the grocery market
i started a small business where i crochet flowers and fruits! 45% of all profits have gone to charity. duration: aug 2023 - present
a little bit about my flower shop
since high school, i've volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House where i would make crafts (e.g., crochet!) and teach coding basics like Scratch to kids with cancer. but i always knew that i could do more to help.
and that’s how The Grocery Market was born—it's a small crochet business I started a year ago as a way to be productive while giving back to my local community. my goal was simple: to create handmade crochet bouquets and donate the proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House. it started as a passion project—something I loved doing—but quickly turned into something bigger than I expected. so far, I've raised $3,500 to provide food, toys, and medical supplies for children battling cancer, and beyond just selling flowers, this experience has taught me so much about entrepreneurship, marketing, and perseverance.
running a small business alone
managing the store on my own has been rewarding, but it hasn’t been easy—especially during high-demand seasons like Valentine’s Day. orders skyrocketed, and I had to juggle crocheting late into the night, fulfilling custom requests, packaging, and shipping, all while keeping up with school and LSAT prep. the pressure of balancing everything was intense, and I had to develop strict time management skills to stay on top of it all. at times, it felt overwhelming, but I knew that every bouquet I made was contributing to something greater, which kept me motivated.
challenges of getting my name out there
one of the biggest hurdles was marketing—getting people beyond my immediate circle to notice and buy my work. at first, I relied on friends and family; they were my first customers, my biggest supporters, and the ones who spread the word. from there, I expanded to coworkers, who helped introduce my crochet flowers to new audiences.
but I knew I had to do more if I wanted to grow and that’s when I got creative:
I started putting QR codes on each bouquet so people who saw them could scan for more info and place orders.
I asked friends to walk around campus carrying my bouquets so others would notice and ask where they got them.
I experimented with social media marketing and engaging product photos to capture interest.
little by little, these strategies helped spread the word, and my business started to gain traction beyond just friends and family.
expanding to local businesses
as sales grew, I wanted to bring The Grocery Market beyond online orders. I began reaching out to local coffee shops and small businesses near my university to see if they’d be willing to carry my crochet flowers. this was a whole new challenge—I had to learn how to pitch my products, negotiate pricing, and establish partnerships. seeing my work displayed in stores was an incredible milestone and showed me how important it is to network, take initiative, and put myself out there.
no regrets, only growth!
despite the late nights, the stress of fulfilling orders, and the pressure of balancing everything, I don’t regret a single moment of this experience. through The Grocery Market, I’ve learned so much—not just about running a business, but about problem-solving, adaptability, and the impact of giving back. Raising money and making a difference to my community has been one of my most fulfilling achievements, and it’s a reminder that even small businesses can make a difference. this journey has shaped me in ways I never expected, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.