Next step, a catchy name... and I have my step-mother to thank for helping me come up with the winner! It was fun brainstorming ideas via email, some of the ones we came up with were really great, but Rock-Paper-Scribbles just seemed to fit perfectly (if anyone needs a new business name, let me know!). Then came the mania of filling out endless vendor applications and the thrill of acceptance emails from my top-choice design companies. The UPS guy, Mr. Joe became my new best friend as the albums and displays starting streaming in! He always delivers in the afternoon and I think he plans it that way so he can honk and wave at my adorable children... they hear him coming and run to the door to greet him with equally big grins.
For me, the best part of being a small business "studio dealer" has been the opportunity to get to know my clients one-on-one, and I have some of the nicest ones there are! Over the past year it has been my pleasure and delight to help blushing new brides-to-be design custom wedding invitations... assist expectant moms with their selection of blissful baby announcements... give advice to friends throwing fantastic soirees for friends to celebrate the milestones in each others lives... I've even helped some befuddled husbands with last-minute (shhh!!) anniversary and birthday gifts!
Actually, I take it back. The very best part of being a small business "studio dealer" is that I get to work from my home office where my daughters (ages 8 & 5) can pop in (after homework is done, of course) to see what Mom's working on. Jolie, my oldest has become my self-appointed apprentice and shadow... not to mention #1 salesperson! I'm sure the entire teaching staff at her school is now well-aware that they can order memo pads from Jolie's mom with "From the Desk of Mrs. So & So!" Meanwhile, Avery just wants to sit in my zebra stripe desk chair and make her own Design-her Gals, and let me tell you she is in heaven with the shoe selection on that website!
So, what started out last November as an exciting concept for a "home studio" stationery store with a handful of vendors has a year later turned into a booming reality with over 15 vendors representing top-notch designers in the social paper and personalized gift industry! Over the course of the next year I will be focusing on growing the internet component of my business, and am thrilled with the progress that my fabulous web designer, Jen Ware and her talented husband Zac have made. The shopping cart feature is well under way and now that I've gotten the hang of this blogging thing, there's no telling what will happen!
Thank you for all of your friendship and support over the past year!
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