Today we’d like to introduce you to Steph Weibring.
Steph, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started my first paper goods company as a senior in college at University of Oklahoma. My parents were both entrepreneurs and I decided right away that was the path for me. I began a greeting card company in 2002 and after a couple of years was in 300 + stores across the United States. A few years later I helped my sister open Tart Bakery and did the branding and logo design for the store and that began my branding and design business to help other small business get started and grow. I kept in paper goods one way or another, from business paper goods to wedding invitations and in 2010 opened my Etsy shop to sell personalized notecards as a side hustle. It grew slow and steady (more slow than steady 🙂 ) I was able to grow my shop and design business from home while having and raising 3 babies! It kept my creative mind engaged while being able to be home for them. It was chaos at times, but perfect in some ways too. In 2016 I decided to try to grow Joy Creative Shop. Paper had always been my side gig, but my dream was for it to be equal to or surpass my design business. Since 2015 Joy Creative Shop has doubled in sales each year and is growing like I’d hoped it would (and worked hard for). I am still a work-from home mom, but living my dream and loving every minute!
Has it been a smooth road?
Good question. The path has been fairly smooth. Every adventure has bumps in the road, but each bump (aka: failure, problem or disappointment) is a great reason to adjust and tweak things so they are better than before. If the road was smooth, there would be no growth and there is no fun in that! I would say the path has been more crooked and I’ve loved where each change in direction has taken me. I truly feel I’m in the perfect spot for me and my family. It’s been slow and steady, with a lot of growth coming in the future! So thankful.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Joy Creative Shop story. Tell us more about the business.
Joy Creative Shop is a personalized paper goods company. We specialize in custom notecards, note pads, gift tags, stickers and more! We are known for great and simple design, excellent quality and even better customer service. Our design strengths are unique colors and strong typography. I love the idea that less is more in design, work and life and want that simplicity to come across in our products. I’m most proud of our organic growth and that people think to gift our items to new moms to welcome their babies to the world. I think our willingness to work with our customers and their requests sets us apart.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I see this industry continuing to grow because of the easy access to starting a business with social media and technology and resources. It was not that way when I started my first business in 2002. I hope the appearance of the brick and mortar stores continue to grow (as opposed to only online stores) and make shopping for paper goods and gift items more of an experience. I look forward to growing more and expanding our brand in time as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: joycreativeshop.com
- Phone: 469-556-0428
- Email: stephweibring@mac.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/joycreativeshop
- Facebook: facebook.com/joycreative
Image Credit:
Picture of me: Katey Finazzo of Katey Finn Photography
Product Photography : Esther Huynh
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