Meet Hannah Mitchell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Mitchell. 

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I bought a Cricut machine last fall as a graduation gift to myself for finishing my master’s degree. I originally got the machine to make vinyl decals for custom t-shirts and mugs, but after having it for a few weeks, I realized that I could use it to cut faux leather for things like earrings and keychains. I used to wear earrings all the time, but about 5 years ago I developed a metal allergy and haven’t been able to wear earrings since. So, when I found out that I could make earrings with my Cricut, it gave me an idea – if I started making my own earrings, I could be sure to use high-quality, nickel-free earring hooks and make earring designs that were really trendy and fashionable, but still super lightweight so that they wouldn’t irritate my ears. I started posting the earrings I was making on Facebook, and people really seemed to love them! I’ve always dreamed of opening my own Etsy shop as a side business/creative outlet, so this really just felt like the perfect opportunity. And from that – Han Made Design Co. was born! I officially opened my Etsy shop in March of 2021, first selling trendy, lightweight earrings, and I’m now expanding to offer more handmade products, with my first line of headbands launching this week! Currently, I sell my products on Etsy, at local craft shows and pop-up markets, and in one brick-and-mortar shop – The Collective Co. boutique located in the Battlefield Mall in Springfield. As of now, Han Made Design Co. is just my side hustle – I’m a social worker and work full time as a Grants Manager at a local domestic violence shelter. It’s a lot to manage, but I absolutely love that Han Made Design Co. gives me a creative outlet in such stark contrast to the work I do in my career. 

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?
Overall, I’d say it’s been a pretty smooth road, but I have definitely learned a LOT along the way. I’d say one of the biggest challenges that I didn’t necessarily expect was having to rely so heavily on Instagram and social media for my business. I expected to put a lot of work into building and maintaining an online-based Etsy shop, but I just didn’t realize how much work I’d have to put into maintaining a social media presence in order to make that Etsy shop successful. So that’s been a huge learning curve and has definitely been frustrating at times, but it’s also been super rewarding. One thing I love about owning my own small business, though, is just how much I’ve gotten to grow and learn throughout the whole process. I truly learn new things every day! It’s such a humbling experience because you’re just constantly learning through trial and error. I’m a problem solver and love a good challenge, so I’ve really enjoyed getting to try new things – whether it be making new items, learning the ins and outs of product photography, managing inventory spreadsheets, or trying out new social media strategies and features. I love that this business gives me the opportunity to stretch my skill set and learn that failure is totally okay and just a part of the process. 

And, at the end of the day, there is nothing more incredible as a maker than seeing people genuinely love the art that you’re creating. Owning a small business – especially one that makes handmade products – is scary. You have to put yourself out there every day and hope that people love what you’re creating. So, honestly, the support that I receive from my customers and friends is what keeps me going some days. The fact that I made something that brings someone else so much joy or makes them feel more confident or beautiful is just so humbling and such an incredible feeling that I definitely don’t take for granted! 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Right now, I’m known for my trendy, lightweight earrings and accessories. There are a lot of earring makers in the market right now, and even a lot of people who specialize in faux leather earrings, like me. The thing that really makes my products stand out are that they’re fashionable, handmade, affordable, and, most importantly, quality products. There are a lot of products out there that have maybe 2 or 3 of those qualities – but very few that have all of them. For example, polymer clay earrings are super popular right now – I have several friends that make them and I have several pairs myself and love them! They’re usually made in really trendy shapes and designs. There are also a lot of faux leather earring makers out there; however, a lot of the faux leather earrings that are out there look very similar and are made in more basic, simple shapes (like the classic teardrop or leaf shape). So, Han Made Design Co. fills this gap and makes quality, affordable, light-weight faux leather earrings in really trendy, fashionable designs – which is what makes my shop unique! 

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
All of my items are 100% Han-made – meaning that they’re all handcrafted by me! I started this business because of my love for creating and making, so this is something that is really central to my business. Since I’m a handcrafted goods shop, authenticity and that connection to my work and products is so important to me. So, I try to stay to true to this quality in any way that I can – be that through showing my face and process for making the items on my social media accounts, personally signing each thank you note that goes out with every order or busting out the power tools to make my own DIY earring display stand for markets. People love that personal touch and I think that seeing that they’re supporting a real, genuine person means a lot to a customer, so staying authentic to myself, the brand I’ve created, and my craft is what helps my products and my business stand out. 

Contact Info:

• Email: hanmadedesignco@gmail.com
• Website: www.hanmadedesigncoKC.etsy.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/hanmade.designco
• Facebook: facebook.com/hanmadedesigncoKC/