INTRODUCTION

Before all the craziness that has taken over our lives in recent months, I met an artist – Carmen Popianoș. An entrepreneurial artist who impressed me with the perfection of the creations she presents to her clients. Not a day goes by that I don’t gaze in awe at her paintings, logos, globes – all custom made.

What should you know about Carmen Popianoș – Fine Manufactured Creations?

Although I was nervous when we met, I realized that this was not the case. We had the kind of conversation that you can hear between two old friends who haven’t seen each other in a long time and have some catching up to do. She told me about Carmen Popianoș – Fine Manufactured Creations, a handmade products business that she personally designs, works and perfects.

Carmen is a warm and open person, with whom you can talk about anything without feeling like she has anything to hide. She answered my questions honestly, always with a smile on her face, about what kind of entrepreneur she is, how she found her calling and what motivates her to always create something new and unique.

Let’s get to the interview!

And find out what Carmen thinks about being an entrepreneur.

Manu: How did you decide to start this business?

Carmen: I am a very voluble and creative person, so I studied marketing in college. Although I didn’t work in the field, I think it was the right choice because it has helped me a lot over the years. The handmade business came naturally. Since I was little, my mother taught me to crochet and I was drawn to any project where I could work with my hands, even in the kitchen.

But, I’ve always been a perfectionist, which is why I often laughed with my mother: when we made croissants, I would ruin hers because they weren’t the ideal shape. In my field, that’s not a disadvantage, quite the opposite. If I’m not happy with my creation, I don’t send it to the customer. I look at it from every angle and redo it as many times as necessary until it looks exactly as I imagined.

M: Did you ever think about giving up?

C: No. No way. No, because in my chosen field, there are always new trends, new ideas, and I’m really passionate about what I do.

M: What is the biggest challenge you face, as an entrepreneur, in your field?

C: To always focus on my own creations, instead of recreating products from Pinterest. I can’t say that this is always the case, but I want my original work, the style, the concepts I present to the public to be my main focus on the business side.

M: What do you do on days when you can’t find the motivation for the work you have to do (to keep your business afloat and help it grow)?

C: There are bad days, which I treat as such. When I feel like nothing is going my way, I try to disconnect. I read, go out in nature or rest.

M: What is the most valuable lesson you have learned since you started your own business?

C: It’s very important that your clients know you as a person, no matter what business you run, because they will trust you, even if you change your field. Clients I’ve had in another business also rely on me for handmade products.