My customers ended up loving porch pickups!

Hi! I'm Megan, owner and chief maker over here at Carefree Highway MKT.  I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and moved to Arizona almost 20 years ago… and yes,  we do live just off the famous Carefree Highway, the subject of the Gordon Lightfoot song. We moved up here over  15 years ago when there wasn't much more than cacti. I have ties to Arizona that go back many years; my 2X Great Grandfather was a copper miner in Bisbee, AZ.

My passions include genealogy, collecting vinyls, going to concerts with my husband, bargain interior design, and making crafts.  My favorite memories were visiting my Grandma Dotty at the fabric store she worked at in Milwaukee. She could make you anything you could dream up!

I decided I would start an Etsy shop when our daughter Gemma started preschool.  Unfortunately, that was also when my health issues started, which affected my ability to do daily functions. I started making crayons for our child just before it was discovered that I needed surgery for endometriosis.  Endometriosis is a fairly common disease — approximately 1 in 10 women have it.  Often times women are dismissed for their pain, sometimes for many years and by many doctors. Prior to starting my business, I had spent 20 years in sales. It was hard dealing with work and this unpredictable disease. Being a maker has given me a welcome distraction and I love seeing the happiness on customer's faces. 

I started my business in December 2019 and have participated in a few craft boutiques/ maker's markets. Trying to start a small business while in the midst of surgery, recovery, follow-ups and physical therapy has brought me the greatest joy.  I still have a long road ahead to being pain-free, but my business has been a welcome endeavor.

I began with Pom Pom garlands since it was something I could do from the couch as I recovered. I primarily make children's craft kits: plaster names, dinosaur and fairy gardens, crayons, and chalk. I particularly love making personalized crayons and gifts because it makes the children feel so special. My gifts are educational and encourage creative play. Everything I make is extremely colorful and cheery. I simply love hearing about the joy they bring to children and adults alike.

The pandemic...

Once the pandemic started, I soon realized that all of my craft shows and maker' markets would be postponed.  Additionally,  retail stores who carried my creations were closing.  I decided to shut my Etsy Shop once again due to the Governor's orders. I also didn’t want to risk exposure to my family by making parcel shipments at the post office. Moreover, my health began to suffer as I could no longer receive physical therapy or see my doctor for treatment.  I needed to find something to occupy my time and keep my body and mind moving, which led me to change my business strategy. 

And then came “Porch Pick-Ups.”

I decided to post anywhere locally that I could and offered my product as porch pick-up: social media, Swip Swap Groups etc.  Somehow, my little crayon business made it on the local news and local magazines!  Customers loved the idea of contactless pickup, and the support from local mothers and grandmothers has been amazing. I think our family spent most of our time watching the front window for the next customer who is scheduled to come pick something up! Arizona is 100 degrees+ even in the spring so I always put the crayons out just before the customer arrives. All of my customers are so excited for something new and fun they can give to their children during COVID-19.

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