Local business owner opens Staten Island-themed Etsy shop during pandemic
Updated Jan 14, 2021;
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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y -- Since Renee Sarno, 31, owner of Yaymaker -- a paint-and-sip franchise -- can only hold virtual paint classes during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, she had some spare time to put her creative talents to use.
Utilizing materials gathered for her paint-and-sip classes, the West Brighton resident developed a line of Staten Island-themed items -- from sweatshirts and hats, to coasters and notepads -- and opened an Etsy store called NYCrafts And The City.
“When I had to make the shift to virtual art events with Yaymaker, I realized I still have a garage full of craft supplies, and I also needed my own way to decompress during the pandemic,” said Sarno. “Especially in the beginning of the pandemic, when I didn’t know what would happen to my Yaymaker business, I needed to keep going as much as I could. I started spending my free time creating projects and items that I then used to open my Etsy shop.”