Meet Abigail Canney | Party Service Innovator, co-founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abigail Canney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abigail, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Our tie-dye story began in 2019- right before the pandemic, my husband Christopher and I were invited to Walt Disney World with his family. Having moved “out west” to Durango from Tennessee seven years prior, we wanted to commemorate the occasion by making everyone their very own matching tie-dye tee. The shirts were a hit- we got stopped multiple times by other families with compliments and questions, AND we found that the added fluorescent flair greatly helped us keep track of our little nieces and nephews!

In 2020, the ensuing shut-down gave me some time to think. At 31 years old, I felt I needed a change. Chris and I had been discussing entrepreneurship for some time, toying around with various ideas we hoped would jibe with our local community and its visitors, but nothing seemed quite right or attainable. When I returned to work (retail management) after furlough, I knew I was ready to move my life in a new direction. We wanted to offer an innovative and engaging service that everyone can enjoy. A brick-and-mortar “tie-dye studio,” where folks could book parties and take classes, and develop lasting memories with their friends and families, well, that idea felt right.

To ensure our original idea has enough oomph (i.e., is an appropriate fit for Durango) , Chris suggested we start with a slightly more conventional idea, the “mobile tie-dye party” approach, in which we travel to a client’s location and conduct a party for them and their guests. Additionally, he suggested we sell the shirts we’ve made at nearby festivals and online. We signed up for some business classes, filled out the proper paperwork, and got to work!

What should our readers know about your business?
“Give it a Try!” Tie-Dye Company believes artistic expression is valid. Tie-dye, with its few barriers to entry for age or experience, makes it an ideal activity for a wide range of folks. We believe everyone should have access to making art and be able to have meaningful experiences with each other. Our party service will help locals and visitors make lasting memories while celebrating special events (like birthdays, graduations, etc.), as well as benefit local organizations and businesses who wish to enliven their events. Also, tie-dye is super fun!

We’ve firmly embraced an “edutainment” stance for our brand. During my ten years as a retail manager, I found the best way for me to teach others was with informative and interesting content (much harder said than done!), that encouraged them to ask questions. By developing a strong relationship with my staff, we could navigate awkward waters with ease and create a fulfilling work environment for us both. The same goes for tie-dye. With a plethora of tying techniques and myriad dye applications, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. “Give it a Try!” wants to demystify all this so more people can experience the joy of making their own one-of-a-kind creation, either through booked parties or content posted to our social media and website. For those interested in gifting a hand-made item to the tie-dye lover in their life, we’ll also have ready-to-sell inventory like shirts, hats, tapestries, etc.

For me, tie-dye has been a form of art therapy, or a colorful means of self-care. I had been petrified to try new things, but tie-dye allowed me to make some awful shirts. I mean, really, really bad. But the more shirts we make, the better they look. The practice of trying something new and learning from our experiences helps propel us to new heights. We want to share this information with as many people as possible, so they can see just what they are capable of when they give it a try.

The “Give it a Try!” journey thus far has certainly come in fits and starts. We knew from the beginning that we want our business to be an accurate reflection of who we are. To safeguard the control of our image, we also knew that we needed to be as self-funded as possible. While I continued to work my full-time position, Christopher took on a local transportation job, working sixty hours a week for 18 straight months, until we felt financially ready to make the transition. I resigned from my job, we spent our first holiday with family in Tennessee in nine years, then launched headlong into preparations, taking classes, meeting with other entrepreneurs, and having LOTS of long talks. In May of 2022, we submitted our first of many applications. About half the days since have been fraught with uncertainty and trepidation (and that pesky fear). But, the other half have not- we remember we are creating a new reality for ourselves. In fewer words, we’re constantly moving from “We’re really doing this?” to “WE’RE REALLY DOING THIS!” And learning what WE are capable of has made it all worthwhile.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Whenever folks come to visit us, we have several “must-sees.” The only trouble is, there’s so much to see! No Durango stay is complete without riding the Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, or simply “the train.” Leaving multiple times daily (I recommend early or mid-week, if possible), the excursion is well worth your time, as the views are spectacular and unparalleled, and Silverton is charming to boot! We try to utilize some of our local outdoor areas when we have guests, like a nature hike up at Purgatory Ski Resort or a splash around Lake Vallecito. Downtown shopping is always on the list, with stores like Sticks and Stones Handmade, Animas Trading, or Maria’s Bookshop. Lastly, we know we’d regret missing local events or festivals, like the ever-popular annual Snowdown, or the seasonal Animas City Night Bazaar, or my personal favorite, the monthly (and weekly!) Planet Petty drag events, orchestrated by Aria PettyOne. And that’s just scratching the surface!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
“Give it a Try!” Tie-Dye Company would not have been possible without the love and support of its co-owner, my life partner Christopher Neal. He’s been at my side for twelve years, and believe you me, that’s an admirable feat in itself. Every day he shows me that by being open, communicative, and vulnerable, I can affect positive change for myself and others. I had previously found a lot of good within the comfort of stability and predictability, but allowed myself to stagnate for fear of failure. Chris helped me to see that by accepting failure as an option, you free yourself to make the first move (even if it’s just a baby step). Giving something new a try can be terrifying, it can also be exhilarating, entertaining, funny, life-affirming, all sorts of things, but it will never be wondering “what if?” Thank you, Chris.

Website: giveitatrytie-dye.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/giattiedye/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GIATtiedye

Image Credits
Abigail M Canney