New Hampshire woman ditches 9-to-5 job, turns side hustle into thriving business

For 20 years, a New Hampshire woman worked at a job she loved—but her hobby of wreath-making won over. Kara Webster is brightening the lives of others by giving back her talents.

Kara Webster has a knack for detail and the patience to make it look perfect.

“I like to take the time to feed it through the openings in the grapevine,” said Webster, as she clipped away and started crafting a fall wreath.

Kara had worked for an all-female landscaping company and then a florist, but assuming that wreath-making would just be her hobby, she got a full time job in human resources at a child welfare agency.

“I got my degree when I was 40 thinking I’m going to be here for life,” said Webster. “I loved my job, I loved my coworkers.”

But her side hustle was quickly splitting almost equal time to her career.

“I would work my 9 to 5, I’d come home make dinner for my family, and then I’d come downstairs and I’d start working and it could be until 9 or 10 o’clock at night, so it was a little draining,” said Webster.

One year ago, Kara made the decision to leave her security blanket—her coworkers, stable paycheck and 401k—and renovated her basement to boost her business, ‘Enchanted Vines’. (https://www.enchantedvines.com/

But there were times when things were a little too tight.

“You could go for a week or two without an order and you’re just thinking like oh my gosh, I don’t have any income coming in right now this is really scary, was that the right thing to do?” said Webster. “But I’m incredibly grateful that I get to do what I love everyday.”

Kara has expanded her business and now holds workshops where she has taught hundreds of people over the years how to make their own wreath so they can create one to put on their front door.

“I love giving people the confidence that they can go off and do these on their own,” said Webster.

Kara credits her success not only to supportive family and friends, but also to her fellow female business owners.

“We all are coming together, supporting each other’s businesses, promoting it and utilizing it,” said Webster.

Kara also uses her business to give back by donating her arrangements and proceeds from workshops for charities in her community. Kara believes her floral arrangements create a welcoming atmosphere that makes people proud of their home. She hopes her path to creating Enchanted Vines will inspire others to find their passion—and pursue it.

“I really encourage everybody, whatever it is, for me its flowers, for other people it could be something else, but I encourage people to surround themselves with things that they love,” said Webster.

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