Meet Deidre Peak | Owner, creator & baker

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

Hi Deidre, what role has risk played in your life or career?
No great success is ever achieved by living cautiously and not taking a risk. Whether that is falling in love, choosing to raise a child, starting a business – it’s can be applied to all of these. There is a saying that I heard years ago that if your dreams don’t scare you, you need to dream bigger. When we work hard and achieve one goal, we quickly reassess, dream bigger and start working toward the next goal. If some goals seem unobtainable, we pivot, make adjustments and then push forward again. Failure is not an option. I prefer to think of them as calculated risks. While there may be some jitters and uneasy feelings when it comes to big decisions, ultimately, the hype surrounding that fear is never substantiated – the risk is always worth it in the end.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
We are a collaborative storefront – the first of our kind in Colorado Springs. As a venue, we house 80+ handcrafted vendors who all reside in Colorado. All of our products must be handmade somehow within the state; therefore, supporting our neighbors and keeping the support local. Our journey has not been easy. Between the pandemic, imitators and competitors and overall as a business venture – there is nothing that has come easily. Prepare to be tested – consumers will find your weakness. Know what that is beforehand and brace yourself to respond in an appropriate manner. Angry customers, bad reviews, etc are bound to happen when you provide a product or service to purchase. Truly believe that you are doing your best, to your absolute highest quality in all things and then know that you cannot please everyone. There are just some people that will latch on to some facet of your business and complain. Cut your losses and move on – do not entertain their antics nor waste your mental space being brought down by their negativity. Take their feedback in a constructive manner, adapt your business accordingly and place your focus back on the greater pool of happy customers. We have fought for every gain we’ve achieved. We try to be resilient. Adapt when needed. Pivot accordingly. And we refuse to fail.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We would definitely hit up the following places & eateries: Hangout at The Rabbit Hole, The Allusion Bar, Happy Belly Tacos-East, Roosters House of Ramen, Wobbly Olive Shop at Paris Market Vintage, Pikes Peak Lemonade, Terra Verde, Rocky Mountain Soap Market Finally, cooking class at Sweet Addict Bakery (a Friend’s TV series – themed cooking class sounds perfect for a friend’s visit!)

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We are strongly supported by our families – parents, siblings, children, cousins, you name it. Supporting a small business is not just a monetary exchange for the goods/services that they’re selling. It’s everything from encouragement, new ideas and social media engagement. Some of our biggest online supporters are family that don’t even live in our state. However, every little “like”, comment and share increases our analytics and furthers the reach of our business. You can’t put a dollar amount on that kind of support. We are a woman-owned business. Deidre and Risa both have three daughters each. We are big advocates of raising a strong, independent child. As women business owners, we are not only responsible for our own success within our careers, but also fostering a strong example for our girls. Give them something to aspire to become – if not entrepreneurs, at minimum women that are competent, socially-conscious, working toward change and self-sufficient.

Website: www.CraftedColoradoLTD.com

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