Sarah Resnick
Advah Designs
Massachusetts
Why did you join Factory45?
I joined Factory45 because I was looking for community and a mentor to help me get Advah Designs off the ground. I’m not someone who likes to work in a vacuum — I thrive learning from other people, diving into their challenges, and sharing my own challenges to get feedback.
I was excited about the opportunity to connect with other people who were working to manufacture in the US and start their own businesses, and to learn from each other and from Shannon.
Tell us about your company
I make Jewish ritual objects: primarily prayer shawls (called tallit in Hebrew) and wedding canopies (called chuppah in Hebrew). I am also in the process of producing a new line of silk scarves that I am excited to launch soon.
Advah is the Hebrew word for ripple. I believe that taking the time to make every moment in life just a little more beautiful has an uplifting and rippling effect in our lives and on our communities. I am dedicated to marking life cycle events with ritual and beauty, and to celebrating the stories of the makers and manufacturers who pour their love and skill into everything that surrounds us.
How did joining Factory45 help you?
Before joining Factory45, I was mostly flying solo. I didn’t know many other people who had started businesses like this and were working on setting up ethical supply chains within the United States. First and foremost, I became connected to a wider community of people committed to helping each other succeed (my F45 cohort) and an invaluable mentor in Shannon. It was also helpful to have a list of manufacturers and fabric suppliers to reference, and ideas for how to build audiences and plan my outreach and marketing.
What is the most valuable thing about Factory45?
The community, the personal connection to Shannon, and the databases were the most helpful to me, but everything was useful!
Who would benefit most from joining Factory45?
I think Factory45 is great for early stage companies who want to launch with a crowdfunding model. If you already have a good sense of your product and your market, but need support figuring out how to manufacture it and how to build an audience for launch, Factory45 will be a great fit for you.
I’m always happy to talk about my experience with Factory45 if you’re considering it! Feel free to reach out to me at sarah@advahdesigns.com with any questions.
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