I realized I really missed my day job — both the social aspect of working with other people, and the fact that I had a really cool job. Who doesn’t want to design theme parks? Burnt out on running Lemesto full time, I went back to a 9-5 in the theme park design world, and put Lemesto on the back burner for a bit. During that time, I dove back into all the hobbies I hadn’t had time for when running Lemesto, and realized how much I missed them! I kept teaching workshops, and realized that had become my favorite part of the business. So now, 12 years later, I’ve pivoted the brand to focus on creative workshops, teaching crafts and hobbies around Orlando while getting to connect with wonderful people from all over our beautiful city!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Heavens no. Running a business is hard! You’re not just the creative brains/maker, but also admin, legal, finance, shipping and fulfillment, customer service, you name it. Learning all those things is tough – we’re not meant to be good at all of them, but you have to be until you grow enough to have the option to hire help. For me, I always hated shipping, and feeling tied to my desk during particularly busy seasons of product fulfillment. So switching to a workshop model made a lot of sense for me. There’s also the struggles of when products fail – when you think you have a great idea, but it just doesn’t sell. There’s a lot of sunk cost there. And as a solopreneur, I don’t think people realize how lonely running your own business can be! Finding community is so important.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For so many years in my business, all the advice was “niche down” – to have a targeted specialty, do one thing, build a brand. But as someone with ADHD who loves to dabble in anything, that was always SO hard for me. My friends always joke that I’m like a Millennial Martha Stewart – I love to host, craft, bake, you name it. But I could never quite figure out how to leverage that, until recently. Teaching workshops is a bit of all of that: you have to be a great host, to make your students feel comfortable and help coax out their creativity, and having a multitude of crafting skills means I can teach a large variety of classes to reach different markets. I also love that I get to partner with businesses all over the city for class venues — shops, breweries, etc — it makes me feel much more connected to the Orlando community. My favorite part of a class is when someone says “I’ve never felt very artistic, I didn’t think I could do this!” Helping others discover their own innate creativity and see the pride in their creations is such an absolute joy. Everyone is creative in one way or another – I love helping people discover that.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
For me, it’s just been being friendly and curious! Go to a market, talk to people, ask folks out for coffee or a cocktail. Running a business can be lonely and we’re all seeking connection – you just have to open the door to it and ask.
Pricing:
- $30-45/person per workshop ticket
- private/in-home workshops available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lemesto.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemesto.art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lemesto
- Other: https://www.threads.net/@lemesto.art
Image Credits
-Photos taken by Branded Boss Lady & Lemonhearted
(-the two workshop photos were taken by me)
