164 | Building a Multi-Faceted Creative Business with Amber Kemp-Gerstel, Damask Love

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hey friends! Have you ever wondered what it might be like to turn your hobby into a business? That’s exactly what today’s guest, Amber Kemp-Gerstel did and today she came on to talk about her journey in the crafting industry.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Amber is a powerhouse. Not only does she have a blog called Damask Love but she also runs YayDay Paper Co., selling digital products and leveraging a subscription model. You might recognize her from NBC’s TV show, Making It (she was a finalist in 2018) or from being the host of Disney Family Sundays on Disney+. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In this episode, she talks about how she got into her business and how she was able to start working with big brands in the industry. She shares some tips for how she sends pitches and why you have to make it really easy for people to say,  ‘yes!’</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We also talk about why representation matters and how the creative community can step up to uplift other artists, crafters and makers of color. This is very important work that we’re taking seriously at Proof to Product and I appreciated her for sharing her thoughts and opinions about how we can take steps forward with grace (even though we may make mistakes along the way).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ON TODAY’S EPISODE:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Amber went from working in family and child psychology to being a strong force in the crafting world</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The lightbulb moment where she realized it was time to quit her job</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">How she got into working with brands like JoAnn Fabrics and Martha Stewart Living</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Amber includes in pitches she sends to brands</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 40