Recording this week's episode felt like a moving target! I recorded it on Feb 8th and the news moves so fast that it was hard to keep up. I'm sure you'll notice a few things in here that have since changed.

Having said that, this week's episode was born out of the launch of a trade war Canadians didn't ask for. The threats of tariffs and, frankly, annexation, have made this a very scary time for all Canadians. But with things in so much flux I decided to make this a more general episode. I share some strategies creative entrepreneurs in the arts can employ to build resilience against global chaos as well as helping you have a clearer understanding of how any kind of tariff can impact your business. We'll go over the three keys you need to focus on in the back end of your business as well as the importance of adapting your marketing tactics and creating greater financial stability for yourself.

This is a great episode for creatives who...

⭐️ need to understand the potential impact of tariffs on their creative businesses
⭐️ need to review their pricing strategies for long term sustainability during a trade war
⭐️ are looking for ways to stabilize their expenses and cost of materials
⭐️ want to lean into values based marketing (and being Canadian) during this time
⭐️ need to think about diversifying revenue and trying to ensure as much financial stability as possible

OTHER HELPFUL EPISODES:

• EP154: Makers, Artists & Creatives: Here's How to Find Your Customers
• EP110: Navigating Economic Uncertainty While Running a Creative Business
• EP098: Aligning Your Values with Your Business
• EP082: Budget & Hybring Pricing Models for Creatives
• EP081: Premium Pricing Models for Your Creative Business

You can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.

You can connect with the podcast on:

• Instagram at @andshelookedup
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp

For a list of all available episodes, please visit:
And She Looked Up Creative Hour Podcast

Each week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love.

Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

Winner of the 2024 Canadian Book Club Awards for fiction, Susan Wadds, author of "What the Living Do", shares her inspiring journey from aspiring poet to published novelist. But we also discuss the power of community and connection in the creative process. Susan fosters safe communities for other creatives through her workshops and retreats while also creating additional revenue streams for herself and she shares with us just how she does that!

This is a great episode for creatives who...

⭐️ want to learn more about the value of creating safe spaces for other creatives in their niche
⭐️ want some insights on community-building among creatives
⭐️ are curious about the Amherst Writers and Artists method
⭐️ are looking for practical advice for aspiring writers to pursue their passion
⭐️ are curious about Susan and her novel "What the Living Do"

This episode is brought to you by our Premium Subscriber Community on Patreon and Buzzsprout

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• find Susan at writeyourwayin.ca, or on Instagram @deepamwadds, Facebook, YouTube, or Substack
• What the Living Do on Indigo
• Amherst Writers and Artists
• Canadian Book Club Awards

You can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.

You can connect with the podcast on:

• Instagram at @andshelookedup
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp

For a list of all available episodes, please visit:
And She Looked Up Creative Hour Podcast

Each week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love.

Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.

As we close out 2024, Heather and Melissa reflect on the ups and downs of the past year and look ahead to what's coming in 2025. This episode highlights the core theme of finding joy amid challenges as we close out one year and being another.

Here's a quick recap of what we get into!

• Recap of 2024 and its unexpected challenges
• Importance of joy in art and creativity
• Personal growth through grief and creativity
• Strategies for nurturing community and connection
• Setting intentions for a vibrant 2025
• Encouragement to embrace personal projects and small victories

This episode is brought to you by our Premium Subscriber Community on Patreon and Buzzsprout.

You can find Melissa at finelimedesigns.com, finelimeillustrations.com or on Instagram @finelimedesigns.

You can find Heather at heatherlynnetravis.com or on Instagram @heathertravis.

You can connect with the podcast on:

• Instagram at @andshelookedup
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Tik Tok at @AndSheLookedUp

For a list of all available episodes, please visit:
And She Looked Up Creative Hour Podcast

Each week The And She Looked Up Podcast sits down with inspiring Canadian women who create for a living. We talk about their creative journeys and their best business tips, as well as the creative and business mindset issues all creative entrepreneurs struggle with. This podcast is for Canadian artists, makers and creators who want to find a way to make a living doing what they love.

Your host, Melissa Hartfiel (@finelimedesigns), left a 20 year career in corporate retail and has been happily self-employed as a working creative since 2010. She's a graphic designer, writer and illustrator as well as the co-founder of a multi-six figure a year business in the digital content space. She resides just outside of Vancouver, BC.