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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}[ Olivera ] Hi My name is Olivera Bratich, I am the owner of Wholly Craft!
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}um, which is a retail store that sells handmade goods
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}and we've been open since 2005, so just about
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}six and half years. I'm originally from St. Louis, Missouri, and
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}I moved to Columbus in 2002 to attend
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}ah graduate school, and uh got Master's in Women's Studies here at 
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}OSU. 
[ interviewer ] okay, great, um
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}so why, um do you remember learning how to read
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}or write? 
[ Olivera ] Uh very vaguely. 
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}I remember, oh, learning how to
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}read or write. I remember my mom going over my alphabet with me,
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}like uh the ABCs, and I remember she had a cheat sheet
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}because she was not exactly sure what letter came after the other letters.
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Uh, my parents were uh born and raised in the former Yugoslavia.
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Um, so they, English was a second language to them
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}um so we joke that the entire family really learned
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}English from Sesame Street. Because as my brother watched it when he was little, as I watched
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}it, um, my parents watched too and picked upa few things.
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Um, so we all kinda learned it together. Um, so yeah
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}that's, that's the most memory I have of learning how to read or write, is like learning those ABCs. 
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Um, other than that, like uh we spoke
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Serbo-Croatian is technically the language. We spoke it at home
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}um, so with just a little bit of English kinda
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}thrown in. It became just kind of our own mix over time of like our own
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}household's language that was a mix of Serbo-Croatian, English,
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}um a lot of times like English words with Serbian suffixes or prefixes
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}so we just kinda melded together our own little household language. But
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}we could understand each other. 
 [ interviewer ] can you give an example maybe of sorta those mixings?
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}[ Olivera ] Sure, um. We called our teachers "teacherca"
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}um, which was like, like the feminine teacher in Serbian, but the Serbian word for it is ?????????
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}but we never said that, we just said, 'she's our teacherca.' So yeah, um
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}so sometimes English speakers and Serbian have a hard time understanding us outside of 
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}our household. And growing up, I didn't realize until I was an adult that we had put together
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}spliced together our own language. I just assumed those were the Serbian words, um and didn't really
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}know it until much later that like no, no, that's kinda our own hybrid that we made up.
 [ interviewer ] so do you, do you all
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}still use that when you're together? 
[ Olivera ] Yeah, absolutely. That's what we speak when we're together. Um, but then
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}and my parents have actually, they've lost a lot of their English skills uh since they retired, um, because they're no longer
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}in the workplace, they're no longer really in a place where they have to speak English at all. Um their friends are Serbian,
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}so they're sort of in a tight-knit Serbian community, um and they've at this point
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}haven't worked in like 12 years or really had that much interaction with English speaking people outside of 
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}commerce, like going to stores, and like neighbor--neighborly conversations. Um which are pretty
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}limited, you know, vocabulary-wise. So they've forgotten a lot over
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}the last 10 years, but it's okay 'cause they can, you know. Um so yeah.
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}[ interviewer ] So you came to Columbus to do graduate studies in Women's Studies, why did you
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}choose Ohio State and why did you choose Women's Studies? 
[ olivera ] I kinda always knew that I wanted to go into 
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Women's Studies, um, uh I went to an undergrad where it wasn't an option, um, I don't even think it was a minor
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Um, I think I was just like, if they would've had the major, 
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}I think I was just like 3 credit hours short of like having a major in it, just 'cause I has taken
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}so many of those classes, um, so I think like I earn a certificate in it, or whatever.
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Knowing full well kinda the whole time that I would attend graduate school, and I would go for Women's Studies.
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Um 'cause that is what was really interested in. That really relates back to an interesting little um
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}literacy narrative, how I came into Women's Studies. It was a, I had a love of the library
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}as a kid, always went to the library. Um it was sort of an end of the week, like
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Thursday or Friday evening we would go, and I'd always look forward to. And it used to be the bookmobile
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}up until I was up in like eight grade. And then it was a big dealŠour town finally got a library. 
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Um so it was like shiny and new and wonderful, and I went for hours, and um it was great.
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}And one I just picked up a book off the shelf that was history of women in the United States.
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}I was like, oh this is interesting, I like history. And I read it, and it made me
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}so angry because it was, I had never heard any of these stories before.
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}I had never heard of any of these women in history, um
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}I felt like I was a good history student, you know? Like I knew a lot about history, um, and this was all
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}new, and this was, and then I was like why have we not learned anything about women?
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Um, and that was sorta like my first, I guess, I guess one of the early
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}like feminist consciousness raising sort of moments, right? And
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}I remember just being so mad about that, and then, then that sorta sparked the interest um that led me
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}eventually to Columbus and Women's Studies. 
[  interviewer  ] How old were you when that happened?
 [ olivera ] like 13. 12, 13, like eight grade.
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}yeah. [ interviewer ] um and then so you did a degree in Women's Studies, and
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}you're still here, and you started Wholly Craft! So can you, you talk about why you decided to 
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}start your own business, why decided to stay in Columbus, and sorta that whole process? [ olivera ]
yeah, uh
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}um, I like to say that I started a business 'cause I was really naive!
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Um I was at the time I was uh
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}I was 25. I was 24 when the idea struck me. I was here
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}I was in Columbus. I was um toying iwth the idea of moving to New York,
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}um several of my roommates had moved there, and that was sorta the plan at the time. 
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}I was sticking around for like 6 months, and then I was gonna move. Um and then I had 
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}this idea. Um, there was all these people that were like making great things and there was no place in Columbus to get them
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}um and I remember the first time I, I sorta voiced the idea
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}it was actually to my friend Daina, our friend, our mutual friend, um and I was just like
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}I have this crazy idea about opening up like this little like DIY
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}like craft shop with zines and um and just like handmade things.
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Um, and I just kinda floated it by her, um and she said, 'yeah, sounds great!
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}you could totally do that!' And I was like, well maybe I can! Um and
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}it seemed so crazy the time, um, but it was like I didn't have a job
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}like a steady, permanent job, I was kinda like doing a little bit of contract work, a little bit of research work
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}um, hosting a karaoke night, I mean I was just yeah piecing a few little jobs together
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}um so I thought like why not give it a try, if I could find the right spot.
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Um and then one day I was just like walking down my street to go to like the carryout, and
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}there was this place for rent. And it was small, and it was
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}on High Street, it was, I looked inside the windows and it was just filthy, and
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}torn up and looked terrible. And I was like, this place has got to be cheap. 
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}And so I called, I just you know on a lark, and
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}found out it, and it was cheap as it turned out, and um
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}and then I, then I next floated the idea by my parents. um I said, I have this crazy idea
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}and strangely enough they loved it. They thought it was a
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}great idea. Um, I don't know why! But they, I think they probably
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}probably was like, part of their, like the American Dream, right? Like you start a business and
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}you can do anything! It's America. And so they were totally supportive of it
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}and they um they were like, 'yeah, we'll help you. We'll come help you like get that space
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}looking nice, and we will loan you some money to get started.'
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}Um, and they were just like incredibly supportive, and I was like, why not?
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}You know, it's worth taking a chance. Like when else am I going to take a chance like that?
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}And I, I think back on it now, and yeah, I don't know if I would take that chance now, right? Like
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}um, it was a big risk. And I had no, I had no business training
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}absolutely no knowlegde about anything about business. I went to the library
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}and got some books on like how to write a business plan,
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}what it takes to run a business, how to start your own businessŠlike all those books, I just uh
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}devoured those, and um, I took a couple classes at like uh
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}the Women's Small Business Development Center um here in Columbus
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{font:Arial}{size:14}{Plain}{textColor:65535, 65535, 65535}and it was just a few classes on the financial end of things.
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