Salaam friends!
Welcome to the 6th issue of The Creative Muslimah.
Now that my newsletter has grown, I have set up a separate Instagram page specifically for it. Here it is, if you would like to support it by giving it a follow!
The Creative Muslimah Newsletter Instagram page
A little hint about today’s special guest: it’s a baker! The first one to be interviewed by The Creative Muslimah, but hopefully not the last.
But first, I wanted to address a question I get asked a lot:
“How do I get started with digital art?”
I have been painting and drawing using traditional materials pretty much my whole life, but digital art has been something I’ve gotten into fairly recently (about 3 and half years ago.) So it’s never too late to get started.
So let’s get into it! Here's a step-by-step guide to help you begin:
Understand the Basics: If you are a total beginner to creating art in general, I think it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the fundamental concepts of art. Such as composition, color theory, perspective, and lighting. These principles apply to both traditional and digital art, whether you create realistic still life pieces or quirky and cute children’s characters.
Get the Tools: You'll need a computer or tablet. I use an iPad but you there are loads of options out there. Additionally, you'll need software, such as Adobe Photoshop or Procreate, which I use. I also use an Apple Pencil.
Learn Your Software: Spend time getting familiar with your software. There are some that are a lot more simple than others. Watch tutorials, read guides, and experiment with the different tools it offers.
Develop Your Skills: Just like traditional art, digital art requires a LOT of practice. Be willing to commit time to it! Take advantage of online resources too. YouTube and Skillshare have so many tutorials and courses for artists, including total beginners.
Experiment with Different Styles: Explore art styles and discover what you like. I experimented with a whole bunch of totally different styles before finding one I stuck with. And I’m sure my style will continue to change!
I hope you found these tips helpful. And just in case you missed it, here’s the previous newsletter so you can catch up!
Before we meet our guest, here’s a 10% discount code for my Etsy shop which is especially for my lovely newsletter readers! Use the code: NEWSLETTER
Here are the links to my Etsy shop, my books and my Instagram: click here
Now it’s time to introduce our guest!
Our special guest today is…
Maya AKA “For Chocolate Sake!” She is a very talented baker who specialises in creating personalised chocolate treats. She is based in Glasgow and is well known for her delicious and unique creations. I’m sure we can learn a lot from her! And lucky for us, she has shared some tips and tricks from years of running her successful small business.
If you would like to support her business and check out her delicious and beautiful chocolate treats, click here to visit her Instagram page or click here for her website.
Here’s her story:
Can you summarise what it is that you do?
As salamu alaykum everyone,
My name is Mariya Amin, although most people call me Maya! I am the owner and baker behind my business called ‘For Chocolate Sake’, also known as ‘FCS’. I am also a Primary Teacher! A year ago, I had my baby girl who is now one. Therefore, I have now returned to work as my maternity leave has ended. I love every job I have from being a Mum, teacher and baker.
How did you first get started and how did you come up with the name “For Chocolate Sake?”
During 2018, there was a surge of small baking businesses which began to open on Instagram! I had always enjoyed baking, however, I was not as talented as the creative bakers online. One day my family encouraged me to launch my own business. I was hesitant as I lacked confidence in my skills and ability. With their encouragement, I practised and practised and I invested in new stock and resources. Before launching, I wanted to ensure I felt confident in my own ability in using chocolate and being able to create a variety of sweet treats.
Another task in itself is creating your own name and branding. Branding is key as it represents you and your business! After a huge amount of brain storming sessions, then came the name ‘For Chocolate Sake’. My logo was designed by my Mum who is a naturally creative person! I was fortunate for my family’s input as their ideas contributed to a successful opening for FCS on Instagram.
In January 2019, I launched FCS on Instagram only. However, when I launched, I ensured I had the following:
A logo and name
A clear bio for my Instagram page stating what is my business, a short statement about what I sell and my location
Highlights with clear information such as products and prices, how to order, location
Content which was ready to post every few days to engage an audience
All of these aspects helped and encouraged customers to enquire or order Alhamdulillah . Most importantly, it was useful for people to gain a clear picture of FCS as there was information already online.
How do you stay organised and keep on top of things?
Organisation is key in running a business, otherwise, the workload begins to pile up and your stress levels becomes heightened. There are a number of things I do in FCS to keep me organised which helps massively.
Firstly, I plan my workload. For example, I assess what orders I have for that week. This allows me to plan which ingredients I need to buy for the entire week to prevent me from going to the supermarket or wholesalers many times. I use this information to plan how and when I am going to bake certain things to spread my workload. Simple things like box making takes up a lot of time!
Secondly, I have an incredible PA who completes all of my admin for me. She completes all my business enquiries and emails which saves me a lot of time. This allows me to focus on my content creation, new ideas and most importantly baking my customer’s orders. Previously, I struggled a lot to manage this workload by myself and I found it too challenging so sharing the workload helps me massively.
Furthermore, I plan my content. Unfortunately, Instagram is becoming increasingly harder to engage with new customers let alone your existing ones! Therefore, I make sure I find the current trends online for the week and make time to create suitable content for that week.
Lastly, I am a neat freak! My stock room, my stock cupboards and boxes are always extremely neat, tidy and organised. I find this allows me to see which stock I have and this prevents me from over spending on unnecessary stock. When I am in a rush, everything is easily accessible and labelled which saves me time!
How do you decide how to price your products?
I will give a short breakdown which gives me guidance on how I price my products!
Firstly, it is incredibly important to become familiar with your expenditure and the cost of all of your stock. I mean every little thing, even if it costs you £1! Everything adds up! Make sure you keep your receipts or mentally know the cost of your stock.
Time is money! You need to remember, your time should be paid for. If you are not factoring this in, you will be questioning, why am I not making enough or why am I working so hard to get so little? Think about it, in any other job you are guaranteed an hourly rate! This is hard to achieve in a small business, unless you have priced your products correctly to suit your needs!
Everyone does it and I am not afraid to admit it! I began to explore other businesses which were similar to the nature of FCS. This allowed me to gauge whether or not my intended prices were far too cheap or too expensive!
Do you have a team or do you do everything yourself?
I have a small yet amazing team Alhamdulillah.
My administration is completed by my PA which alleviates so much pressure off myself. This allows us to offer a great customer service as enquiries are completed within 1-2 working days.
My Husband and brothers often assist in packing large orders, box making and deliveries.
I have one baker assistant who works part time alongside myself on busy occasions such as seasonal days/weekends.
What are your most popular products and what are your favourite things to make?
FCS is known for its Signature Original Milk Chocolate strawberries, also known as ‘The OGs’. It is extremely established and popular that it has been referred to as ‘OGs’ for many years Alhamdulillah! This is definitely my ultimate favourite thing to make. It is simple, time effective to make and tastes extremely delicious and moreish!
Have you received much negativity? How do you handle it?
I have been extremely fortunate that I have never experienced any negativity. InshaAllah may that continue!
If I was to experience any negativity, I would assess the situation to ensure I gave an appropriate response.
What are some misconceptions about running a small baking business? What do you wish more people knew?
People assume if you work from home or run a small business you have all the time in the world. I feel it is the complete opposite, especially since I have the experience of being a teacher, I am able to compare them both. The pros of working a 9-5 job is that you can shut off after work, your hours are set, you have set breaks and a set structure to your day! Small business don’t really have that as it is extremely flexible depending on the amount of orders you have to fulfil.
I wish people would understand the time and effort that goes behind creating content. Online platforms have changed so much over the years, and it has become hard to be creative and digitally equipped to create content. A 10 second video or a still image which everyone sees online, did not take 10 seconds to capture! Unfortunately, it takes far longer! It can be demotivating when your online audience has not engaged with your posts.How to balance motherhood with running a business? Did you have to change the way you did things when you became a mum?
I always ensure I am prepared and organised for my business and home life. My baby is my priority and there a few things that I do to make sure that doesn’t change.
Learn to make time for yourself! It is okay to say no to orders as there are more important things than being stuck in the kitchen.
On my days off, I make sure I do lots of preparation for the week ahead to make each day a little less busy.
Between my Husband and me, we share the workload of everything, including home tasks such as cleaning, washing and cooking! This prevents burn out and alleviates pressure as the workload is shared.
What are your goals and hopes for the future when it comes to business?
One goal is to expand and create new postal treats inshaAllah. I offer a variety of sweet treats for postal already, however, I feel I can improve on this and unique gifting desserts.
I offer baking classes for children, which I love doing especially since it is based on teaching. I am yet to introduce classes for adults! One day I will – InshaAllah!
I hope to offer a live dessert experience for weddings and events. We are currently planning this which will take a while by the time we finalise the logistics of everything! I want to experience something new and creative with FCS for myself and for my customers ‘bi ithnillah’!
It's Maryam again! A huge thank you to the lovely Maya for taking the time to contribute to the newsletter. I hope you found it beneficial and I look forward to sending you the next one insha’Allah.
Love and duas,
Maryam