In the vibrant city of Brisbane, resides Rosie Shelton, a self-taught potter who has turned her passion for ceramics into a thriving small business called Forest & Finch. Since 2021, she has been crafting unique, small-batch ceramics with a forest, fairytale, and magical theme.
“I love bringing a little bit of magic into people’s homes and making their inner forest child happy,” Rosie says.
Her work primarily consists of beautifully crafted mugs, but she likes to explore other designs such as teapots, flasks, incense burners, and even some home ornaments.
However, even the best creations, sometimes don’t see the light of day without proper marketing. Rosie utilised her social media channels in her marketing efforts, and her business bloomed.
So, how did Rosie do it? Here is her story:
How Forest & Finch grew with social media
Rosie’s small business has absolutely flourished, and a big part of that was her social media strategy. She has a large social following, which she grew all on her own. So, how did she do it?
“I make reels mostly and experiment with different formats—videos, product shots, using the item, etc. I personally look at post-interactions. It is tough with the algorithm not always being in your favour, but you have to keep going regardless” she explains.
Through her experiments, Rosie found exactly what her audience wanted to see – how they could create forest art themselves.
One of Rosie’s most successful social media initiatives was a tips and tricks video that garnered over 256,000 views. “Helping people improve their own art is always wonderful,” she says.
Another significant achievement was a photo of an original design that received 82,000 likes. “It encompasses the forest vibes I strive for,” Rosie adds.
The early days
Now that you got a chance to see her enchanting designs and social success you are probably wondering – how did it all start? And how can you, as a small business owner, use social media to your advantage, just as Rosie has done with Forest and Finch?
Speaking with Rosie, she shared with us the idea for her business and how she started with social media:
“I’ve always been an artist, and pottery was a medium I hadn’t tried yet. I fell in love instantly, and the rest is history!”
Aligning social media with business goals
Business goals are one thing, yet translating them effectively into a social media strategy that works is certainly where most small businesses struggle.
Yet, Rosie aligned her business goals with her social strategy in a sincere, caring way. Her approach is to stay true to herself while being open to new trends and feedback from her audience:
“Being real and raw on my social media is something I am striving towards, as well as testing out new things whenever I feel the urge. What people want is forever changing, so you need to always be willing to test things out and change it up,” she advises.
Through that wonderful process, she built a kind, supportive and loving connection with her audience that goes beyond selling her items. Her vision of an enchanted forest, which she encompasses in every post, allows her followers to experience a bit of her magical world.
Rosie’s inspirational story of business growth could only happen through truly devoting herself to her craft, and showing it to the world through social media.
Inspired by Rosie’s story?
If you’d like to devote more time to figuring out how to grow your business, maybe a local bookkeeper can help you. Here’s how a small business grew with the help of their bookkeeper.