Kelly: What is the name of your business?
Tricia: It's a pretty boring name - Tricia16. I set up shop on etsy before realizing that shop names cannot be changed, and I was already a buyer using that name so I just went with it. Before I knew it, it was too late to change it.
Kelly: When did you begin?
Tricia: May, 2009
Kelly: Do you have any background in business or crafting?
Tricia: In my previous life, meaning before kids, I worked in marketing in a variety of different capacities. However, very little of that experience prepared me for running this online business where blogging and so many forms of social (and electronic) media are prevalent.
Kelly: What motivated you to start Tricia16.etsy.com? For instance, what inspires you to create?
Tricia: A few people I knew were opening shops and buying on etsy so once I decided to dive in, I knew where to go and was comfortable with the site. My original motivation came from a woman I met at a bridal shower who loved my gift to the bride so much (monogrammed note cards) that she convinced me to sell her some personalized cards and then once she got her own, encouraged me to pursue a "little business" for myself. She was very sweet and gave me the confidence boost I needed to open a shop at etsy.
The original product listing - Monogrammed Note Cards
Kelly: What is your favorite product?
Tricia: My favorite product right now are the custom journals. I really enjoy working with each client to get the details exactly right and then the positive feedback I get once she has received it is very gratifying.
Kelly: What are the special Features?
Tricia: Almost endless options on paper styles, embellishments and "look". I just designed a journal as a gift for a bakery in LA. It'll be used to keep notes and recipes. I just love that it'll be keeping company with delicious cookies. I did it for "Sweet Cheeks" Bakery.
Kelly: What are your business goals this year?
Tricia: This is one of those questions that gets asked a lot at the beginning of a new year. Many of my teams had lengthly discussions about this as well. So, I did actually sit down and write out a lofty list of goals, some of which I will share here.
Promote on blogs
Build inventory
Participate in local craft fairs
Expand journal/diary styles
Kelly: Those are great goals! How do you get traffic to your website?
Tricia: Blog, facebook, twitter, active on teams, comment on other blogs, pass out business cards
Kelly: How do you juggle work/life balance? For instance, you have 4 children! How do you “do” all that you “do”?
Tricia: I have 4 kids, ages 9, 6, 5 and almost 4. We also have a new puppy. As for balance, there is none. I wish I had something more positive and encouraging to say here, but this is an area of struggle for me. There are just not enough hours in the day to get everything done that I want to get done. I just do what I can and try not to get too frustrated.
Kelly: Can you share some of your frustrations?
Tricia: Not getting all that I want accomplished when I want it accomplished.
Kelly: Me too! (Busy Moms all echo....."Us, too!") What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?
Tricia: I have really been inspired and blessed by the teams I am on; BusyMomsTeam and EtsyGreetingsTeam are very active and have been a wealth of support and encouragement.
Kelly: What word of encouragement can you give a person who wants to also start their own business?
Tricia: I'm still such a newbie myself that I am not sure I'd be much encouragement on this topic. As I said before, my teams have been super helpful to me so if I had to give one piece of advice it'd be to join a team and be active on it. You get what you put into it and there are some amazing and supportive people out there that are willing to help.
Kelly: Any other thing you would like to share with us?
Tricia: As a promotion for this blog - free mini note (my choice) with purchase. Just be sure to mention this in the "notes to seller " section upon checkout.
Kelly: Well, ladies, that is it! Tricia is on Facebook, she has a Facebook Fan Page, she is also on Twitter, and she's "got her hands full" on her blog too! Let's venture on over and show our support! Also, she is taking part in the fabulous Busy Moms Team of Etsy Scavenger Hunt, so be sure to check her shop, get a few things, and find her hidden flower!
I've been looking around Tricia's shop, and I can tell you, she is an artist, and her designs are original, full of love, one of a kind, and very well put together! Take for instance this one:
At $9.75, what an awesome gift! Appropriate for our Moms, our children, our Dads, our spouses, but how awesome to use this to capture our affections for our children, while we are thinking of it; and to save it and give to them when they are older? Tricia's work is very well done and put together with love and care and attention to detail. I can tell that love guides her work every step of the way!
This is what Tricia wrote in her description:
Inspired by my kids' book, "How Do I love You?"
Written and illustrated by P.K. Hallinan
How do I love you?
Let me count the ways.
I love you on your very best. . .
and very worst of days.
I love to see you laughing
and dancing in the rain.
And even when you lose your shoes, I love you just the same.
I love to hear you singing.
I love to see you smile.
" To me, there is no greater love than the love I have for my children. I was inspired by these words to recognize that love by creating a place to record those precious ways we love them. "This 5x5 inch (12.7cm) notebook has solid and sturdy chipboard covers that are fully recovered with Stampin Up Designer Series Paper and matching textured card stock. Mitered corners. "Love" is die cut, layered in chocolate brown and pink. "How Do I Love You?" and "Let Me Count the Ways" is hand stamped in chocolate brown ink. Wire spiral bound notebook contains 100 lined pages.
Or what about this one? Oh I love it!
See her complete listing of personalized items at http://tricia16.etsy.com/.
See you next week, Busy Moms! You are awesome, and every single one of you has a unique story, and it is worth telling and shouting out! So, don't be shy, convo me and let's get YOU, fabulous You on the schedule today.
Contributed By: Tricia16
Shop: Tricia Richner
6 comments:
Kelly - amazing job! Somehow you took my words and put them together to make a cohesive and interesting interview! Thank you so much. I am overjoyed with how it came out!
What a great interview! Trica, your journals are beautiful. You can tell that you pour a little love into each and every one. Good luck with your business.
Love Tricia's cards and journals!!
Cool! You're famous!
Cute shop! I love the idea of designing your own journals.
Great interview! I have bought items from Tricia and also had her design a book to give my uncle for his 80th birthday. My extended family wanted to give him something that wasn't a "thing". I thought of Tricia's books! I told her about my uncle, we emailed her our letters that we wrote to him and she put it all together. I expected it to look good but it was over and beyond and my family loved it. What always strikes me when I see her creations in person is how professionally they are made. This is not some pretty paper glued to a notebook, she makes every part from scratch and they are sturdy and very good quality. And there is so much other good stuff in her store! Check it out.
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