From Finance to Creativity: A Journey to Building an Experience-Based Business in Bellefontaine

In today’s fast-paced world, many individuals find themselves stuck in careers that fail to ignite their passions. For some, the journey to rediscovering creativity can lead to unexpected and fulfilling paths. This is the story of one such entrepreneur who transitioned from a corporate finance job to creating a vibrant experience-based business in downtown Bellefontaine. Through her journey, Jessica Epley not only embraced her artistic side but also built a community hub that fosters creativity and memorable experiences for all who visit.

Take small steps: craft shows and teaching classes

After college, Jessica ventured into the finance sector, but the reality of staring at Excel spreadsheets for eight hours a day quickly made her realize that this path wasn’t for her. Fortunately, she was in a position to leave that job and take some time to rediscover her passions.

Once Jessica stepped away from the corporate grind, it felt like a fog had lifted. She began to explore her artistic side, diving into painting and macramé. This newfound creativity led her to travel around, setting up at craft shows and markets to showcase her work. Eventually, she transitioned from being a vendor to teaching classes across the state, sharing her love for creativity and crafting with others. She discovered her true passion lies in providing people with memorable experiences that they can cherish forever.

Stepping up to a downtown space

Then a small space became available in downtown Bellefontaine. Tired of the constant setup and teardown of market events, Jessica decided to take a leap and commit to this space for a year, envisioning it as a creative haven. Her goal was to create an environment where people could come, spark their creativity, and walk away with a wonderful memory. Thus, Triple Moon Designs was born.

However, just a few months into this venture, it became clear that the space was too small for the activities she had planned. By March of this year, she made the bold decision to move to a larger location, which allowed her to introduce a new feature: the candle bar.

Adding the candle bar

The candle bar offers a laid-back, low-stress crafting experience for everyone. While it requires significant behind-the-scenes work, it has attracted visitors from out of town who come specifically for this unique experience. As their candles cure, they have the opportunity to explore and enjoy the local shops and restaurants in the community, creating a vibrant atmosphere that benefits everyone involved.

Advice to you

“My advice to anyone offering an experience-based business is to think about how special it can be and shoot for that every single time. I don’t feel like I have a lot of business advice to give yet, but from my limited experience I would remind entrepreneurs that collaboration happens at the top. Being willing and able to work with other local businesses has helped me tremendously in getting my business name out there and given me the opportunity to build a network with other successful people. I’m so thankful for our downtown Bellefontaine business community and how we are working together to make our whole town the unforgettable experience!”

As Jessica continues on this journey, she remains committed to inspiring others and fostering creativity in her community. Her story serves as a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue your passions and create something meaningful.

If you’re interested in learning more about taking small steps to create an experience-based business in your town, don’t hesitate to reach out to us for ideas and advice!

Subscribe to SmallBizSurvival.