Creative Business Community Podcast
Hosted by Erin Madeley, the Creative Business Community (CBC) podcast gives creative small business owners a platform to share their stories, insights, and lessons learned. Each episode explores the realities of running a creative business, highlighting both the inspiring successes and the challenges behind the scenes.
Designed for makers, artists, and creative entrepreneurs, the podcast shares practical advice and honest conversations about topics like marketing, social media, pricing, mindset, and turning a creative passion into a sustainable business. Part of the wider Creative Business Community in Perth, the podcast connects listeners with a supportive network of creatives while offering guidance, real-world insights, and encouragement for anyone navigating small business ownership.
Alongside guest interviews, the podcast tackles common misconceptions in business - breaking them down with practical advice and clear answers to help creative entrepreneurs make informed decisions. The goal is to provide listeners with both relatable experiences and actionable takeaways they can apply in their own businesses.
At its heart, the podcast reflects the Creative Business Community’s mission: to empower and support creative entrepreneurs by fostering collaboration, learning, and growth. It’s a space to nurture creativity, encourage business excellence, and build a sustainable community where business owners feel equipped, inspired, and connected.
Listen to Our Latest Episode
Season 2 Episode 5 - In Conversation with Ms Fancy Pants Laser
This week on the Creative Business Community, Erin chats with Janice, founder of Miss Fancy Pants Laser Engraving in Bunbury, WA. Janice started out making wooden jewellery and outsourcing the engraving to Perth, until long drives and lost-in-translation design notes pushed her to bring a laser in-house. That single laser has since grown into a four-laser studio known for nature-inspired designs and a breakout range of textured rolling pins loved by bakers and ceramicists.
Janice shares the dream that sparked her engraved cheese boards, how a pottery hobby became a real focus for the business side of things, and why keeping things mostly in-house (including 3D printing with her engineer son's help) helps them stay nimble. We also get real about the juggle: splitting time between workshop, design and admin, backing a hero range, knowing when to say no to custom work, and using big markets and pop-ups shops to get seen.
Along the way there are plenty of practical takeaways, from planning early for the silly season (and calling in grandma!) to staying true to your style and guarding quality like a hawk. Janice also opens up about choosing to adapt when competition spiked post-COVID, and talks straight about costs, pricing and reinvesting through the first 18–24 months.