We are excited to have this beautiful, fun-loving lady, Alyssa Burmeister with us on the blog today! She is the owner + creater + designer of Happy Little Fin, LLC. We absolutely adore her stuff! It doesn't take much to find a
favorite pieces that fits your style. Find out more as you get to
know Alyssa and become Simply Inspired!
I grew up in a small town in Southern Minnesota with a big
family. Which was really fun! I'm the oldest of 5... two younger sisters, and
two younger brothers. We span about 16 years so our house was always busy. And
crazy. And sometimes insane. I'm not sure how my parents have managed parenting
for 30 straight years... I guess it is maybe more manageable when you're in it
with someone you love.
I was involved in lots of activities growing up. As a little
bitty I used to go sing at the nursing home. I did the whole Girl Scout thing,
tried volleyball (FAIL), tried basketball (MISERABLE FAIL), and finally found
my niche in cheerleading. Man, did I love cheerleading. The camaraderie with
the other girls, the amazing coaches, the poms, the yelling, the feeling that
you really were maybe helping your team win, the uncontrollable giggles and
laughter. I loved it! I also found out that I was really really good at sales
and marketing when the FFA Ag Sales Team asked me to step in for someone who
had left the team. I only had a couple of weeks to prepare for regionals...
where our team placed first and continued on to state..Where we won first as a
team and I WON first individually in the state of Minnesota for my sales +
service skills in the competition. It was exhilarating and I couldn't believe
that with only minimal preparation I had accomplished what others had been
practicing months or years for. Everyone asked how I did it, and frankly, I
couldn't and still can't explain it. I just ... got it. It felt like breathing
to me.
I went to college at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter,
Minnesota. I started out as a nursing major but quickly realized that
while I loved helping people, I loved helping people who weren't sick,
bleeding, or puking. So I changed to Communication Studies. Safe enough. But
again, I soon realized that was not my calling. I took a psychology course over
J-Term my sophomore year and realized this was something I could get into. I
loved people, I loved figuring out what made them tick, why they were the way
they were... I liked it all. And typically no one was sick, bleeding or puking
in psychology- so I was golden!
After getting undergraduate degree in Psychology I came to the
horrible realization I really couldn't do anything I wanted to with it... it
need a Masters Degree along side it. Enter Minnesota State University, Mankato,
where I earned my Masters in Social Work in 2010. I got a job right out of my
program as a mental health therapist in an alternative learning center in the
Kindergarten through 3rd grade room. I loved my job and the kids I got to work
with, but ultimately I made the transition into a private practice setting in
2013 during which time my husband and I (who are high school sweethearts!)
found out we were pregnant with our first child. We were pretty ecstatic, and
being my own boss in private practice meant I'd have the flexibility to be part
time which was really exciting.
I left the mental health field in the fall of 2014 and held a couple of part time administrative jobs, but the calling to be home full time with my daughter while working on my quickly growing business continued to pull at me. I was expanding beyond simply "cute baby headbands." I was doing bridal and formal pieces, simple and minimalistic everyday headbands, vintage inspired bows, leather hair ties ... things that both littles and their mamas could wear and share together. I was always thinking. Always creating. Finally, in October of 2015, I made the leap into full time "Work at Home Mom" mode and I haven't looked back since.
WHERE MY PASSION CAME FROM :
I'm a
long time supporter of handmade, small shops and work at home moms. So I think
that laid the ground work for me in starting my own small business. I have seen
so many strong and talented women strike out on their own and I've gone back to
my cheerleading roots to cheer them on as they navigate the crazy intense world
of small shop ownership. And I have gotten so much amazing support in return. I
am a big believer in networking and I have got shop mom friends across the
country - as well as locally - which makes me feel very very blessed.
WHAT I ENJOY MOST ABOUT ALL OF
IT :
I am
absolutely obsessed with the attention to detail, the customer service and the
overall experience that shopping small provides - and the fact that I get to
now give all those to my customers is so very fulfilling.
I am
also pretty dang passionate about my products. I believe that people deserve
things that are: pretty, unique, and sometimes a little out of the box. And
guess what? I make things that are: pretty, unique and sometimes a little out
of the box. So it's a win-win for everyone.
There
is so much "behind the scenes" that customers don't always see or think
about... but I kind of love that too (though I'll be honest... there are some
very NOT glamorous parts of owning a business). Getting a great product shot,
marketing and sharing my product, and then seeing my product in the hands of
very happy consumers. It's oh so gratifying! I truly have some of the best
customers who share amazing photos, wonderful feedback and reviews, and are
just generally are the sweetest.
MOTTO
I LIVE BY:
Lately
I've been telling myself a LOT "It's ok!" or "It's not a big
deal" and I think a lot of the reasoning behind these motto's can be
attributed to being the mother of a 2 year old! Things don't always go
according to plan... they're not always simple, or clean, or easy, or
straightforward. And you know what? It generally is ok! And usually, it's not a
big deal. As a definite Type A personality who has had more than her fair share
of episodes in which she "was TOTALLY freaking out!" (as Peg from Peg
+ Cat would say) I feel like it helps me keep things in perspective. And it
helps remind me that life isn't always neat and tidy. It's usually not perfect.
But things are almost always ok, and not a big deal. And there's not need to
TOTALLY freak out. Oddly enough, those motto's also frequently apply to my
"raising" a small business as well. Funny how that works.
TIPS
IN STARTING UP YOUR OWN COMPANY:
Be
authentic and find what it is that YOU do best. And then do it. It's going to
be scary. And hard. You're probably going to wonder what the heck you're doing
on more than one occasion. You're going to have people question you, or doubt
you, or wait for you to fail. But ultimately, none of that really matters (cue:
it's not a big deal!) because all that is important is that you believe in
yourself. Because you know what? It's possible! I didn't say it was easy. Or
all fun and games, but it is definitely possible. Try and surround yourself
(cue: networking!) with other creatives who support you and your vision. Who
challenge you and push you, who want to see you succeed. They are invaluable.
Because you will have days where it all feels impossible. You'll feel like
quitting. But that's when you call in your squad, and they'll have your back.
Trust me on this.
One
more thing: Don't try to do it all in terms of what you do or what you offer.
Just...don't. Again. Trust me.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND "HAPPY
LITTLE FIN" PRODUCTS:
I am
SO excited to have a diverse group of wonderful small businesses carrying Happy
Little Fin in Minnesota and Iowa. I've got a couple other shops I'm in talks
with, and I do offer wholesale purchasing (WOOHOO!). I'm currently carried in
the following locations:
The
Daily Apple in Worthington, MN
The
Daily Apple in Storm Lake, IA
Salvage
Sisters in Mankato, MN
JSK
Bridal in Mountain Lake, MN
Royal
Treatment Salon in Jackson, MN
Rustic
Retreat Salon in Rock Rapids, IA
Unglued
Market in Sioux Falls, SD
Darling
Clementine in Willmar, MN
Belly,
Baby, Beyond Boutique Blue Earth, MN
~Alyssa Burmeister
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