My Economy tells the story of the new economic normal through the eyes of the people who are making it happen. Because we know that the only thing that really matters is the economic numbers.
Julia McGuigan is the owner of Julia M Illustrates in Omaha, Nebraska. Ms. McGuigan said she started her business in 2017, but recently she opened her brick-and-mortar store in October 2022, where she sells reproductions of original artwork.
McGuigan said things have been a little slow lately. “The biggest challenge is not knowing what you're going to make each month,” she said of the ups and downs of her business.
Because of the instability that comes with being a freelance artist, McGuigan decided to return to work in teaching to relieve financial pressure. But she hasn't given up on her own business. In the summers between her teaching duties, she plans to sell her work at farmers markets, where she said she has a thriving business.
“I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders knowing I'm going to get paid, so I'm very happy with this decision,” McGuigan said. “I can't tell you how big it is.”
Click on the player head above to hear the rest of McGuigan's story.
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