Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Contois.
Hi Melissa, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
It all started for me walking into that metaphysical shop as a young girl. It opened a sense of wonder and belonging in me. I always stood out, and being in a small town in Eastern Oregon, that wasn’t always a good thing. I always felt like I was too much. I learned to quite the parts of me that were too loud for that area. Growing up and moving back to the Portland area, and meeting other people like me gave me that sense of belonging. After years of attending the Season of the Witch marketplace event as a patron, I realized that I had found an avenue to channel my “EXTRA”. After receiving a gift of fabric from a neighbor who passed away, I found myself with the material to move forward in a direction I felt called to. I stared small with my skirts, hats, and brooms. Things that I hadn’t seen much of in the marketplace. From there our product line expanded to include smaller items, such as spell kits, runes, and other accessories for the craft. My greatest passion is to make sure that I bring a sense of whimsey and joy to anyone who comes to visit me at the events.
We’ve (my husband and I) have been on the circuit for a few years now and have navigated the struggles that a lot of small business owners are running into these days, but we remain undeterred.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s been a loosely paved gravel road. Navigating COVID era restrictions, maintaining a full time job, family responsibilities, all while trying to launch a small business was never going to be easy. There’s always frustration coming home from a non-profitable (or barely profitable) event, and we’ve had our fair share of those. We’ve also taken lessons learned and changed our approach. Each bump in the road has been an opportunity to learn something.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
The simplest answer (and the one on the website) is “I make unique, hand-crafted witchy apparel and accessories”. That covers a whole lot of ground. I would say our signature item so far has been my patchwork skirts. Each one is a unique combination of fabrics, so no two pieces will ever be the same. We’re actually looking to expand with patchwork pants in 2027. As for the pride of my collection, I’d say it’s like picking your favorite child. Each one is special in it’s own way, and they all have a piece of my heart in them.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I have never seen this as a risky endeavor. Is it a huge time commitment of myself and in some small part my family? Absolutely! However, with all the love and support of my family and friends, it’s never felt like a risk. It’s always just felt like a labor of love. I am in my element when creating and when I’m out in the community. To clarify, we have invested a lot of time, and are still working to see the return on investment, but again, to me, it was never a risk to put in the time to make my dream a reality.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.eastwickessentials.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastwick_essentials/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091704640969
