Entrepreneur Spotlight: Ally Barfield
From Artist to Entrepreneur
“It only takes one percent of action to start turning a dream into a reality,” Ally Barfield, the owner of RV Mom in Pink, explains as she reflects on her own growth over the last year.
The artist-turned-entrepreneur sells handmade resin products ranging from candle holders to runes, as well as custom dominoes and chess sets.
With a strong work ethic, taught by her mother, Barfield displayed the entrepreneurial spirit at a young age. She and her brother created their own business opportunities by knocking on neighbors’ doors and offering to mow their lawns or weed their gardens for extra money. Today, with the support and strategy provided through RISE Collaborative’s CO.STARTERS program, Barfield is a full-fledged businesswoman selling her handcrafted goods through a virtual storefront and at local venues.
“I started my own business because it’s an opportunity for me to be transparent with my customers and it allows me to be my authentic self,” she says. “I try to be a safe space for diversity by creating custom products for people with unique interests or different religious backgrounds.”
Although RV Mom in Pink is a new company, Barfield’s passion for art comes from a lifelong adoration for anything creative. Drawing inspiration from nature and her children, she has concentrated her artistic talents into crafting resin products that can be found in a local antique and crafts mall, in Blackstone stores, and on her website.
“When I started this company, I was able to encompass my love of art,” she says. “I’ve always loved being creative and working with my hands. I went to school for makeup, I’ve done acrylic nails, and I’ve designed t-shirts and signs. Art is my passion.”
Overcoming self-doubt, Barfield finally applied and was accepted into the program with little time to spare before the first class. What she did not realize at the time was that the CO.STARTERS program would be the beginning of an incredible journey.
So what’s next for the pink-haired businesswoman?
Barfield is ready to diversify her products and sell in more stores and markets. She recently purchased furniture so she can blend her love of resin art with home decor. She wants to create entire scenes made of resin on tabletops and is still growing her skillset as an artist, including her recent mastery of a new smoke effect for her products. She is even considering scaling up her product line to include full-size countertops made of resin, which can be produced at a fraction of the cost of granite or quartz.
“I didn’t realize that I had good ideas or that my ideas were valid until I started taking the classes. I didn’t know anything about starting a business. The program gave me the tools I needed to make an actual business work. The instructors helped me figure out the financial side of it like pricing products, balancing a checkbook, and figuring out taxes.”
Ally Barfield
Owner, RV Mom in Pink
Giving back to the community is also a priority in the upcoming year. Barfield offers training courses on how to safely handle resin and avoid toxic reactions.
Armed with supportive family and friends and foundational knowledge of business management, Barfield is ready to take RV Mom in Pink to the next level.
“There are a lot of critics in the world,” Barfield says. “Do what you love, and there will be enough people to see your talent and worth.”
Want to launch your idea or grow your business like Ally?
Apply for CO.STARTERS Business Bootcamp Winter 2023 by December 13, 2022!
The course is virtual and meets from 6-9pm on Tuesday evenings from January 10 through February 28, 2023.