Cozie Studio
It’s been a joy learning about Beatriz’s journey with Cozie Studio, and we’re excited to share it with you below. You can support her small business by checking it out here!
About Cozie Studio
Cozie Studio began after a move abroad, when sculpting with polymer clay became both a new hobby and a way to adjust to life in a new country. Starting with just a few blocks of Fimo clay, the art grew through trial and error until the pieces felt strong enough to share, first with friends and family and eventually with customers worldwide. One of their most meaningful creations is an angry tiger figurine, made as a personal challenge to experiment with facial expressions.It remains a favorite not only for its design but for what it represents, creativity and inspiration drawn from the calm strength of tigers. Sustainability is also a core value at Cozie Studio, and they believe small businesses have a responsibility to invest in eco-friendly practices. They do their part by packaging orders in cardboard boxes, tissue or honeycomb paper, and reused materials collected from friends and family.
Our conversation can be read below!
What inspired you to start your business? What’s your story?
Last year, I moved abroad to complete my studies. Being in a new country with no established social circle, I decided to pick up a new hobby! I had been watching sculpture and clay artists on YouTube for many many years, so I looked for art supply stores in my city, and was immediately amazed by the variety of Fimo polymer clay colors and effects. I bought a few blocks and got started :D
As I began sculpting small figurines and trinkets, I learned through trial and error, gradually improving my technique. Eventually, I felt confident enough in the quality of my work to open an online store. The beginning was tough... most of my first sales came from friends and family. But I kept going! Slowly, as my social media presence grew, so did interest in my work. I began receiving orders from around the world, especially for custom figurines and keychains.
I’m incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received from friends, family, and the amazing online artist community. Their encouragement is what keeps me motivated and allows me to keep doing what I love: creating unique, handmade pieces :)
What’s one of your favorite things you’ve made?
One of my favorite creations is an angry tiger figurine. I made it as a personal project to practice sculpting facial expressions in clay, so it wasn’t meant to be sold, just something for myself. If you look through my work, you’ll notice I’m often inspired by tigers (which led to the creation of my original character, Tigaru). I’ve always admired their calm strength and quiet confidence.
That’s exactly why I challenged myself to sculpt an angry tiger! It felt unexpected and out of character for the way I usually view them. (Biologists, please ignore this artistic license!) I wanted to step outside my comfort zone, and expressing anger in a silly (and relatable) way pushed me creatively.
In the end, it became my favorite piece... not just for how it looks, but for what it represents, a creative risk, a bit of silliness, and a connection to the animals that inspire me.
What are your thoughts on the importance of sustainability for small businesses? If you don’t yet, what are your future hopes or has CCT influenced your perspective in any way?
While sustainability can sometimes be more easily implemented by larger companies, I believe small business owners also have a responsibility to reduce their environmental impact in whatever ways they can. There’s "no one-size-fits-all" solution though, because sustainable options aren’t always accessible or affordable. But I think this should be a goal alongside business growth.
I try my best to use eco-friendly packaging by avoiding plastic whenever possible. I ship orders in cardboard boxes and wrap my creations in tissue paper and/or honeycomb paper. I also make an effort to reuse materials from my own incoming packages (from supplies I’ve ordered, or purchases from other small businesses). Friends and family often save leftover bubblewrap or packing peanuts from their moves or online orders, which I happily reuse.
But, there’s still room for improvement! I hope to reduce the need for international shipping (that requires shipping by plane) by encouraging more national orders, and find more sustainable ways to source my materials without relying so much on online shopping. CCT has encouraged me to reflect more deeply on these choices and to continue growing in an environmentally conscious way.
You can visit her small business here.
