WACO, TX. — Creatives in Waco are using their creativity to find ways to provide a platform to sell their unique and local products. On Thursday, Creative Waco will launch a website that will open virtual doors for those who create in Waco.
After the shelter-in-place order took place, artist and locally-owned creative businesses shut their doors, leaving them with uncertainty.
"I am nervous about all of this. It's so new and have never been through anything like this and for a first year business owner, for something like this to happen, is daunting," said Susan Sistrunk.
A scare she says makes it even more challenging to sell.
"It's a hard business anyway to sell art and the products we offer, and during this time, it's an even tougher sell," she said.
Creative Waco noticed the profound impact the coronovirus pandemic is having in the creative community.
"We have been experiencing such a huge growth in the art and culture, and those businesses are vulnerable, and we want to keep them because they are special to Waco," said Fiona Bond, Executive Director of Creative Waco.
They started a Waco-based Etsy platform to sell products to everyone online.
"We are hoping this will be an opportunity for local people to discover amazing makers that they did not even know about," said Bond.
It's encouraging business owners during these hard times.
"I am really looking forward to having another avenue to make our product known. It's an opportunity for businesses to help one another so we all make it to the other side."
The website "Make it in Waco" will officially launch on Thursday. If you are a vendor and would like to sell your products on the site, email info@creativewaco.org.
