Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Braswell.
Amy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Paperfinch Design was founded in 2011. I had just graduated from art school (my third degree!) and had *finally* figured out what I wanted to be when I grew up. Keep in mind, I was already solidly into my 30s. 🙂
I knew I wanted to run my own business – because my husband and I love to travel. I wanted to be able to work from wherever we wanted to go, and not have to request vacation days to do so. I originally started on Etsy selling digital scrapbooking supplies (clip art, etc) before it hit me – why not make Paperfinch a travel-themed brand?! Combining two of my favorite things – design and wanderlust! So, I started out with my (now) bestselling map skyline designs. From there on out, Paperfinch was a solid, growing brand.
It was in 2013 when that “aha moment” happened and since then, Paperfinch has been featured in a multitude of places – like People.com, Clin d’Oiel magazine, Cake + Whiskey magazine, HGTV’s Instagram feed, and in a few HomeGoods around the country. And I’ve spoken at conferences, retreats, and workshops, including Tampa Bay Startup Week.
We now have a small team running Paperfinch, we’re in shops around the country, and we showed at the National Stationery Show in 2018. And my husband and I added a little Baby Finch in 2015. He’s now four and has already been to six countries.
Has it been a smooth road?
It definitely wasn’t a smooth road running + growing Paperfinch. I’ll be the first to admit that I hit a lot of “life” when Paperfinch was in its infancy – some family health issues, my father passed, we moved a bunch, AND we were dealing with infertility. So, I definitely wasn’t able to dedicate the time that Paperfinch deserved.
That being said, I truly feel like everything happens for a reason (so cliche, I know) and growing at that slow pace really helped me hone the brand and define the goals, mantras, and aesthetics of Paperfinch. And I’m super proud of that side of things – Paperfinch is definitely a fine-tuned brand.
But there were also non-“life” related bumps in the road – mainly, me. I battled Imposter Syndrome big time for a long, long time. And, related to that, I had a hard time “selling” my products – which was essentially selling myself. I felt like I was bothering people – which hampered the marketing that a product-based business (or any business, really) definitely needs to do to survive.
And, here’s a big one, I wasn’t organized. An organization can sound SO scary to a total Type B like me, but I realized a few years into my business that it was KEY. And that it saved time. Which, as we all know, is money. So I would definitely recommend keeping your files organized, your processes documented, and being consistent in all things (well, as much as possible while you’re growing) – it will save you time (and money!) in the long run AND it’ll help you onboard employees so much easier!
Please tell us more about what you do, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I specialize in wanderlust-inspired gift products, like art prints, pillows, mugs, and pouches. I’m definitely known for my skyline designs with vintage city maps, but I have several other design lines as well.
In fact, I always have about a bazillion ideas going on in my head for new products – something that I’m super proud of… but also that causes issues for me. Too many choices! So, I’m learning to really curate which ideas I pursue.
A couple of other things I”m proud of? Paperfinch’s branding. I’m not a branding designer, per se, although I am a graphic designer, I feel like I’ve done a great job carving out a place for myself that nobody else inhabits. I’m curating Paperfinch to be a bit more of a lifestyle brand than just a “shop” and it’s resonating well with my followers.
I’m also proud of my small business coaching, something that I added in 2018. With all of the “life” that happened to me while building Paperfinch, I help coach other small business owners on organization, automation, and optimization, so they can “Weatherproof Their Business.” And I’m proud of my laidback, but still get-things-done kind of coaching – it definitely resonates well with creative business owners.
Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
I’m lucky enough to have two secret weapons in my back pocket – Babe Crafted and the SBDC. Babe Crafted is a girl gang of entrepreneurs run by the amazing Gina Moccio. The workshops, networking, and just *fun* events are a lifesaver in this sometimes lonely life of being an entrepreneur
And then, in Pinellas County, we have the SBDC – the Small Business Development Center. It’s a free (yep, FREE!) resource for small businesses where you can take classes, get some workbooks, and even meet one-on-one with a mentor. It’s priceless.
If you don’t have either of those options, check into local entrepreneur meetups. You never know who you’re going to meet and how you can help each other grow your business. You can find them on Eventbrite, Meetup, or by checking with your local government. If you google “small business classes near me”, you might find something like the SBDC or Score, another volunteer mentor program.
And don’t be afraid to ask! If you see someone that you’d love to mentor you, just ask them! Be sure not to overwhelm them – maybe request an hour a month or something, to get started – just to make sure you work well together. The majority of people will be flattered that you consider them a mentor, and a lot of them want to ‘pay it forward’ after having the help of a mentor when they were starting out!
Pricing:
- My home decor and gift products start at $12
- We have over 500 city skylines at this point, and are usually available for custom ones, too!
- I’m available to speak at conferences, workshops, and retreats. Pricing is negotiable, depending on time commitment and location
- My 1:1 coaching packages start at $200
Contact Info:
- Website: http://paperfinch.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/paperfinchdesign
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/paperfinchdesign
- Other: http://www.amybraswell.co/adventure (where I house my coaching services – and freebies!)
Image Credit:
Jessica Fredericks Photography (beach photo + headshot), Caroline and Evan Photography (colorful mural photo), Shauna Mooney (silly headshot)
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
