Episode 50: Building Something Bigger Than Yourself with Stacie Bloomfield
From working in the margins on her art while working at Starbucks to founder of a multimillion-dollar online art and education venture, Stacie has transformed her love for drawing into a thriving business defying doubters and learning from her missteps. Her journey has also led her to teach 60,000 fellow creatives how to navigate the entrepreneurial path. Stacie's story is a testament to turning dreams into reality through unwavering perseverance.
From Bottleneck to Bold Leader
Stacie has always said “slow growth is good growth,” and has valued pacing yourself, learning as you go, and allowing the process to evolve organically. Stacie’s journey started with nursery art on Etsy and eventually she found herself meticulously handcrafting pillows and aprons to make ends meet. Eventually she knew that that she needed to hire if she desired to grow. Stacie imparts a profound revelation: Recognizing where you are a bottleneck in your business is not only imperative but a transformative journey of self-discovery. From studio assistants to a junior illustrator, Stacie’s experience of hiring many roles within her business offers a valuable roadmap.
In order to take the leap of faith to hire, it is important to implement these three things:
1. Have a clear vision and understanding of your goals. Many overlook this crucial step, not fully comprehending what they want to achieve, which ultimately hinders them from making strategic decisions that pave the way for their desired outcomes. Stacy emphasizes the importance of knowing your "why" and grounding your actions in a well-defined vision for your future.
2. Disconnect yourself from the business. Stacie exemplifies this by distinguishing her identity as Stacie Bloomfield from her business, Gingiber. This detachment has allowed her to invite others into her creative process, enabling her to expand and grow the business beyond herself. This step can be particularly challenging for those who closely tie their personal identity to their creative endeavors, but as Stacie demonstrates, it is a necessary shift that fosters collaboration and empowers business growth.
3. Addresses the notion of scarcity and be willing to take calculated risks. Stacie acknowledges the difficulty of making bold decisions, such as hiring assistance when financial resources are limited. However, she encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to step out of their comfort zones and trust that these risks, while intimidating, can lead to substantial rewards. Embracing a mindset of abundance and recognizing that investing in the right areas can propel the business forward is a vital aspect of achieving growth.
Being a Vessel and The Power of Visualization
A central theme woven throughout Stacie’s narrative is her unwavering faith in the universe's supportive role. Rooted in her upbringing and experiences, Stacie acknowledges that while she may not be a natural optimist, she deeply believes in the universe's guiding hand. She speaks to the idea of becoming a vessel, allowing oneself to be directed by the universe's flow, and facilitating positive outcomes not only for oneself but also for others. Stacie shares how her creative work and business endeavors serve as conduits for positive impact, job creation, and meaningful contributions to the lives of her employees.
This has also found its way into her personal journey of manifesting her vision board goals and the profound lessons she's learned along the way. Stacie’s vision board has became a roadmap to her dreams, encompassing financial and personal achievements that once seemed unattainable. From sending her daughter to a private school to renovating her house and even savoring moments in her favorite coffee shop in Scotland, Stacie’s accomplishments are a testament to the power of visualizing one's desires and actively working towards them.
Lastly, Stacie addresses the need for self-care and intentionality, noting that even in the pursuit of ambitious goals, taking care of oneself should not be neglected. Her experience highlights the significance of maintaining well-being and balance, as achieving dreams should not come at the expense of personal health.
Key Takeaways:
Slow growth is good growth. It allows you to learn as you go, make informed decisions, and plan for the future.
Being the sole bottleneck in your business will hinder its growth.
Delegating tasks that don’t need your expertise can help you focus on what you do best and grow your business more quickly.
Taking care of yourself allows you to maintain your creativity and sustain your business in the long run.
Setting clear goals and visions for your business is important, but also key to remain open to how those goals are achieved.
A combination of unwavering faith and persistence drives the achievement of goals.
Visualizing your goals and vocalizing them out loud, even if they seem far-fetched, can help solidify your commitment to achieving them.
What would it look like if you played bigger? What is currently holding you back?
Trusting in one's own inner mentor, which is a visualization of a future self, can provide guidance and answers. Learning to listen to your intuition and seeking solutions from within can lead to more confident decision-making.
Stacie is an illustrator, a mom of 3, a wife, and a proud Bloomfield, living in an adorable corner of Northwest Arkansas. She was a childhood creative, a constant doodler, an academic overachiever, and a joy chaser who knew that all of those bunnies and puppy dog doodles she would sketch on napkins at restaurants would help her become an artist when she was older.
A pit stop as a coffee shop manager soon turned into an Etsy side hustle. After work at her day job and while being a new mother and supporting her graduate school husband, she sold handmade pillows, art prints, and onesies, and worked in the margins of her already busy life. Coffee and a “never give up” attitude led to the creation of Gingiber, Stacie’s signature brand of illustrative gifts and stationery for women.
Her creations effortlessly bridged the gap between mass-market appeal and bespoke design, making them accessible and relatable to women from all walks of life. Today, her art and products are showcased in over 1,000 brick-and-mortar shops. Through her art, she continues to inspire and uplift, adding a touch of joy and creativity to the lives of those who embrace Gingiber's heartfelt magic.
She leads a team of the most talented and hardworking women in Gingiber’s “Blue Door” Studio. Her team creates tea towels, cards, stationery, and gifts for women who need a dose of encouragement and a nostalgic dose of beauty.
Her beloved “Tea Towel Club” monthly subscription has delighted the counters of thousands of kitchens in the United States.
10+ years of slow and steady growth have led to longstanding wholesale relationships, tens of thousands of loyal and caring fans, and celebrated licensing collaborations and partnerships for home decor, nursery bedding, fabric lines, clothing, wallpaper, and books. Gingiber wants to partner with respected brands and trustworthy products.
Stacie also teaches artists how to help their own sprouting art businesses grow through her online courses and membership. She has served over 40,000 artists through her paid and free programs.
Visit the her website and follow along on instagram
Are you ready to turn your passion into profit and make your artistic dreams a reality?
Save the date for August 15th to join in on Stacie Bloomfield’s FREE mini course “The Artist’s Side Hustle”!
Stacie will teach you:
🌟13 ways anyone can sell art (without selling their soul)
🌟A practical roadmap to get started and move forward
🌟The framework to use 5 hours a week to create income from your art
🌟How to leverage your art into income opportunities and set your dreams in motion
This free mini course includes LIVE Q&As, prizes and giveaways so you aren’t going to want to miss out!
Ready to join me? SIGN UP TODAY!
*I am proud supporter of Stacie and an affiliate for this FREE Mini Course.
