Meet Sarah O’hop

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah O’hop. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.

Hi Sarah, so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?

In some ways I’m a natural empath, in part because of how I was raised. I do think empathy is a muscle that can be developed though, and I’ve seen that in my own life over the past 4 years. That’s when I started making products to provide connection for my customers – connection to memories and loved ones, most of whom have passed away. Finding myself in this grief support niche was not something I originally intended, but now I see how my natural empathetic tendencies made me an ideal person to serve my customers in this way. As I’ve heard so many stories from so many people who are grieving loved ones, I continually realize that we each have our own lives, loves, and struggles. It’s hard to assume the worst about anyone when you see this every day!

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My current work grew out of the isolation I was feeling during the pandemic of 2020. I purchased my first scroll saw and I wanted to provide connection for my customers, since that’s what I was currently craving, but I knew that connecting with each of them at a deep level wasn’t possible. That’s when handwriting signs were born – a chance to connect my customers to precious memories and people. Many of us have cards or notes from loved ones passed, but they’re stuck in a box or a drawer. Handwriting signs display that piece of them for my customers to look at every day, bringing back those memories and providing comfort as they grieve the loss of their loved one.
I made these signs as a side hustle for a few years, then my first viral video in February of 2023 launched me into working on them full time. I couldn’t keep orders open with the high demand, so I started opening spots for handwriting signs once a month and sending restock details to my email list. I’ve since grown my email list to over 7000 people and every monthly restock has sold out – sometimes in under 2 minutes.
In July 0f 2024, I purchased my first laser. I’ve enjoyed learning how to use it to build on my niche, and now I offer handwriting jewelry, handwriting picture frames, and cutting boards featuring family recipes.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Sewing – It’s hard to say if I would have my business if my grandma hadn’t taught me how to sew when I was very young. The scroll saw is very similar to a sewing machine; it just uses a tiny blade instead of a needle. I’m convinced that my sewing experience is what helped me pick up scrolling so easily, and it also built my creativity at a young age. For most of my life after that, I was always making something – it wasn’t until my late 20’s that I realized that this pattern of being a maker was so deep in my soul that any other profession wouldn’t be satisfying. My grandma passed away on Christmas Day of 2022, so she never got to see me go full time with my business, but I think of her every time I sit at my scroll saw.

Overthinking – I’m a chronic overthinker. Sometimes this is a bad thing, but when it comes to being a maker, that trait can come in handy! I think through my making process ahead of time whenever I’m figuring out a new skill, as well as new products, social media posts, etc and if they’ll fit my target market. It’s taught me that one of my most annoying traits can actually be a superpower!

Curiosity – We live in such a passion-focused society, but not all of us have specific passions. However, we can all follow our curiosity. In some cases like mine, that curiosity can morph into a passion, but what’s important is that we explore things we have an interest in.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

As a one-woman small business who’s also a wife, dog mom, and homeowner, I spend most of my life being overwhelmed. Making lists helps me stay on track; during my busier seasons, I make a week-long to-do list to plan everything out, but I also make sure I stay realistic in what I’ll be able to get done each day.
I also make sure I stick to my work-life boundaries – the main one is that I don’t work in my shop after dinner. This gives me a chance to spend time with my husband and wind down after a long day, even if I need to squeeze some computer work. Sleep is really important for me too, and I do my best to get at least 8 hours a night with consistent sleeping/waking times. This helps me stay mentally sharp during the day and keeps me from having to take sick days for the most part.

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