Today we’d like to introduce you to Korina Torres.
Korina, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My business started off many years ago as a kid. I have always loved every aspect of art. No matter where I worked as a young kid, I always did my “own thing” on the side. I would make cards and sell them to my mom’s coworkers, I’d draw beautiful pictures with oil pastels or charcoal and sell them for $75-$100 as a 10-year old. I went to school for graphic design but I definitely enjoyed the more hands-on aspect of creating art. As I got older, I got into makeup and grew clientele in NY with Fashion Shows, Bridal Makeup and SFX makeup. In 2014, my husband bought me a gift that changed how I ran my crafting business. At the time, I was still making cards but people started to ask me for my FB page or somewhere to order more than just cards. I slowly started adding products to a FB page and basically never said “no” or that I couldn’t make something to anything customers asked for. If they wanted shirts, I added it, decals- added, signs- added, to the point where I was doing whole themes for kids parties and school labels and huge orders for organizations or fundraisers.
My husband and I decided to quit our full-time jobs and leave NY in July of 2018 to move to FL so we could start a family and I could be home full time to raise our future kids. I didn’t want to give up my crafts because it was/is still a huge part of me so I had to rebuild clients down here. I also wanted to create a crafting community so I could get to know some people in Florida, and especially those that share the same passion I do. I started a FB group (South Florida’s Crafty Corner) not long after I moved. Shortly after starting the group, I realized there wasn’t a place here in South Florida for people to find what they needed and most turned to Etsy or other online platforms for gifts. I started to grow the group by telling people in local groups to join whenever they asked for a custom cake, unique piece of jewelry, last minute vacation shirts, cake pops for their kids’ birthday parties and even just signs to fill a spot on the wall in their homes. I wanted the group to be focused on building local businesses and building those stay at homes moms, retired people and even those that are just starting out. I didn’t want Amazon and Etsy to control our neighborhoods buying habits when it came to these handmade items.
I was asked by many members if I would be doing craft shows. I hadn’t really thought about it to be honest but with the demand, I once again, couldn’t say no. I came up with “South Florida’s Craft Show” which first launched in November of 2018. The amount of growth in those shows, interest, and love I’ve received from local vendors is amazing. The group quickly grew from a handful of members to over 1.3k! My shows are hosted by Korina’s Crafty Creations and all listed in the event section of my FB business page (www.facebook.com/korinascraftycreations). All applications are in the event description and have all the information you need as far as the table size, price, location, time, etc. All of my shows are indoor which I think is what’s most attractive to everyone here in South Florida! While I don’t promote my own products at these shows, I do still enjoy custom orders in my own time. I’m also happy to announce, my dream of becoming a mother has come true! I am three months pregnant and looking forward to welcoming a little baby Torres in November of this year! I am excited to continue to host South Florida’s Craft Shows in locations anywhere from Miami to West Palm with the help of local connections to new venues or hotels that would love to have us!
Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing worthwhile is easy. I left many details out of our story but we’ve moved many times (in NY), struggled with money, tried many business/ways to make money, the emotional toll, the stress when things don’t go according to plan- it’s never easy. Starting craft shows is a whole new world for me! I like providing solutions to people’s problems. I won’t please everyone- and I’m ok with that. This is a people business. People can be difficult. People have negative things to say/comment negatively, be disrespectful, look down on me and think they know it all because I’m half their age. Ultimately, it’s my business, my life, and my decisions that matter.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Korina’s Crafty Creations and South Florida’s Craft Shows story. Tell us more about the business.
I’m most proud of the fact that I started from nothing and have grown to create a very loving, supportive and overall just amazing group of people that understand both the struggles and accomplishments of growing a business. Both my FB Group and my craft shows are filled with the same kinds of people- kind people. I do not stand for and/or tolerate disrespect, rude or nasty comments and keep both a very safe community where people can ask questions and share their work without being judged.
The biggest thing that sets my shows apart from others is me. I’ve participated in 2 shows since I’ve moved here and it seems organizers collect money and go home without caring about how the vendors do at the end of the day. I stay at my shows, I check in on my vendors, I walk around, I make sure the room is clean, I am kind and respectful to all of my vendors, I give everyone my cell so they can contact me with questions or concerns, etc. I’m available. I’m here to serve the vendors. Is every show a success for every vendor? No. No one can predict the outcome of a show but I make sure the vendors know I’m there and have created some beautiful friendships with so many of them!
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
That’s a tough one. I celebrate every accomplishment, big or small. My most recent one is a combination of my business and personal life. I don’t have a family to turn to. It’s me and my husband. I had announced my pregnancy and a bunch of the vendors I’ve built friendships with has offered to do a baby shower for my first baby. To me, that’s everything. That shows I’m doing something right. They all offered to chip in their crafts/products to make the perfect baby shower. I don’t know anyone out there that offers to do that for someone they don’t care about.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.KorinasCraftyCreations.com
- Phone: (754) 800-1166 (text or call)
- Instagram: instagram.com/Korinas_Crafty_Creations
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/KorinasCraftyCreations
- Other: www.Facebook.com/groups/SouthFloridaCraftyCorner
Image Credit:
Photos by Korina Torres
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