Marie
“I was very shy before and definitely wasn’t the type of person to put myself out there. Now, if someone asks me what I do, I can talk about my business. It helps spark a conversation.”
Marie.
From concept to liftoff: read how Marie launched her own online store through our My Business Starter programme.
Marie has received support from CCS Disability Action since she was a baby. Marie is a wheelchair user and her impairment also impacts her physical health, often significantly. “Think of a major illness and I’ve almost certainly had it!” explains Marie.
The Mosgiel resident lives with her husband Bevan in their own purpose-built, fully accessible home. The pair met over twenty years ago. He’s someone she describes as “hugely supportive”.
Marie first became drawn to crafting, particularly crochet, when she went flatting when she was 19. Stepping out on your own is challenging for most people, but for a disabled person, it can be particularly confronting.
With the familiar routines of home and school gone, and feeling unsure of what life held for her, Marie felt lost.
“I became really depressed and I was struggling. I got into crafts then. It was something I felt good at, and that feeling kept me going during that difficult time,” she says.
She describes herself as IT savvy, a big plus for many positions, and with the support of her occupational therapist, she secured work experience in administration with the CCS Disability Action Otago branch.
After a successful placement, Marie worked at CCS Disability Action casually from 2000-2021 as a back-up to the branch administrator, Alana Draffin, who now works as a Coordinator.
“Marie and I have known each other for most of our lives. We have the same medical condition and the community in Dunedin is quite small – everyone knows everyone! We’ve done adaptive skiing, sports – all sorts of stuff together over the years,” says Alana.
Unfortunately, Marie’s health deteriorated significantly, and she could no longer sustain the role, leaving her back at square one.
In 2023, she spotted an opportunity called ‘My Business Starter’. The programme is targeted at disabled people considering starting their own business. It is a partnership between CCS Disability Action and the Disability Business Network, an organisation run and facilitated by Selwyn Cook, Sandra Budd, and ‘that blind woman’, Julie Woods.
The programme is run online and aims to take disabled people from a budding business idea through the key steps needed to develop that business and get a feeling for whether it’s something that is viable and they’d like to pursue.
The My Business Starter team.
“When I first saw the information about My Business Starter, I was interested but, to be honest, I thought it sounded too hard for me. But Bevan really encouraged me to sign up. I realised I didn’t have anything to lose, and it was a great opportunity, so I let Paul [Marie’s Coordinator] know I’d like to give it a go.”
The course, now in its second year (and eighth group of participants), runs for ten weeks all up. Each week focuses on a key area of developing a business. All participants are partnered with a mentor and there are follow-up online networking opportunities for graduates.
It was the support of the facilitators that made the most impact for Marie.
“It felt daunting to start with, but it was really good. The team were so supportive. I didn’t feel rushed and having a mentor to guide me really kept me at it,” says Marie.
The My Business Starter team run through a business vision, work through the basics of financial management, sales and marketing, identifying your allies and then, finally, a ‘do it or drop it’ session.
Marie started the course with two business ideas. The first was providing administrative support and the second was selling her crafts. “I was about halfway through the course and I realised it was craft that I was really passionate about and that was where I needed to put my energies.”
‘Marie’s Crafty Creations’ was born.
The My Business Starter team are passionate about seeing disabled people thrive and have been delighted to see Marie go from concept to lift off, in a relatively short time.
“We love Marie and her crafty creations,” says Julie. “She’s worked tirelessly on her business. Marie does everything by the book, including using Hnry, an online accounting software package, which she researched and implemented while she was undertaking the programme.” Sandra and Selwyn agree. “She’s a true success story. Her creations are fabulous.”
Marie makes bespoke knitted and crocheted products. Her range includes toys, bags, clothes, baby clothing, accessories – the list goes on. She also recently began branching out into jewellery. She sells her products online via her website and uses social media to market her products. Her creations are also stocked at a local store – the Mornington Post Shop – and she’s hoping to expand this area of the business further.
Marie has also taken up the opportunity to join the monthly Disability Business Network meetings – a group that provides ongoing support and connections for disabled business owners. It’s a place where people can ask questions and run through what’s working well and what they need help with.
One of Marie’s creations.
“At our last network meeting, Marie turned up with a crocheted purple rocket to match our Disability Business Network logo. We were blown away,” says Julie.
Most importantly, Marie has finally found an avenue that is fun and meaningful.
“I love the process of crochet and knitting – having an idea and seeing how it turns out.”
Alana has been there for background support too – offering a sounding board where needed.
“Marie is an independent person and is very switched on. She has Paul – who’s worked with her for a long time – and for the My Business Starter programme, I’ve been available too. We’ve known each other for such a long time that we can have good, honest conversations. Our support is directed by Marie, which is how it should be. If she wants to reach out, we’re always here for her.”
Being her own boss has had significant spin-off effects for Marie. It means she can work at a pace that suits her physical health, allowing her to manage her energy much more effectively.
The programme has also seen her grow considerably in confidence, both as a business owner and as a person. “I was very shy before and definitely wasn’t the type of person to put myself out there. Now, if someone asks me what I do, I can talk about the business. It helps spark a conversation.”
Like the My Business Starter team, Alana too is pleased to see Marie succeed after some tough battles with her health. “She’s always been a creative thinker. To see her do something that plays to her strengths and brings her joy is amazing. She deserves it!”
Visit www.MariesCraftyCreations.com to find out more or to order one of Marie’s creations.