Yess…my computer is back up and running! Also, my home is back to normal after almost 2 months of it feeling upside down. We…are…back…AND with an interview! Let’s jump right in, the water is perfect!
Let me introduce you too Jolie Papeterie Boutique (Try saying that 10 times fast!). Run by and happily owned by a wonderful person, Nicola.
This trendy creator specializes in couture invitations for any brides. From contemporary to traditional designs, each creation is handmade and tailored to the brides taste. Let me tell you when I say these invitations can absolutely ROCK YOUR SOCKS OFF! As a reminder to future brides, an invitation sets the stage to your event. A flimsy, run of the mill invitation will give the impression that your wedding is just that, a regular ol’ day with regular ol’ stuff, nothing important. OH NO! You don’t have invitations yet for your super-duper important day?? Ohhh NO! WAIT! Don’t worry, Jolie Papeterie Boutique to the rescue.
She was kind enough to sit down and chat with me a bit and share her experience, motto, and how she lives on Handmade!
Q: How did you get started in the paper-stuff business? A: To cut down on cost I designed the invitations for my own wedding as I’m a huge fan of handmade and I think it adds that special touch. The next year my sister got married and I ended up doing the same for her. Through word of mouth I started getting more work and I decided to make it an official business after a bridal store owner inspired me to do so. I started out with a quirky stationery store on Etsy and then decided to open up a second store for Jolie. The majority of the sales I make have been through my own website but Etsy is always nice option to have!
Q: Was it easy to set up your business with your own website and not rely on Etsy for 100% of your clientèle? A: It was actually quite difficult setting up my own business. There is a lot more work involved than just setting up an Etsy store. I had to register my business, create a website, add content, pricing, terms & conditions and samples. We were finally able to launch in March 2010. I have never relied on Etsy to reach my targeted clientele, I advertise on many places and word of mouth. I believe that marketing is a key element to owning a successful business.
Q: How do you feel running your own business? Is it something you aspired to do? A:I love being in control of my own world and I’ve always wanted to run my own business. Being able to make my own hours gives me the freedom to work at my own pace and also raise my son.
Q: Where do you get your inspiration from? A:I’m inspired by many things around me, mostly the handmade marketplace and the creativity that goes along with it. I think invitations are important because they set the tone for your wedding.I wanted to open Jolie Papeterie Boutique because I remember what a nightmare it was to find invitations for my own wedding that didn’t look like they were printed out of a box and were affordable. We’re able to offer brides custom handmade invitations at a great price. My husband and I work together so we collaborate our designs. Also, we do not use stock images on our cards, all of our designs have been made from scratch and are completely unique.
(Me: That’s lovely! A stress-free vendor!)
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years with your business? A: I would LOVE to see myself in a store front! Or maybe a collaborative store front with other wedding vendors.
Q: Any advice for handmade artists who are trying to start their own business? A:PLAN AHEAD! You can’t just “open a business”. There’s loads of planning and headaches. Try look at your business with a clients eye and make sure to cover all angles. Before I launched Jolie, I had a few friends be “testers” for me to make sure that things worked and ran smoothly. If we ran into a glitch, we fixed it and tried again. I’m really happy we did because once business picks up a bit you have no time to do so. It also causes much less stress if you have everything prepared.
Q:Do you have a personal statement or words you live by that you would like to share? A: Your work environment should be fun and you should enjoy what you’re doing. If you start to feel like it’s a chore then it may not be the right thingfor you.
Q: Any parting words for potential clients? A:If you have any ideas please let me know up front! I like working ‘with’ a client on designs not just ‘for’ them. Ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid to put a little trust in us!
Soooo…do you love her as much as we do! Absolutely amazing advice and a great vendor.
Check out her website at www.joliepapeterie.com. Here are a few of her works.
WE LOVE IT!
Thank you for taking your time and sharing your shop with us.
♥Michelle♥
So enjoy because I’m not sure how many times I’ll be able to pull one of these off!!! HAHAHA ♥
