What’s your business name and what do you do?
My business name is Ritual Maine! I am a Hallowell based crystal shop and esthetics studio. I also run the Ritual Market - which is an eclectic, high vibe vendor market based in the Kennebec Valley.
How did you learn your craft?
It’s funny - whenever someone asks me how I got into what I do I always tell them my business ventures have always felt like they lead to one another. I grew up in an extremely small town on the Northern border of Maine called Madawaska. I knew early on that I wanted to explore what else Maine had to offer - and after high school I actually was a practicing makeup artist and wanted to go full time with my business, so I enrolled in esthetics school at Aveda in Augusta. Through school I fell in love with everything about esthetics and holistic skincare, and knew I wanted to open my own studio. In 2020 that did happen - but then the pandemic hit and I wasn’t able to take clients, so I looked for other avenues. This lead to the launch of my first online shop that year - selling crystals, local handmade products, skincare, etc. Crystal sales really took off, so much so I felt I needed separate social media for just the crystal ventures. Post-pandemic I also felt like there wasn’t many opportunities in central maine for business to share their products with customers in person, so I took things into my own hands and hosted our first market in 2021!
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
The connection and community. So many of my closest friends have come from running my business and the markets.
What do you enjoy least?
The pressure to be present with my business online. It’s an unfortunate reality of online sales and creating a brand on social media. While I would never trade my online community for anything, it can be incredibly exhausting to feel chained to my laptop and phone. Instagram has an unforgiving algorithm that really can force some business owners into burnout trying to keep up.
What’s one thing you wish people knew about your work?
That I care so deeply. Every project I’ve ever taken on has been so personal to me. It’s a blessing and a curse to feel so strongly, but I do accredit a lot of my success to it.
What’s one artist you look up to?
Jess Weymouth! I met her through her streams (I am a bit of a video game nerd) and she also is a watercolor and illustration artist. It has been inspiring to see her essentially run multiple businesses that while are so different - compliment each other.
What do you do when you’re not making?
Reading, spending time with my husband and son, playing video games, listening to music, or thinking about what I should be working on haha.
Night owl or early bird?
Night owl but early bird by force - my son’s internal alarm clock gets the whole family up around 5:45-6 every morning!
What's your favorite place in Maine?
Definitely my family’s property up in Allagash, Maine. No service so I’m forced to disconnect - and me and my husband got married there in 2022 so it holds extra meaning!