By: Catherine Bleish
Central Texas has always been a hotbed of progressive thought and action. It is currently one of the most thriving Bitcoin meccas on the planet. This is evident by the large number of Bitcoin-centric businesses in the area, the Bitcoin-heavy media (The Liberty Beat, The Crypto Show, Natural News) , and the nationwide Bitcoin speakers and advocates who reside in the area (Cody Wilson, John Bush, Myself). This is in addition to the growing number of Bitcoin-friendly businesses in the area, many of which are run by women.
To celebrate “Why Women Love Bitcoin”, I would like to present a profile on a few of these Central Texas entrepreneurs and ask them questions about their Bitcoin-friendly businesses. The three women I highlight are extraordinary women in that they are brave, confident, risk taking ladies who are willing to put in the effort required to make a living while doing what they love. On the same coin, they are ordinary women just like you and me, who serve as inspiration to anyone wanting to start their own business in the Bitcoin space.
Meet the Central Texas Ladies of Bitcoin: Stacie Frost (Frost Homestead), Sarah Stollak (World on a String), and Jessica Arman (My Magic Mud). Their products are unique – chicken eggs, handmade jewelry, and tooth powder – but they are united in their love for Bitcoin.
Stacie Frost
Business: Frost Homestead
Website: http:www.facebook.com/FrostHomestead
Description: We are a working homestead. We sell rare breed show chickens and ship fertile hatching eggs nationwide. We currently breed purebred Wheaten and Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas as well as Black Copper and Blue Copper Marans.
Sarah Stollak
Business: World on a String
Website: worldonastring.us
Description: Crochet jewelry in pearls, gemstones, glass, and other beautiful materials from around the world. Violinist, fiddler, guitarist, singer, songwriter.
Jessica Arman
Business: My Magic Mud
Website: mymagicmud.com
Description: My Magic Mud all natural tooth powder that gives you a dentist-like clean while whitening and polishing your teeth. My remedy is sold in biological dentist offices and health stores all over Texas.
Getting Started
I asked each of these women to describe how they started their business from dream to reality. You will find that each of these ladies were inspired through their hands-on experiences: shopping the farmers market, learning to knit, and trying home remedies for their kids. While you read their answers think about what inspires you in your day to day life; is there a business opportunity calling you?
Stacie Frost (Frost Homestead): My husband and I first got interested in raising chickens after a trip to a local farmer’s market. There was a woman selling green and blue chicken eggs. At the time we only had a small lot (1/8th of an acre) in the city but we had enough space to have a few hens, so we set out to find some colored egg layers. We started out with just a couple Easter Eggers, mongrel colored egg layers. A few years later we moved onto a larger piece of land and decided we wanted to get more serious about chickening. After researching breeds we discovered several that piqued our interest, particularly purebred Ameraucanas that lay blue eggs and French Marans that lay the darkest brown eggs in the world. We set out to get some of the best lines available and for the past few years have bred and culled our stock into perfection. Working with Texas A&M we have had our flock certified free of infectious disease, a necessary measure for shipping live birds across state lines. Today we have a thriving base of loyal customers in the Austin, TX area and successfully ship fertile hatching eggs to every state in the continental US.
Sarah Stollak (World on a String): My mom taught me how to knit in 1993 and I’ve been creating ever since. When I moved to Austin in 2004, I started an artisan booth at local markets, street fairs, and special events. Vending was supposed to be temporary while I found a real job, but almost a decade later here I am, still a full time creative entrepreneur.
Jessica Arman (My Magic Mud): I worked customer service for an operation that provided raw ingredients to companies that formulated them into their own blends to create detox products and other supplements. I learned a lot over time until one day I discovered that some of the ingredients I was working with were actually ancient – (thousands of years ancient!) – oral remedies. My research led me to an original blend that works in a synergy to produce better results than any of the ingredients used by themselves. What started as a remedy for my children ended up as a business by what seems to be an accident. My daughter posted a cute before/after picture, that she created with her phone, to my facebook wall. I started getting a flood of interest. I sent this out to about 50 people for free and even sent this to a biological dentist, Dr. Griffin Cole, just to make sure that others were seeing the results that my family did. I have brutally honest friends and even Dr. Cole said that he would heavily scrutinize the product, so it was a little nerve wracking. The results came in from everyone and I was blown away. I had an acquaintance call me crying because this was the first time she was no longer in pain in months. People were posting pictures showing their sparkling smiles. Dr. Cole told us that it was his and his wife’s new favorite product – he now sells this in his practice. He’s only endorsed one other product in over 20 years of being a practicing dentist. We then started running ads on liberty radio programs and boom, it became a business. My entire family is involved; even my mother-in-law is a sales rep. We hire our friends and we’re at several farmers markets in central Texas. Our family is flourishing for the first time in years.
Inspirations and Role Models
Each of these powerful women list different folks as their entrepreneurial inspirations / role models. I appreciate that they all look to people who operate within their sphere of interest. Stacie is inspired by other chicken breeders, Sarah by other artists and Jessica by the Do-It-Yourself spirit of her husband. Consider who your inspirations and role models are while you read their answers; maybe you can think of someone who would be a good guide for you in your entrepreneurial journey!
Stacie Frost (Frost Homestead): My role models are those who came before me, the breeders that have spent decades developing the breeds I raise – the most influential people being Paul Smith and Bev Davis. Paul Smith is a fellow Texan and his work with Ameraucanas is well known; he runs a thriving business selling chicks each spring when the Texas heat permits shipping, and I’m inspired by his commitment to improve his birds while also making a profit. Bev Davis is also a very well known breeder. Her dedication to breeding Marans is apparent in her stock; her birds conform to standard and lay the darkest eggs of any Marans available in the US. The kind of dedication needed to accomplish what she has makes her an inspiration.
Sarah Stollak (World on a String): I am continually inspired by people around me who push the boundaries of their own creativity – artists, activists, and entrepreneurs working towards a better future for humanity and animals. Elon Musk. Jane Goodall.
Jessica Arman (My Magic Mud): My husband. He simply can’t work for anyone else. We’ve created several family businesses. Many failed; a couple succeeded. He says “being entrepreneurial is doing liberty.”
Advice for Others
As we move through life we learn from our experiences. Each of these women have been running their own business long enough to have some great advice. Each of them indicate, in their own words, that you should follow your heart and your dreams in order to find success. In today’s society many of us end up working as a cog in the wheel, working for another man’s dream. These ladies have inspirational advice about doing what you love to find the most success as an entrepreneur.
Stacie Frost (Frost Homestead): My best advice for someone interested in starting their own business would be to choose something you enjoy. Life is too short to do otherwise and a home business, like any small business, requires consistency and tireless dedication. Hard work is a lot easier when you have a passion for what you’re selling.
Sarah Stollak (World on a String): There are many different learning styles. I learn by doing. It takes time to find what works for you. Listen to the music in your heart and find your own beat.
Jessica Arman (My Magic Mud): Being an entrepreneur is living in a different conscious space. Once you shift your consciousness from lack and limitation, from the daily drama, and from general survival mode, and move into a more creative space, starting businesses becomes more natural. Almost everyone has a remedy, talent, or unique knowledge of some kind, that can be turned into a product or service. Many of these people are just not in the right frame of mind to see that they can be successful with exactly what they have, right now! Also, be extremely careful with the people you decide to associate with; mediocrity is contagious. If you want to be successful, start hanging out with successful people, or at least place yourself in the company of people that reflect the characteristics that you wish for yourself.
Accepting Bitcoin
These women are all entrepreneurs who happen to accept bitcoin. We each have a different journey to the Bitcoin space ,and I thought it would be fun to find out why each of these women decided to start accepting bitcoin for their goods/services. All of them cite demand as a reason they began accepting bitcoin; it can also be used as an outreach tool to educate the public about the growing crypto currency.
Stacie Frost (Frost Homestead): As an early adopter of Bitcoin it was a logical step;I also wanted to use my business to introduce the concept of Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies to people who might not explore or otherwise be exposed to it. Chicken owners come from all backgrounds, incomes, and lifestyles – one thing they have in common is that most of them have never heard of Bitcoin. By saying that I accept bitcoin in my advertisements I hope not only to sell my product for bitcoin but to also spark interest in people who have no idea what it is. Many times I’ve had people email me and ask “What is Bitcoin”?. I also would like to see more people using bitcoin in everyday transactions. By giving my customers the option to spend their bitcoin with me, I’m helping to cement the value of Bitcoin to real world products.
Sarah Stollak (World on a String): My interest in Bitcoin was theoretical until you and John gave me the option of accepting bitcoin for your custom crochet wedding jewelry. I received my payment in Oct. 2013, right as the boom was happening, so of course I was hooked.
Jessica Arman (My Magic Mud): I started accepting bitcoin because there is a market demand for it. I’ve always loved the BTC culture, but I’m not going to move on something unless I see real personal benefit. My customers started asking me to take BTC, and even told me that they wouldn’t purchase from me until I did, so we made this happen. Plus, you (Cat B) and your husband (John B) have consistently inspired us to do so.
Obstacles
Jumping into the Bitcoin Space as an Early Adopter isn’t always easy, but it can be. It really depends on your skillset and understanding of the currency and the network before you jump into the space. Each of these women had very different experiences while setting up their businesses to accept bitcoin. Stacie, who was already on board, had no trouble at all, Sarah had a learning curve and took refuge in the local Bitcoin community and Jessica had to figure out how to take bitcoin manually since it is not currently integrated into her point of sale system.
Stacie Frost (Frost Homestead): I haven’t had to overcome any obstacles when it comes to taking bitcoin. I was well versed in Bitcoin before I started my business so it was simple enough to add it as an option. Bitcoin is so easy to use; I think I’d have a harder time figuring out how to process credit and debit card transactions!
Sarah Stollak (World on a String): There are still obstacles transacting in bitcoin, but that’s part of what makes it fun, to be in the midst of something changing and growing so quickly. I started on coinbase.com, connected to a bank account, and started transacting via an email address. While the anonymity of Bitcoin is important, so is ease. I got the Blockchain app on my iPhone, but then Apple blocked all Bitcoin services. I was the first Bitcoin customer at the Unconventional Oven pizza trailer, but I used the wrong email address to pay and after a month the funds were sent back to me. It took some failures and several tries to figure out how to use a QR code instead of transacting using an email address. Austin Bitcoin Meetup helped. In addition to technology, patience and a friendly community are always important.
Jessica Arman (My Magic Mud): Yes, and we’re still dealing with this. Taking BTC is not easy for online orders because I use a system that’s not yet integrated. I need to automate my business as much as possible to keep up, so I’m still having to manually accept BTC. I’m just waiting for a hero-entrepreneur to integrate. Someone out there, please interface BigCommerce and my Bitcoin Wallet. Pretty please with kisses! Right now we’re using BitPay.
Benefits
Accepting bitcoin can bring great benefit to businesses who market their desire to be paid in bitcoin. CheapAir recently announced they have done over 1.5 million in bitcoin sales. I asked each woman if and how bitcon has benefited their business in any way.
Stacie Frost (Frost Homestead): I don’t know if I can say that Bitcoin has directly benefited my business. I’ve introduced a couple people to chickening because of the fact that I’ve advertised my chickens for bitcoin in cryptocurrency circles. I have had several chickens-for-bitcoin transactions, and I’m very happy with that considering it’s not all that common for people to be interested in both.
Sarah Stollak (World on a String): Bitcoin has provided my business more opportunities to reach an audience who appreciates me. Accepting bitcoin also means getting to pay others in bitcoin and participating in the economy. After profiting from my first bitcoin transaction, I reinvested in my local community by taking out a radio ad on The Liberty Beat on 90.1 FM, and by hiring some of my favorite local musicians for a Bitcoin Shopping and Social Event.
Jessica Arman (My Magic Mud): Using Bitcoin has benefited me, personally. Each transaction just feels ‘clean’ and intimate. I feel I’m acting more in alignment with my moral code. It hasn’t yet benefited my business; it’s still too early…
Recommendations
As business owners start to consider accepting bitcoin as a payment method, it is important to know if the businesses who already accept bitcoin would recommend it. I asked each of these women if they would recommend that other businesses accept payments through the Bitcoin network.
Stacie Frost (Frost Homestead): Definitely! Adding bitcoin as a payment option can bring you a whole range of customers that might otherwise not show an interest in your business. Bitcoin advocates are thrilled when companies give their customers that option to pay without using typical fiat currencies. Another added benefit is that as more companies add bitcoin as a payment option, more people will be inspired to find out exactly what this Bitcoin thing is all about.
Sarah Stollak (World on a String): Many business owners take a variety of payments already, so I encourage others to consider accepting bitcoin. Bartering is also great. I dislike a trend I’ve seen of small business owners refusing to take cash and only accepting credit cards. Sure, using less FRNs is ideal, but I do think a business basic is to make it easy for people to give you money.
Jessica Arman (My Magic Mud): Yes, absolutely. You’ll feel cool, hip, techno-progressive, awesome. And the BTC ecosystem will love you for it. Being loved feels great!
Importance
Sure, it is nice to take as many forms of payment as your customers are willing to offer, but is there a bigger picture of importance here? For me, bitcoin is ethical money. It is peer to peer, decentralized, and is not manipulated by a central government or corporation. Each of these women have a similar sentiment about the currency and its importance in our economic future.
Stacie Frost (Frost Homestead): Read Satoshi’s white paper. (https://bitcoin.org/bitcoin.pdf) Seriously though, a decentralized peer-to-peer cryptocurrency with the power to bypass regulations, borders, and banks? Lower transactions fees than traditional wire transfer and currency exchange services, nearly instantaneous transfers, and total anonymity…what’s not to love?
Sarah Stollak (World on a String): As a global digital currency/property, the potential of Bitcoin to radically shift the exchange of value away from banks is interesting, regardless of the dollar value at any moment.
Jessica Arman (My Magic Mud): To answer this, I’d have to figure out a way to answer how Bitcoin could be unimportant, which I simply can’t. Bitcoin and the crypto-currency culture has implications that could change all of human society. Society is built on human exchange, and this optimizes exchange exponentially. Capitalism has been exploited by thieves, and the sharpest among them are the elite banking families… Their game is up.
If you are ever in Central Texas there are more Ladies of Bitcoin who accept the virtual currency in their businesses.
Here is a short list:
World on a String (Sarah Stollak): WorldOnAString.us
Silver Dime Cards (Serene Hammond): No website; you can often find her at Brave New Books in Austin, TX.
Pinkies Palleotillas (Tracy Ward): facebook.com/paleotillas
My Magic Mud (Jessica Arman): mymagicmud.com
Jitter Bug Vipers (Sarah Sharp): jitterbugvipers.com
Frost Homestead (Stacie Frost): facebook.com/FrostHomestead
ConsignBit.com (Catherine Bleish): consignbit.com
Capital Coin and Bullion (Becky Tyson): http://capitalcoinandbullion.com/
