Episode #312: Sanjani Ramkissoon on the First Year of Owning a Yarn Shop

Episode #312: Sanjani Ramkissoon on the First Year of Owning a Yarn Shop

Author: Abby Glassenberg May 18, 2026 Duration: 52:29
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about the first year owning a brick-and-mortar yarn shop with my guest, Sanjani Ramkissoon. Sanjani is the owner of Stitch & Revel, a yarn shop in Livermore, California, a charming wine country town in the Bay Area, about 45 miles east of San Francisco.  Born in Fiji and raised in the Bay Area since the age of five, she considers herself an accidental business owner, turning a long-held dream into reality when an unexpected opportunity to purchase inventory from a closing yarn shop led her and her husband to take the leap. They opened Stitch & Revel in September 2025, in a new location with a fresh vision and name. Her vision for the shop was to create an experience, not just a place to buy yarn (though that’s important too), but a space where creativity flows and community grows.  +++++ Today's episode is sponsored by Stitchcraft Marketing. If you’re making video, posting to social, sending emails, trying to grow your business, and you’re not sure if it’s working—this is for you. Stitchcraft Marketing is offering ourlisteners $500 Marketing Checkups: a customized coaching session where we review your channels and give you clear, prioritized next steps. It’s for brands managing their own marketing who want expert direction.  Go to checkup.stitchcraftmarketing.com to apply for a Marketing Checkup. +++++ To get the full show notes for this episode visit Craft Industry Alliance where you can learn more about becoming a member of our supportive trade association. Strengthen your creative business, stay up to date on industry news, and build connections with forward-thinking craft professionals. Join today.  

Abby Glassenberg hosts Craft Industry Alliance, a space where the practical realities of running a creative business meet the deep personal satisfaction of making things by hand. This isn't just about inspiration; it's a grounded conversation for anyone who has turned a craft into a career or dreams of doing so. Each episode feels like a candid chat with a fellow maker, where Abby and her guests pull back the curtain on their processes, discuss the tools and materials they truly rely on, and navigate the unique challenges of entrepreneurship in the creative sphere. You'll hear specific, actionable recommendations-from sourcing sustainable materials and mastering a new technique to marketing your work and managing a studio's finances. The discussions are rooted in the real world, covering everything from the joys of the creative process to the logistics of wholesale trade shows and online sales. Tune into this podcast for an honest blend of education and community, designed to support your journey whether you're knitting, painting, pottery throwing, or designing textiles. It’s a resource that acknowledges creativity as both a passion and a profession, offering the kind of nuanced advice you’d normally only get from a trusted mentor within the tight-knit world of crafts.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Craft Industry Alliance
Podcast Episodes
Episode #298: Amy Ting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:07
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a crochet business with Amy Ting. Amy Ting is a Korean-Taiwanese crochet designer based in the Bay Area, California. She is the auth…
Episode #297: Marianne Fons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:18
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about living the life of a quilter and writer with my guest Marianne Fons. Marianne Fons co-hosted “Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting” on public tel…
Episode #296: Michelle Cain [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:43
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a quilting business with my guest Michelle Cain. Michelle tried rather hard not to become a quilter. After growing up outside of Lan…
Episode #295: Emma Brassfield [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:48
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about bag making with my guest Emma Brassfield. Emma is a YouTuber, pattern designer, bag sewing teacher and entrepreneur based near London, UK. Af…
Special Episode: Mister Larrie's Keynote at h+h americas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:26
In this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're so pleased to be sharing the keynote speech from h+h americas 2025 presented by Larrie King. Larrie King, better known as Mister Larrie, is an arts an…
Special Episode: Megan Greenwell on Private Equity [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:10
On this special episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we're talking about private equity and it's impact on the crafts industry with my guest Megan Greenwell. Megan is a journalist who has written or edited for…
Episode #293: Zoe Frost of Junebug and Darlin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:47
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a cross-stitch business with my guest Zoe Frost. Zoe is the heart, hands, and creative force behind Junebug & Darlin, a queer owned…
Episode #292: Claudia Martinez of Snuggly Monkey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:33
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about ecommerce with my guest Claudia Martinez. Claudia is the owner of Snuggly Monkey, a craft supply store specializing in hand embroidery, Sashi…
Episode #289: Arvin Pairavi from Shannon Fabrics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:04
On today's episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast, we’re talking about building a fabric company with my guest Arvin Pairavi. Arvin is a visionary entrepreneur and the driving force behind Shannon Fabrics, a lead…