Check Out Jennifer Craycraft’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Craycraft.

Hi Jennifer, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
If you were to tell me ten years ago where my life was at today, I wouldn’t have believed you. I didn’t think I would be doing something that I absolutely love and that is so not the norm. I started out in the medical field as a nurse in the hospital working long hours and just beginning a family. After about 10 years of working, I was diagnosed with an illness that required life-long treatment and for me to step away from nursing. I went through an immense funk, but fortunately, I have an amazingly supportive husband who helped me get through that dark period. One day while receiving treatment, I decided that I needed to do something that brought life back into me, and that is when The Tiny Umbrella was born. (I have always had a love for all things tropical and my dream destinations are always somewhere sandy with umbrella drinks.)

I first started my company with Instagram and would travel around ordering rum drinks like a pirate and posting the beautiful concoctions from all over for followers to see. After so many umbrella drinks I noticed one thing that was in common with all of them, they all looked so similar. They all had those same old flimsy umbrellas.

Everywhere I went, the drinks were amazing, but the same old boring umbrella. Now you may ask yourself, “So? who cares?” Well, you didn’t know you needed a new umbrella design until you met me! I spent about 6 months researching the design and manufacturing of umbrellas and finally found a manufacturer willing to work with me and make my own designs into retail packages. I have a background in art when I was younger, so this really allowed me to use those skills in making my umbrellas. I started with 10 unique designs, received my first samples, started my website and off I went. Four years later, I now have over 50+ designs, have sold to every state in the US and more than 20 counties. I wholesale my umbrellas to retail shops, restaurants, bars and markets and are in over 30 stores and counting. Recently I have added laser-cut items such as stir sticks and garnish picks which really opened up the market for me.

This company brings me (and others) so much joy. I absolutely LOVE when people send me photos from their events like a wedding, birthday or baby shower and I get to see my products out in the world putting smiles on people’s faces. That right there is why I do it and what got me out of that funk and into something I love.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been smooth that’s for sure. Try telling someone you make cocktail umbrellas for a living and see their reaction-not always the best. At the beginning not many people took me seriously, going from the nursing field to starting my own company with no business background was challenging to say the least. I have had to overcome so many negative remarks regarding my “hobby” or “little business” that it has actually fueled my fire to do more and go farther. Getting my products in stores was the ultimate milestone of my business, and that has definitely made me feel validated. I can’t take all of the credit though, my husband is my biggest supporter and helped me get the company off the ground and running, so I have him to thank over and over. Also, I have met so many wonderful artists and other business owners in the tiki/tropical community that have been such a support of me and my business, I wouldn’t be here without them.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As stated previously, I am the owner of The Tiny Umbrella. I design and manufacture custom and uniquely made cocktail umbrellas. I think it’s safe to say that no one else does what I do and that I am pretty proud of. I am a proud “female small business owner” and have figured out how to manufacture my own products all on my own. That in itself is pretty fun to say “I did that!” My umbrellas are also made with better quality and feel, thicker paper and sturdier build. No more breaking the first time when opening them.

Fun fact, did you know that umbrellas have hidden messages in them? Next time you have one, open it up and literally tear it apart. Inside the stem, part is rolled-up newspaper/papers from the day they were manufactured. They have all kinds of fun info in there!

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I am actually pretty terrible at making tropical/tiki drinks. You would think in my line of work that I can make all of the fun mai tais, painkillers, zombies and grogs, but I can’t! I fully admit I am terrible at it and so I leave it up to the professionals. It sure is fun to go and visit my clients on a “work call” and have a rum drink or two with my umbrellas in them.

Pricing:

• Umbrella packs start at $6.50
• Stir Stick Packs start at $8.00

Contact Info:

• Website: www.thetinyumbrella.com
• Instagram: @the_tiny_umbrella
• Facebook: The Tiny Umbrella

Image Credits
All with permission: Photo with Two round drinks and Pink/yellow Hibiscus Umbrellas- Photographer is Steven Dupuy Photos 2-3 (Pink drink blue umbrella/orange drink yellow umbrella) – photographer Michael Agudelo Photo with Lady Tiki mug and yellow flower umbrella Photographer and mug artist Danielle Mann Photo with Narwhal Mug- photographer and mug artist Ashleigh Pritchard Photo with yellow dole whip by Anne Waterman-Tanner- Mug and umbrella art by Tiki tOny