:) I found another handmade shop to share with you: meet Jolie of Brim Papery. Reading Jolie’s about page, including her vision and the meaning behind her business’s name, is what really captivated me as a fellow handmade business owner. I hope you’ll click over and see what I’m talking about. In the meantime, here’s my latest Handmade Crush interview…
My name is Jolie Ankrom, and I am the founder and designer at Brim Papery. I live in Columbus, Ohio with my husband and daughter. In early 2013 I quit my teaching job to stay home with my daughter, and I now work out of my home creating paper goods with hand lettering and illustration. Everything I produce at Brim Papery is drawn by hand, converted digitally, then printed at a local print shop.
If I had the chance to go back and advise myself on business at the beginning, I would say three things:
1. Don’t wait to start! I was so hesitant to jump in without any formal training or degrees, but the truth is, experience is the best of teachers and you can’t learn until you try. I didn’t have the time or money to go back to design school, so I started out with the basics and learned what I could through trial and error. I’m so glad I gave myself the chance.
2. Take yourself seriously! If you want to start a business, do it, but don’t do it half-heartedly. Invest in yourself with the time and money to do things professionally, within reason. It’s hard for others to see your ambition and goals clearly if you don’t even see them clearly yourself. Showing respect for your own endeavor will carry you miles. When other people see that you treat yourself like an entrepreneur, they will follow suit and treat you that way, too.
3. Be persistent! Rome wasn’t built in a day, as they say. As someone trying to build a small business, you will have long nights, failed attempts and many lessons learned. Take it in stride and remember that it’s a journey. Use every triumph and failure as an opportunity to assess what works (and what doesn’t) and grow as a business owner!
Connect with Jolie: blog | shop | Instagram
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Do you remember a time when you said YES to something that was scary — but also really really exciting? What was that experience like? It’s easy to come up with goals and dreams, but finding our inner brave-ness is what makes something a challenge. I really resonated with Jolie’s three tips and my guess is you do, too.
What beautiful prints!