Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Bierstedt
Hi Amy, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
After a decade as a veterinary technician, and then a decade as a children’s portrait photographer, making fell into my lap as I wanted to make changes to my family’s health. We had moved onto acreage, started a garden, began raising hens, even started catching rainwater. And I switched to cooking and baking from-scratch. That ended up becoming the gateway to ALL the research, recipes, testing and trying, and family and friends’ feedback, to start making my own products.
So I became a MAKER. From Scratch Farm was founded, out of a need to change our products for the better. With fewer and safer ingredients, with essential oils, with as little packaging as I could. I started creating sudsy, pampering, exfoliating, cleansing, moisturizing, luxurious goods and gifts. Home, bath, body, facial care, and eczema care that was better for our family, our health, our home, and our planet. Goods that the community would love. Products that would change customers’ skin!
Next thing I knew, I was part of the maker community. And one maker wanted to join me in my photography studio/shop that I had recently moved into on Boerne’s Main Street.
So I became a STORE OWNER and CO-OP DIRECTOR. Handmade on Main was founded and started with four local ladies (me/From Scratch Farm, Doubleside Toffee Company, Bear & Roo Candle Company, and Craft Tree by Terry). We built this dream from the ground up, survived covid. And five years later, we are 26 makers strong! Texas moms, grandmas, guys, artisans, dreamers, doers, movers, and shakers.
We make clean beauty, chocolate toffees, soy wax candles, houseplants and floral arrangements, fun stickers, beautiful jewelry, craft cocktail starters, badge reels, crochet stuffed animals, bowl cozies, and more.
We participate in all the city-wide retailers events.
We help organize the annual Boerne Retailers’ Style Show & Shopping Event.
And we’re continuously recognized as a “Best Store” by Shop Across Texas.
We’re a little hidden gem of Boerne. Providing unique, pampering, beautiful, quality, delicious, and one-of-a-kind goods and gifts.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not at all.
There was a historic pandemic just two months after I purchased our DBA!
Our shop was closed from mid-March to May 1st. It was a difficult, scary, frustrating, unknown period. It was either sink or swim. So we all worked to put our products online, to beef up our website, to offer shipping, pick-up, and local delivery options. If customers couldn’t come to us, we were going to go to them.
These offerings were so successful, we still offer all to this day. Boerne residents love our local delivery!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Retail is tough! It ebbs and flows. And while we can typically project which months will be slowest, it’s still difficult to plan for the worst. When money is tight, when we’re dealing with a bad economy and rising gas prices, shopping for fun or gifts gets put on the backburner. In Texas, sometimes the summer is just too hot. And families are busy. We understand.
So we’ve put in great effort to fill our calendar with fun. To get customers in, to shop or just to visit. To constantly touch base with our community.
January- This is our anniversary. So we’ve been hosting a customer appreciation event every year. Everyone just got to come in for macarons, and could earn prizes with an ornament smash.
February- We’re part of Boerne’s Chocolate Walk, where ticket holders get to come into the shop for specialty chocolates.
March- We celebrate National Mom & Pop Business Owners’ Day, with shopping and swag bags.
April- We host a National Handmade Day event.
May- We’ll be hosting a Mother’s Day craft.
June- I started The Bubbly Walk, with a few other retailers. Where residents get to stop into participating shops, getting a delicious bubby drink at each.
July- For Made in the USA Day, we celebrate all month with an artisan bingo game.
September- We help host the annual style show, we put our tees and skirts on the runway, and raise money for a great cause.
November- We throw a great sale for Plaid Friday and Small Business Saturday.
December- We’re part of Boerne’s Stocking Stroll, where ticket holders get to come into the shop for a stocking stuffer.
And in between, some makers host crafty classes in the shop.
There’s always something fun going on!
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
My favorite fun fact-
I founded a national holiday!
As of 2018, National Handmade Day has been celebrated on the first Saturday of every April!
To educate, spread the word about, and celebrate handmade goods. To recognize makers and artisans. To get together and get crafty.
It’s one of the things I’m most proud of. And it’s always a great time in our shop!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.handmadeonmainboerne.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/handmadeonmainboerne
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handmadeonmainboerne
