When one door closes, a new browser window opens.
And so it happened for Carol Pearse when the COVID-19 pandemic caused closures to stores in long-term care homes she contributed to, she reimagined Crafting with Carol & Co. and ventured online. Her online sales site, craftingwithcarol.com, launched in May and she also found a physical space to promote her products at the newly opened Squiggly Pig Marketplace.
“If a home-based business can make a partnership with a physical location, it benefits everybody,” said Pearse.
The businesswoman of 30 years knits, crochets, sews, produces mixed media art and is also into rubber stamping and cardmaking. She also makes non-slip slippers with flip-flop soles and reusable shopping bags out of donated fabrics.
“I'm huge into recycling,” said Pearse, 64.
Since she retired five years ago, she’s made it her mission to give back to her four charities of choice while just covering her operating costs with sales. The charities she supports are the Bethany Care Foundation, the Airdrie Food Bank, Kiwanis Airdrie and Soap for Hope YYC.
“Truly, that is what makes my heart sing is being able to give back to my community,” said Pearse.
She funded a portion of her online sales website project with a voucher from The City of Airdrie’s Right for Your Business Voucher program, which connected her with a local professional services company, Kreative Kekeli Design & Marketing.
Crafting with Carol & Co. is looking forward to creating for you. Find Carol on Facebook or visit craftingwithcarol.com.
Story and photography by Britton Ledingham