NOMINATED BY GRACE MO PHILLIPS, WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER
While many of the headline grabbing businesses tend to be large manufacturers and bring massive numbers of jobs into a town, the reality is that the overwhelming majority of small businesses here in Maine are home based entrepreneurs following a personal passion. This is certainly the case with Kirantee Sangsap and her jewelry design business, Studio Choo11, that has been operating out of her Scarborough home since 2020.
Originally from Thailand, Kirantee graduated with a degree in fashion design from Bangkok University. When she came to Maine with her husband in 2019, she brought her knowledge of design and held onto that background. After working as a waitress in a local Thai restaurant and at a local textile manufacturer for two years, Kirantee decided she had saved up enough to start her own business. She purchased the tools and materials she would need to start making jewelry at home, with the hope that it could eventually become a full time profession. By working with the Women’s Business Center and obtaining the business insights that could help her achieve that goal, Kirantee was able to make the leap into full time entrepreneurship before too long.
Demonstrating an enthusiasm for her business that few could match, Kirantee was able to secure a spot in the competitive New England Made Show’s IDEA Pavilion. This program is reserved for female artisan small businesses that have demonstrated an ability to scale their business up to a regional market. This opportunity led to 19 new wholesale accounts, which meant a significant increase in sales and more people seeing Kirantee’s amazing designs. Even with this growth in wholesale accounts across New England, Studio Choo11’s jewelry is also sold at a number of local venues, ranging from as small as craft fairs throughout the year, to locations like Freeport Market which features Maine-Made products for Freeport’s many visitors. Online sales have allowed Kirantee to start selling to customers across the country, and even adding three wholesale accounts in other countries.
As she and her husband have become more settled in their new home in Maine, Kirantee has begun getting involved as a mentor for others in similar positions. She has spoken at Women Standing Together, which works to build community for women across Maine, A Company of Girls, which builds community for girls through the arts, and recently began volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters. Through these organizations, Kirantee can share her story and experiences, demonstrating to younger generations that by following your passion and working toward your dream, you can achieve success.
As a classic example of a successful home based entrepreneur, and especially as a new Mainer who has adapted to a new environment and culture as she built her business, Kirantee Sangsap represents the best of Maine’s smallest businesses. The SBA is pleased to name Studio Choo11 as the 2024 Home Based Business of the Year for Maine.
