Jennifer Hill owes her success to ingenuity, imagination…and shopping at The ReStore. Like many Etsy entrepreneurs, Jenn and partner Jenny Tiffany first began their venture by making tile coasters for friends and family.
“They were really popular, so we started distributing to local gift shops,” Jenn recalls.
That was in 2002. In 2006-within the first year of Etsy.com’s launch-Robot Candy was selling their complete line of decorative coasters on the online marketplace. Now she lists 471 items on etsy.com, including several fun, eclectic light switch plates.
For supplies, Jenn and Jenny shop almost exclusively at ReStores in Beaverton, Portland and Clark County. The DIYers take their ceramic tile and switch plate purchases, decoupage an image on the front, apply a protective resin finish and a non-slip backing.
“We’ve been inspired by vintage imagery so that’s our inspiration,” Jenn said.
Their designs are always sparky–think The Jetsons, 50s ads, zip-a-dee-doo-dah, or the name Hogarth. But their biggest sellers bare iconic Oregon and Portland images – most of which are illustrated by Jenny Tiffany.
Altogether Jenn reports that Robot Candy wholesale about 1,000 pieces a month. During holiday months, that number jumps to an astounding 10,000 pcs in a month.
Shoppers can find Jenn and Jenny’s Robot Candy products online at etsy.com, but also at local stores like New Seasons and Crafty Wonderland.
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