Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Harris.
Hi Christina, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hi, my name is Christina, and I’m the owner of For Creatives! We provide spaces for people to create content, celebrate special moments, host events, and grow their businesses in Downtown Norfolk.
We started with small beginnings that may be surprising to some people. During COVID, we started our business using our house, providing a creative space for people to still create in. Photographers, short filmmakers, elopements, and small picnics all found a place there. It’s exciting to look back and see what grew from opening our home.
From there, we expanded into commercial spaces, coworking spaces, apartments, and houses, with our journey including Elevate on Granby and In The Sky Norfolk. Today, my husband, Roy, and I are continuing that journey at our 16,000-square-foot location inside the former Urban Outfitters building at 271 Granby Street.
We have spaces for private events, podcasts, photoshoots, and content creation. We’re also bringing in vendor marketplaces and collaborations that give small businesses opportunities to be seen and bring more people into Downtown Norfolk.
If there’s anything I hope our story encourages someone to do, it’s to not despise small beginnings. Sometimes we’re so focused on what we don’t have that we overlook what’s already in our possession. We started with our home, some creativity, and a willingness to try. Be open to starting in a way you didn’t expect. What you have right now may be enough to take that first step, and you never know what can grow from it.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Growing from our home into larger spaces came with a lot of learning, unexpected expenses, and responsibilities. One of our biggest challenges has been navigating the different requirements and approval processes that come with operating our spaces. There have been delays that required us to adjust our plans, have difficult conversations, and find creative ways to keep moving forward.
As an owner, it can be challenging to have a vision you’re excited about while working through everything it takes to bring it to life. You’re managing the business, supporting your team, serving your clients, and still learning yourself. I’m also a wife and mother, so juggling all of those responsibilities while making time for my family has been another part of the journey. My faith has been a big part of how I’ve handled that, along with the support of my husband and our team.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
For Creatives is a business in Downtown Norfolk that provides spaces for private events, content creation, and retail pop-ups. Through Elevate on Granby and our larger location at 271 Granby Street, we welcome everyone from couples planning their wedding to creators recording a podcast and business owners looking to host a pop-up marketplace.
I like to think of a creative space as a factory for dreamers, creators, and celebrations—a place where people can take an idea and bring it to life.
For private events, we offer space rentals and all-inclusive options that bring together the venue, food, and décor. Clients can get help bringing their celebration together without having to figure out every detail on their own. For creators, we have a podcast room, beauty content room, mini creative pods, and spaces for photography and video, with creative memberships for those who need somewhere to create regularly.
What sets us apart is the variety of things people can do within our spaces. You can create content for your business, host a pop-up marketplace to meet your customers, and come back to celebrate a personal milestone. We’ve built For Creatives around those different needs, with a team that helps bring the details together.
I’m most proud that we’ve created opportunities for other people while growing our own business. Our vendor marketplaces give small businesses a place to be discovered, and our creative spaces give people somewhere to develop and share their work. We want readers to know they’re welcome to reach out with an idea, even if they’re still figuring out what it could look like. Helping people explore those possibilities is a part of what we enjoy most.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to trust God throughout the process. If He gave me the vision, I have to trust that He can equip me to work through the obstacles that come with it. Being able to see the possibility before it becomes a reality is part of what keeps me going.
I’ve also learned the importance of collaboration. You don’t have to do everything yourself, and there is so much value in working with people who bring different gifts, ideas, and experience.
Another lesson is paying attention to what people actually want. You can be excited about your own ideas, but you also have to listen and be willing to adjust. You truly need a heart to serve people.
And something I’m continuing to learn is to have a life outside of my business. Hobbies, time for yourself, your marriage, and your children need attention too. As a wife and mother, I have to be intentional about protecting that time with the same urgency and commitment I would give a client. My family deserves my time and follow-through too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Forcreatives.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forcreativesva?mdxt=MW5rcWFxdjdnNGtrcA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@andersonfamilyvalues6240?si=VC9Ui0VkJZRZ4kZk
