March 5, 2024
Joanne Hurd Hand-Knotted Artworks
J.S.HURD DESIGN
Gloucester
(please call for a studio appointment)
978-283-5105
joanne@jshurddesign.com
https://www.joannehurd-artworks.com/
How many years have you been in business as a solopreneur? 42 years
How many years have you been a Chamber Member? 32 years


Please provide a brief description of what your business is all about. I design and produce my own brand of handmade tapestries & rugs in Tibetan Wool and Silk. After creating the designs and the artwork, my Nepalese partners then hand-knot each piece to bring it to life. As a seasoned interior designer passionate about the artistry of room design, I work with clients either to select an already perfect piece from my collections OR to customize a design – in size, pattern, and colorway – to best fit their personal style and surrounding décor. It’s about bringing hand-knotted art and design together in ways that enrich the senses and energize the home.
What enticed you to start a solopreneur business? My initial career in the interior design world started off working with a couple of different design firms. From these experiences, I came to realize not only my own deep well of creativity but also a clarity on alternative ways to better and more efficiently serve clients seeking top-notch custom design services. My love of interior design coupled with my desire and dedication to implement practices that were extremely thoughtful, organized, and streamlined defined my inspirations and challenges. With a strong vision of what a fulfilling design practice could actually be – for both my clients and myself – I knew that unleashing these explorations called for springboarding off on my own.
What is “the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” of working on your own?
The Good: There are so many! Such as feeling the passion and then trusting my own vision. Such as the efficiency of making my own business decisions, the ability to establish my own uncompromising ways to best serve my clients, the uninterrupted focus I can give to my projects, and the flexibility of defining my own working hours. I feel a deep satisfaction from building my own business primarily based on referrals and repeat clients, and, from that, a lot of gratitude for all my clients who have kept me going for years and years. For me, this exhilarating playground filled with continual opportunities to serve others while they support me in doing what I love and do best is rich with life’s lessons. That’s so GOOD!
The Bad: #1: As someone who loves digging into work coupled with having strong task-oriented traits, I find that orchestrating ways to balance my life with other-than-work activities can sometimes be a major challenge!
Why are you a Chamber member? I like being part of a greater community. Sometimes working as a solopreneur can feel isolating, and I find that interacting with others who are also up to bringing good business into the world feels both comforting and important. And being a member also opens up access to many more resources to learn about… and to see potential partnerships that continually strengthen both business and community.
What advice would you give others looking to take the leap into “solopreneurship?” Take notice of key things besides your passion: such as being honest about assessing your strengths and weaknesses in various skills. Organization, administration, communication, motivation, and discipline are all part of the gig. Some of these skills may be natural, some may require learning, and some may need assistance. A reality check on your relationship between passion and skill will help generate realistic goals – an important factor in fulfilling your vision. And, along the way, be patient and flexible with yourself so you can allow the natural nature and goodness of your own business to evolve!
Where do you see your business going in the future?
My love of designing and producing handmade tapestries & rugs that partner with personal styles and room designs is taking the lead now. And as a licensed importer with GoodWeave International – a global foundation with a mission to end child labor in the rug and carpet industry – I love that my work is so much larger than myself. Continuing to add creativity and distinctive embellishments to our living spaces while also helping in small ways the global efforts to rehabilitate and educate children in the weaving communities abroad will sustain my ‘solopreneur spirit’ for a long while!
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For consideration to have your solopreneur business profiled, please fill out the form at https://form.jotform.com/240133772746053 . After your form is received and we confirm that you are a Chamber member in good standing and your business meets the criteria of a solopreneur, we will send a detailed interview questionnaire for timely completion.