Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in graphic design but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tasha Fontanes, Founder of Tasha Rae Designs, located in Denver, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Tasha Rae Designs is my graphic design company. I have been specializing in wedding and event invitation design for over 20 years, and I love it! My customers come from all over the world and range from young to 'young at heart'!
Tell us about yourself
I was born and raised in Minnesota, and I make a mean Tater-Tot Hotdish! Now I live in beautiful Colorado with my husband and our 2 daughters (one human and one canine).
I studied art and photography at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and The Art Institute of Colorado. I love to travel and have been lucky enough to have been all over the world. Travel inspires me to be creative and to enjoy life every day. I love funny people, long walks with the dog, shoe shopping, 80's movies, chocolate, art, cooking, and of course, my family and friends.
You know that feeling you get when you find the perfect gift for someone, and you can't wait to give it to them? That's how I try to run my business. My gift is my art, and I want it to be just what you wanted and imagined.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment was my business surviving 2020-2021! Prior to the pandemic, I had always said that the wedding/event business was a great business to be in because no matter the economy or what's going on in the world, people always fall in love and want to celebrate! This still holds true, but a pandemic sure can put a kink in the celebrating part! I am lucky that I have amazing customers, friends, and family that kept me busy when all my weddings were canceled. Some ordered their Christmas cards in June, and some helped me promote graduation yard signs to celebrate graduates that couldn't have ceremonies. I teamed up with event planners to create drive-by birthday parades and fun gift boxes. We came up with creative ideas together to help us all get by during a very challenging time. It was a great feeling to have a community that worked so hard to help each other's businesses survive and thrive.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I think the hardest part about being a business owner is just the ups and downs of business. You never have a steady income, and sometimes it's hard to anticipate how busy every year is going to be.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Great customer service has always been the number 1 goal in my business. If you take care of your customers, they will take care of you!
- If you are in a creative business, take time to travel the world. I get so much inspiration from all the places I have traveled to, and I always come home with a new perspective and a renewed appreciation for my work. And don't answer emails/phone calls while you are away - you deserve a vacation!
- Change is good! Don't be afraid to try new things and change things up once in a while. Embrace technology, ask older and younger generations for their views, and step outside your comfort zone every once in a while.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.tasharaedesigns.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TashaRaeDesigns
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tasharaedesigns/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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