Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Writt
Hi Haley, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Indiana and always had a love for animals and the outdoors. Hunting was a way of life and I learned at a young age how to skin and process deer. I pursued Animal Sciences at Purdue University and went into animal research. This added to my skill when I decided to start taxidermy. I found online oddity auctions via Facebook a little over a year ago. Once I saw there was great interest in preserved animals, I trained myself in taxidermy and started running my own auctions. Animals take a while to preserve so I also sell vintage, antiques, or any item I consider neat. A few of the items you can find at my auctions are uranium glassware, crystals, preserved animals, military memorabilia, vintage or antique medical items, books, and so much more. It’s great running completely online as I’ve made quite a few friends in the community. I was able to visit a few auction friends in Ohio, Payton and Krystal, and they’ve become very dear to my heart.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
For me, it was pretty smooth because I had made friends in the auction community that supported me and helped me get started. The first couple of auctions were a little difficult but I quickly found my groove. I have a decent following now and continue to branch out. Running auctions completely online through Facebook can be difficult in gaining traction, but being able to ship anywhere makes it more accessible to more people. Everyone is also very supportive which helps each small business grow.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In the oddity community, I specialize in animal preservation. I create wet specimens, mummified specimens, and taxidermy mounts. All of my pieces have a twist to them and aren’t considered traditional taxidermy. I’m proud of how much I’ve grown. I’m mainly self-taught in all forms but have had fellow taxidermists help me along the way. My creative talents are still growing as far as incorporating my preserved animals into art pieces. I also keep my prices relatively low for the market. Since I get animals as frozen specimens and put all the work into it myself, I can keep costs low for customers. Oddities can get very expensive very quickly and I pride myself on having affordable animal oddities.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Following or sharing my Facebook page is the biggest form of support. I often support other artists/creators by selling their items in my auctions or advertising on my page. I also give shoutouts during auctions to help them gain new followers. The community is very diverse and I would be open to collaborating with anyone.
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