Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in arts and crafts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jen Simpson, design director, and co-owner of Jen Simpson Design, LLC., located in San Clemente, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Jen Simpson Design is a bespoke invitation and stationery company based in San Clemente, California. We are a team made up of my husband, Luke Simpson, and me, who has been in the industry for over ten years. We promise quality, attention to detail, originality, and love in everything we create. We strive to inspire and elevate the dreamer inside each of our clients and foster positive and lasting memories with all of our pieces.
Tell us about yourself
Our love for all things paper began while planning our own wedding. After all the fun and excitement of creating our invitations and stationery, we received rave reviews. We were encouraged to share our talent with others. We took their advice, started Jen Simpson Design in 2010, and now take pride in helping clients all over the world find their perfect invitations and stationery!
I am the design half of the team; I started my career in apparel design but quickly realized my passion for all things stationery and paper. I love working one-on-one with clients and will be right by your side for every step of the design process. I can create a vision and take it from conception to completion to showcase my clients' unique stories and branding. Every piece in our wedding and paper goods collections has been dreamed up and designed by me.
Luke is the production guy, making sure every cut is straight and every order a success. He is meticulous when it comes to the assembly and construction of our invitations and stationery. Every piece is handcrafted in-house to ensure it is up to our standards. He packs and ships like a pro and knows perfection is key.
Together we are a team, offering our attention to craft and detail, inspired designs, and one-on-one customer service to make sure you have the best experience when it comes to ordering your invitations and stationery.
We have expanded to offer a line of personal stationery, paper goods, and journals. Our pieces are designed to be clean, minimal, and intentional, with a goal to inspire and elevate.
Our journals are a direct creation from my journey with anxiety and how I have learned to use journaling as a tool to help her grow and overcome negative thought patterns and stress. Our mission with our journals is to support and inspire others who may be going through the same struggles and bring awareness to mental health issues.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being able to help and inspire others to grow and create.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
The rollercoaster of highs and lows that you go through owning a business. It is so easy to get caught up in how the business is doing: did I get this job, did I not, running into roadblocks, etc. It can easily take over and affect your mood and life experience and whether you are heaving a good or bad day. I have been working on creating space, so I am not so emotionally attached to the business.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Just start - things will never be perfect. Once you get started, then make changes and dial in based on feedback from your clients and customers.
- Don't focus on everything that is negative: It is so easy to get frustrated or overwhelmed if something does not go as planned, but I have learned that the road is not straight, owning a business is an adventure is sometimes you get stuck, but you just have to problem solve, sometimes back up, and then find a new road.
- Find things that inspire you - I base my entire business on that. I have to be creating something I love and products that I would want if I saw them in a store. If you aren't inspired to do what you do every day, then why do it?
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Your business is a journey; enjoy the process. No matter how long you have been in business, there is never an "end" or an "I will make it when this happens" solution. It is a continuous experience, and there is always a new exciting thing about to happen or a hurdle to get past.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://jensimpsondesign.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenSimpsonDesign/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jensimpsondesign/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
