Stationery Sweeter Than Honey

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Shannon Leigh, CEO of TheHoneyBShop, located in Bremen, GA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

TheHoneyBShop is a stationery business that features rad, unique, affordable planners, stickers, and much more! We're a one-stop stationery shop. We also offer a monthly subscription service called the Babe Box; for $25 a month, super cool stationery gets delivered to your door. It's like a gift from me to you, and it's no strings attached! Cancel or skip at any time. Our customers consist of mostly planners, journalers, memory keepers, and stationery collectors!

Tell us about yourself

I began my business by jumping in with both feet and not knowing a clue of what I was doing. I bought a planner and wanted to make planner stickers, so I did! I then sold those stickers as digital files to like-minded planner babes. I saved up enough money to begin making physical stickers by purchasing a printer, a silhouette, and all the things I needed to open up the "physical" doors of TheHoneyBShop! I have always been an artist at heart, but over the years, I've self-taught myself graphic design and product development; I've never been to college for either. What motivates me each day in my business is the community I have created and surrounded myself with. I wouldn't be anything without them, and I appreciate their support so much. TheHoneyBShop is my passion, my love, and I think I truthfully share that with the world through and through every single day. Just knowing that people celebrate and purchase my artwork from all over the world tickles me to death every single day.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner would have to be hiring my mother, Mama Bee, to work for me. She's been employed at TheHoneyBShop for about 4+ years, and it's still my biggest accomplishment to this day. Nothing makes me more proud than her support and hard work with what we have blossomed into TheHoneyBShop. THBS would definitely not be standing where it is today without her assistance.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

I would have to say the hardest thing that comes with being a business owner is sometimes the responsibility of doing "adulty" things...like taxes and bookkeeping. There are so many legal things behind businesses that I was so clueless about when I started, and sometimes still clueless to this day! Sometimes I can also face self-doubt and imposter syndrome!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Don't compare your first step to someone's one-hundredth step. Everyone grows at different rates, and you're exactly where you need to be at any given time. It's easy to compare yourself with others, but use that as motivation to grow yourself and your business, but this also brings me to my second tip.
Don't follow so closely to other businesses that you don't become your own. What I mean by this is really dive into yourself and your own niche. Find out things that people aren't doing that you can bring to the table, and remember; everyone has a seat at the table. Make your brand and business stand out of the crowd!
Start small and steady. You don't have to have an intensive catalog to begin. Just a few products will gauge interest, and then you can continue investing further. I think a big mistake of mine was feeling like I needed all the different products to bring customers to my attention, which is not the case. Slow and steady wins the race!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thehoneybshop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehoneybshop
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehoneybshop/

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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