Today, we’d like to introduce you to Marguerite Knowles.
Hi Marguerite, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I started selling my artwork in 2017 and branched into greeting cards (my main product!) in 2020. As much as I enjoyed creating larger acrylic artworks, I wanted something small and more affordable to bring in new clients. I noticed a lot of other small businesses were creating stickers; however, I wanted something I could handmake.
That’s when I decided on greeting cards! I now design greeting cards and stationery (mostly printed now, although I do offer a handmade option), sell in multiple stationery stores in Dallas as well as in London (where I live now!), and frequently attend small business markets and fairs on the weekends in London.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think, in some ways, it is quite freeing but also quite difficult being a one-woman business. If I’m too busy for more orders or don’t have time for something, I can just pause my online shop and give myself a small break, and it won’t affect anyone but me.
On the other hand, it is up to me to keep track of inventory and finances, do taxes, be the only person sitting at my market stall for six hours, create the cards, package the cards, ship the cards, liaise with clients, etc.
During busy times, this can be quite a lot, especially since this isn’t my full-time job. But I always remember that even if I paused my small business, I’d still want to create, so I might as well sell my creations!
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about na?
Running my small business has not always been easy, especially as I do it in my free time when I am not at my full-time job; sometimes, I wonder if it would be easier to give it up. But I love creating my cards so much that even on hard days, I know that my business is important to me, and I love the joy it spreads.
The most rewarding part of my small business is the people who come to me telling me that people have given them my cards for birthdays or holidays. It makes me so happy to know my cards are helping spread joy and finding new homes!
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
Creating makes me happy!
I love it when I receive a package of colorful envelopes to go with an upcoming order or put the finishing touches on a new design. It makes me so happy that these products have come from me, and will not only make the buyer happy, but the recipient of the card as well!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/MargueriteKnowlesArt
- Instagram: @margueriteknowlesart
- Tiktok: @margueriteknowlesart
