Meet Amber Johnson | Maker and Entrepreneur

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

Hi Amber, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
I look at risk as a necessary factor to get to my goals in life and business. What drives the risks I choose to take, is envisioning the end goal and the strong desire to be on the other side of that goal in achievement. That is really the strongest motivating factor for me and while I can sometimes be reluctant to changes, I am willing to do what I need to do in order to advance my goals and dreams.

I am currently in the midst of taking a very big risk. I just put my notice in at my full-time job in order to take the leap to pursue my business full-time.

It’s definitely a risk to leave the security of a steady and predictable paycheck, but I’m at the point where I’m taking the risk to bet on myself, my talents and capabilities. However, this decision is something I have been planning for in order to set myself up for success. As a creative and someone who has previously hustled in pursuit of creative passions, I have taken specific steps this time in oder to be able to create out of a place of rest rather than survival. This includes having all my debt paid off and a renovation of an ADU in my backyard to help ease the financial aspect as I move into this new phase of full-time self-employment.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I have always been a creative at heart, as well as entrepreneurial. It wasn’t until I married those two aspects of my personality that I started to find momentum and success in my business journey. I have tried many different self-employment pursuits; from being a reading tutor, to trying to get into real estate. At the end of the day, I simply wasn’t passionate enough about these pursuits to get them from the point of being a side hustle to becoming a full-time business.

So in 2019 when I brought the creative aspect in and developed an idea I had in a sketch book into a fully realized product called Root Vases (a vase with a cork top for low-maintenance, hydroponic plant care) I started to gain some traction that didn’t fizz out over time due to the incredible challenge of building a business. I initially sold the product at my sister’s farmers markets to see what the reception was. She was kind enough to let me share her table, and the reception I received was really great. This resulted in my decision to develop my business and put forth a full fledge effort to see what it could grow into.

It has been a very challenging experience, with lots of ups and downs and numerous late nights and early mornings. I think the most challenging part has been simultaneously woking a full-time job. It really takes perseverance and determination to do both, and a vision of where you’d like to eventually see your business. What I’m most excited about right now is the fact that soon I will be
doing Autumn Journey full-time! I am also excited to have an on-going
partnership with West Elm in Boulder where they sell my Root Vases in
their storefront.

Root Vases are the first product in my brand, Autumn Journey Design and Decor. I now have live cactus earrings and am also prototyping lamps for a near future release. Because my background is in Product Design, my process involves both an element of craft and design with the end goal being a product that is both functional and beautiful. I think the marriage of both craft and design is the main factor that sets my brand apart and I’m excited to develop and share more products with the Denver community and beyond.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If someone were visiting Denver for the first time, I’d definitely take them to Red Rocks. One of my favorite summer activities is Film on the Rocks, where everyone gathers to watch a movie at the amphitheater.

You can’t come to Colorado and not go to the mountains. There would definitely be some hiking at some point, maybe in Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s close to Denver, and is one of my favorite mountain areas. A hike at Hanging Lake would also be an excellent choice.

For food, we would go to Super Mega Bien for the most amazing Mexican food. For dessert, either the Dessert Bar or Sweet Cow Ice Cream. They have the best cookies and cream ice cream in the city!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to give a shoutout to my family as well as my best friend. I started my business in 2019 and my older sister Adrienne, loaned me the money for my first big market; Renegade. It was the first market I had participated in, and I did not have any revenue to pay the $600 booth fee. It meant a lot to me to have her spot me the money from her own business to help me pay to get going on mine.

My other sister Charity and my best friend Amanda were really influential in helping with markets that first season. I only had a four-door Honda at the time. At the bigger markets I would participate in, I had an extensive set-up and my Honda couldn’t fit all my things. Charity or Amanda would often help out with setting up and tearing down at these events because they could fit all my extra set-up supplies in their jeeps. I’m very thankful for the help they provided that first year I started.

The rest of my family including my brother and dad, nephews and nieces have also been very supportive of my creative, entrepreneurial ways. They have been a sounding board for decisions and ideas and a great encouragement!

I also would like to give a shout-out to the amazing maker community in Denver. I’ve met so many great people over the years, and have made some really great friendships as a result. I’ve found the maker community in Colorado to be very supportive of each other, and I’m happy to be a part of a scene that has so many amazing entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Website: Autumn-journey.com

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

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/amber-j-51b6a09

Image Credits
Last photo: (of me sitting with white sweater and brown pants) One Lady Studios. All other photos I own full rights to.