Today we’d like to introduce you to Irene Kwong.
Hi Irene, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Irene Kwong, a former pharmacist turned stationery business owner. My journey into paper planning began over nine years ago when I stumbled upon the vibrant world of paper planning on Instagram. This revelation rekindled my childhood love for stationery and inspired me to create a unique brand, incorporating both designs and technology that I hadn’t seen available elsewhere.
Today, my brand, simply gilded, embodies my lifelong love for color and the whimsy of my childhood. We offer exclusively designed notebooks, washi tape, sticker sheets, and a subscription kits to stationery lovers worldwide. Simply gilded has achieved top rankings on Etsy and Shopify, serving thousands of customers each month. What I cherish most about my business is the connections I’ve made with my community over the years!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’ve encountered different struggles at every stage of my business. At the very start, I had no earthly idea what quantities to order and went with the bulk order of over 3000 tapes because I would save more in bulk – BIG oops!
Between inventory management, growing pains, and technical issues, I have dealt with the gamut of issues that every business owner encounters at some point or another.
One of the biggest challenges was building the simply gilded team. Having come from a rigid and somewhat negative previous work environment, it was incredibly important to me to build a team that loved the work, the business itself, and each other. I quickly learned that it was pretty challenging to juggle a myriad of different personalities. However, I started to focus on everybody’s strengths and learned to address issues quickly. I also loosened my grip on micromanaging every aspect of the business and learned to trust my team. After that point, everything changed! This trust has been the foundation of the entire business. Despite occasional bumps that we still experience, the deep trust we have in each other has made my team the dream team they are today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work is dreaming up and bringing to life the prettiest stickers, washi tape, and stationery! I am known for my original bow washi tapes and my sweet scalloped albums.
I’m most proud of building a business that honors who I am while allowing others to create in a way that brings joy to their true selves too! It’s such a joy to hear how many people look forward to receiving the monthly subscription kit and to see the beautiful creations that result from their creative practice.
Besides being one of the first in the US to bring washi tape and different types of seals & products to market and continuously releasing new and beautiful designs monthly, I also have an amazing customer care team (and fulfillment team!) that goes the extra mile to make our customers happy!
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
My Dad always said that I was lucky – and though I used to think that was dismissive, I do believe that luck had a role in my journey. I was able to discover and execute my business at the very start of the paper planning craze! The washi tape world was relatively new and there was plenty of opportunity and interest. In addition to this, social media platforms were reaching large amounts of people. I took that opportunity and ran with it – and that is where the time, work, and dedication paid off. I will always be so grateful for having this window of ‘luck’ where the conditions were perfect for launching a business in my niche!
Pricing:
- Monthly Subscription – $30 / month + Free Domestic Shipping
- Washi Tape $2.50-$14
- Stickers – $1 – $18
Contact Info:
- Website: https://simplygilded.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplygilded/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Simplygilded/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irene-kwong-simply-gilded/
- Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/simplygilded/
Image Credits
All images credited to Simply Gilded
