COMMUNITY STORIES: SHANTELLE SILBURN
I’m an artist with Jamaican roots from Broward County, Florida. One of my most significant first pop-ups was a beach event for Caribbean Heritage Month called Colors of the Caribbean. My involvement in Colors of the Caribbean gave me so much confidence as a new creator and allowed me to make some of my most significant products that are still best-sellers today.
At the event, my Jamaica Sticker Packs and Tote bags would stop people in their tracks to come and take a look. I met many event hosts from Caribbean backgrounds that were looking for vendors and vending my products so frequently motivated me to stay consistent in making new products and put me in environments with people who were on similar paths with their businesses.
My mission is to bring representation to different communities. Here in Tallahassee, I continue to reach out to different cultural organizations to be able to create new products inspired by diverse cultures!
I talked with a Student-Made manager that visited one of my classes to present about how to get involved in Student-Made and I got the idea of stickers with my art on it. As soon as I saw the potential, I started to try and make different things, trying new materials and different methods to perfect my business concept.
I would not have started my business without the encouragement of the Student-Made team and they truly did help to make so much of the logistical part of running a business much easier.
At my core, I am simply an artist who likes to share her art. I have had to learn how to be an entrepreneur on the fly and tend to all the needs of my business when they arise.
Overall, my business has forced me to grow to be more flexible and manage my time and responsibilities better, making me into the person I am today.
I do a lot of sketching and finished pieces that do not turn into products to keep myself from over-commercializing my craft. I recently picked up pottery for my downtime and it has been a learning curve I’m grateful for. I have been working on a faith-based collection where the inspiration genuinely comes from me being steadfast in my relationship with God.
I always find it important to immerse myself in the project I’m taking on so it truly means something to my customers!
I am grateful for every person I meet, anyone I vend beside, have shared my business goals with, and receive advice from! I truly am humbled by the opportunities that have come for me to share this very important part of my life journey, and I intend to continue to run my business for as long as I can!
