Exploring Life & Business with Monica Wasai of Reflection of Me Greetings

Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Wasai.

Hi Monica , thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Reflection of Me Greetings was created from a very personal place. As a proud graduate of Florida A&M University, I carry with me a deep appreciation for culture, community, and legacy. I have always believed in meaningful moments, the kind you keep and not just the kind you send. As a Black woman, a mother, and an entrepreneur in Dallas, I often found myself searching for greeting cards that truly reflected our culture, our relationships, our humor, and the way we love. Many times I walked into stores and could not find cards that felt like us. When I did, the options were limited. I knew there was space for something more intentional and more representative.

What started as a creative idea quickly turned into a mission. Alongside a business partner, Tiffany Irene, who shared the same belief in representation and thoughtful storytelling, we began designing cards that centered Black joy, Black love, sisterhood, friendship, and everyday moments that deserve to be celebrated. I wanted every person who picked up a Reflection of Me card to feel seen, whether it was for a birthday, encouragement, or simply reminding someone they matter. Representation is not just about being visible. It is about being valued and celebrated in the details of everyday life.

The journey has been anything but overnight. I built Reflection of Me Greetings while balancing career transitions, family responsibilities, and learning the ins and outs of running a product-based business. From designing late at night to personally packaging orders and walking into local stores to introduce myself, every step has been hands-on and heart-led. Seeing our cards now placed inside local shops and supported by the community has been incredibly rewarding because it shows that people are craving connection and representation just as much as I am.

Today, Reflection of Me Greetings continues to grow as a culturally inspired greeting card and stationery brand rooted in storytelling, representation, and meaningful moments. This journey is about more than paper and ink. It is about creating space for our stories to be told beautifully, authentically, and unapologetically.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a completely smooth road, but every challenge has helped shape the brand into what it is today. One of the biggest learning curves has been navigating the greeting card and stationery space as a small, independent brand. From the outside, it can look simple, but there are many layers to creating a product that feels premium, meaningful, and worth keeping. I have spent countless hours researching and testing different paper stocks to find the perfect weight and texture that feels high quality when someone holds the card in their hands. The goal has always been to create something that people want to keep as a memory, not just read and throw away.

Packaging has been another journey of its own. Finding the right clear sleeves, envelopes, labeling, and display methods that protect the cards while still presenting them beautifully in stores took time and a lot of trial and error. Every detail matters, from how the card feels when opened to how it sits on a shelf. As a growing brand, balancing quality with cost has been a constant consideration because I want customers to receive a premium product while still keeping it accessible.

Another challenge has been carving out a unique space within the card industry. I did not want Reflection of Me Greetings to be just another greeting card brand. I wanted it to have a deeper purpose and a distinctive niche. That is where the concept of Kept Moments was born. I began exploring ways to turn a simple card into something more interactive and lasting by incorporating QR codes that allow customers to add video messages, voice notes, or special memories inside their cards. Bringing that idea to life required research, testing, and learning how to seamlessly integrate technology into a traditional product without taking away from the beauty of the card itself. It pushed me to think differently about what a greeting card could be and how it could create a lasting emotional connection.

Breaking into retail spaces and understanding how the card industry works has also come with its own set of challenges. Learning about wholesale pricing, merchandising, inventory tracking, and how to stand out in a market with established brands required patience and persistence. There were moments of uncertainty and a lot of self-teaching along the way, but each obstacle pushed me to refine the vision and strengthen the business.

Even with the challenges, the process has been incredibly rewarding. Every adjustment, every test print, and every packaging change has been done with intention. Those experiences have helped shape Reflection of Me Greetings into a brand that is thoughtful, innovative, and rooted in purpose.

We’ve been impressed with Reflection of Me Greetings, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Reflection of Me Greetings is a culturally inspired greeting card and stationery brand created to celebrate meaningful moments through representation, storytelling, and connection. We specialize in premium greeting cards and paper goods that center Black culture, everyday joy, sisterhood, friendship, love, and encouragement. Our goal has always been to create products that people feel emotionally connected to, not just something they read and discard. Each card is thoughtfully designed to feel personal, relatable, and worth keeping.

One of the things that sets Reflection of Me Greetings apart is our focus on representation and intentional design. We understand how powerful it is to see yourself reflected in everyday products. Our cards are created with care, from the messaging to the imagery, so that customers can find something that genuinely speaks to their experiences and relationships. In addition to traditional greeting cards, we created our signature Kept Moments concept, which allows customers to turn a card into a lasting memory by adding a personal video or voice message through a QR code. This transforms a simple card into an interactive keepsake that can be revisited over time, making the moment even more meaningful.

We are also known for our attention to quality and presentation. From carefully selected paper stock to thoughtful packaging and in-store displays, we focus on creating a premium experience from the moment someone sees the card to the moment it is opened. As a growing brand, we have been intentional about placing our products in local retail spaces and building genuine relationships within the community. Seeing Reflection of Me Greetings on store shelves and in the hands of customers has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.

Brand wise, I am most proud that Reflection of Me Greetings stands for more than just a product. It represents connection, culture, and the importance of celebrating people in ways that feel authentic. What I want readers to know is that this brand was built with heart and purpose. Every card, every design, and every detail is created to remind people that their stories, their relationships, and their moments matter.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is knowing that I am building something meaningful for both my family and my community. On a personal level, my greatest joy comes from my two daughters. Aniyah, who is 20 years old, and Gianna, who is 4, are my daily motivation and my biggest inspiration. Watching Aniyah grow into a driven, intelligent young woman with her own goals and aspirations makes me incredibly proud. At the same time, experiencing life through Gianna’s eyes reminds me to stay present, creative, and hopeful. Being their mother is my most important role, and everything I build is rooted in creating a legacy they can be proud of.

Professionally, what makes me happy is seeing an idea come to life and knowing it resonates with people. There is something incredibly fulfilling about walking into a store and seeing Reflection of Me Greetings on the shelf or hearing someone say that a card perfectly captured what they wanted to express but could not find anywhere else. Those moments remind me why I started. I am also happiest when I am creating and building. Whether it is designing new collections, developing the Kept Moments concept, or expanding into new retail spaces, I genuinely enjoy the process of growing something from the ground up.

What brings both my personal and professional happiness together is purpose. I am happiest when I know I am showing my daughters what it looks like to pursue your vision, push through challenges, and create space for yourself and others. Building a brand that celebrates representation, connection, and meaningful moments while raising two amazing girls is what truly fulfills me.

Pricing:

• A Personal Card is $6.50
• A Personal Card with a Kept Moment is $8.50
• We have wholesale pricing
• We have bundle pricing

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.Reflectionofmegreetings.com
• Instagram: @ReflectionofMeGreetings
• Facebook: @ReflectionofMeGreetings

Image Credits
Tiffany Irene – Co-Owner
Maria Balderas – has contributed to some of the artwork