Detroit Mom’s Local Love series highlights local women and the businesses they have built. We love supporting small business! Today’s Local Love Spotlight belongs to Sarah Daley, owner of The Little Design Co..
To start, we asked Sarah to share a few fun facts about herself with us!
- She is a worship leader and song writer.
- She loves all things creative and will try her hand at just about anything (knitting, painting, song writing, etc.)!
- She is an Enneagram 7.
We asked her to share a little bit more about her business with us, too. Get to know Sarah and her business, The Little Design Co., below!
How did you come up with the idea of your business, and how did you start?
“When my first child was born, I knew I wanted to find a way to work from home. I started by making hair bows for my daughter. When I posted photos of her wearing them, I was surprised by the amount of interest I received. That sparked the idea of turning my creativity into a business. I began selling hair bows online and at mom-to-mom sales, but over time, my focus shifted to leather crafting, which has become my passion and where I’ve been ever since.
“While I was still pursuing the hair bow business I started with the birth of my daughter, I wanted to try making something for my son who was born almost two years later. Moccasins were a popular shoe at the time and driven by a desire to create, I decided to try my hand at making a pair.
“I picked up a bag of leather scraps from a craft store, but without the proper tools, the first pair took me hours to complete. For some reason, I couldn’t stop there. I kept experimenting with leather, and somewhere along the way, I fell in love with the craft. Little by little, I began to invest in the right equipment for my studio—and the rest, as they say, is history. What began with a simple pair of moccasins has since grown into a leather goods business that offers wearable art for all ages.”
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out?
“If I could do it over, I would have invested in the right equipment early on. It would have saved me a lot of headaches and made the creative process much smoother.”
What is the best business advice you’ve ever been given?
“I was advised early on to start an email list, and I’m so glad I took that advice. Today, I’m grateful to have thousands of subscribers who are willing to receive emails from me. Worth noting: I do not spam my subscribers. I’m so thankful to be given a spot in their inbox. I make sure my infrequent emails are in fact filled with only helpful information.”
Have you faced adversity in business due to being a woman? How did you navigate that?
“I am thankful to have not faced a lot of adversity. The creative community is such a unique place. I have met some of the best business owners I know in this space and they are mostly all women.”
How do you persevere in challenging times?
“I would say that my whole life, including business, is driven by my faith. In challenging times in life and in business I depend heavily on the Lord and His strength to get me through. I have seen Him get our family through really difficult situations and my trust for future challenging times looks a lot like surrender and trust.”
What impact do you want your business to have?
“One of my core values in business is giving to causes beyond myself. I believe it’s essential to stay attuned to the needs around me—whether financial or otherwise—and respond as I’m led. Past acts of giving through The Little Design Co. have included supporting friends in their adoption journeys, providing Christmas gifts to refugees in the Detroit area, contributing to our local church, supporting a mission trip to India, and partnering with non-profits working to free women from human trafficking. Generosity has been a foundational value for me from the start, and it will continue to guide my business as I seek to meet the needs I encounter.”
What are the pros and cons of being a woman business owner in 2024?
“I maintain a mostly positive outlook as a woman business owner. I’ve had incredible opportunities to collaborate with other businesses and entrepreneurs, and I don’t feel that being a woman has hindered those opportunities.
“The biggest challenge I face is balancing the roles of stay-at-home mom and business owner. Early in our marriage, my husband and I made the decision that I would stay home with the kids while they were young, and I’m incredibly grateful for his support in this. As a result, I’ve learned to accept that my workday typically ends earlier than most, and my summers are more flexible.”
What knowledge would you share with someone who wants to become an entrepreneur?
“Do it! Starting a creative business has been one of the most rewarding experiences, and I would encourage anyone thinking about it to find a way to make it work.”
What do you do for personal and professional development?
“While I do listen to some business podcasts (i.e. Goal Digger), I am much more interested in growing as a human being and that shapes the way I handle myself in every area of life, including business. I love to read non-fiction books, listen to podcasts, attend church, and meet with a small group weekly as a means to grow spiritually and personally.”
What mantra or quote do you live by?
“A life verse I picked in high school: Psalm 19:14. ‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.'”
What’s your favorite place in Detroit or Michigan?
“Grey Ghost and Townhouse are two of my favorite restaurants in Detroit. My family loves being outdoors and camping. We really enjoy the west side of the state and Northern MI.”
Where can our readers find you on social media?
You can follow The Little Design Co. on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and on their website!
