She is a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo, a business owner of seven years and philanthropist.
Such an impressive resume makes it hard to believe our featured entrepreneur is only 13-years-old and entering eight grade in the fall! Livia Viall, owner, maker and operator of Crafty Girl Creations is accomplished, smart and skilled. She produces both modern and vintage style home decor, selling them via Etsy and local art shows.
Livia started Crafty Girl Creations in 2015, as a curious-minded five-year-old, who wanted to build an American Girl farmhouse bed for her dolls. Thanks to her dad’s woodworking prowess and power tools, she not only completed her intended project but also began setting her sights on additional ones, including home decor. Friends and acquaintances began to take notice and soon a business blossomed. Crafty Girl Creations now offers holiday, mountain, coffee, and KC-themed home decor and gifts. She uses upcycled pallet wood as a foundation, and then all-natural tea and vinegar stains to create the perfect distressed finish. She also paints her own hardware and hand stencils all signs.
She oozes confidence and dazzles with her skill sets, but that doesn’t mean starting a business at such a young age has been easy. Livia has learned important lessons along the way, such as effective communication, money management, problem solving and persuasive selling. Capability in these areas are vital to success in our world today, and admirably, she’s mastering them far ahead of her peers.
In fact, the problem-solving competency was put to the test last year when lumber prices skyrocketed, causing her gross profit, like so many other businesses, to erode. Instead of folding, she creatively began using less expensive materials by upcycling wood to continue making her modern and farmhouse style products at a lower cost, making it still possible to yield a surplus.
Livia is not shortsighted when thinking of her future plans in life and for her business. She noted, “Ultimately, I would love to have my own store front or sell my creations in a big store that carries lots of handmade products.” Becoming a lawyer one day is also on her radar, taking what she has learned along the way, and applying it in adulthood and a possible career.
She added she also has the desire to influence kids with similar ambitions and encourage them to pursue their own entrepreneurial goals. “My advice for other kids who want to start a business would be to find something that you like doing that other people can benefit from and brainstorm a name, products, prices, and how you are going to sell it.
“There will be small bumps along the road but don’t let that stop you. Just remember to follow your dreams and that kids can have amazing businesses, too.”
A desire to help runs deep in Livia, and is also an integral part of her business model. Giving is important to her and is one of her family’s core values. “Since I am making money, I think it’s important to do something good with it,” Livia said.
Profits from Crafty Girl Creations are deposited in to three different buckets: one third for spending, one third for savings and one third for giving. Patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital benefit from her generosity and giving bucket, as they receive craft kits Livia donates, in order to keep them busy during their stay. In fact, the last two years, she’s encouraged social media followers to a matching challenge during the holidays, and together they have raised enough money to be one of the top fundraisers during the month of December for the hospital!
You are an inspiration Livia, and we cannot wait to see how you continue to make this world a better and more beautiful place!
Follow Livia on Instagram or Facebook to view her products, and visit her Etsy site to support this one-of-a-kind girl on the move!
This post is sponsored by Mazuma Credit Union. Mazuma Credit Union is a local, not for profit financial institution committed to serving the Kansas City metro area since 1948. Passionate about supporting and giving back to our community, we strive to serve our Members, local small businesses, and non profit organizations through our products and services provided in our 10 area branches and beyond.
