How leveraging customer insights helped me build an embroidery kit empire
Yep, you read that right. For 10+ years I ran an embroidery kit business. And I was SO good at it. According to my super fans, I "wrecked all other embroidery kit experiences." Whoops. And the funny part was, I didn't even like to sew.
So how did I make the best kits ever? I user tested them. I used myself as the first subject (since I didn't know how to embroider) and I tried to work through existing kits on the market. I noted what I liked, what was frustrating, how many times I poked myself, etc. And then I engineered my first kit. But I wasn't done there. Every year I perfected it a little more with the help of my customers until year five when I had my masterpiece.
Um, but then like all people who perfect something, I got bored. I needed a new challenge. That's when I officially discovered user testing. I'd been doing it for a decade but hadn't known it had a name, besides 'the practical way'. I dove in headfirst and instantly felt like I'd found my calling.
Now I help businesses, event organizers, and a few crafty people gain insight, confidence, and empowerment by user testing their websites, events, and copy.