Mom Boss Monday: Invitations by The Little Paperie

Happy Monday Folks! Is is starting to feel like fall where you live? We have had this AMAZING breeze blowing through here the past couple of days and it makes fall feel SO close even though I know we probably have at least two months before things start to cool down any.

 I’m excited to have another awesome mama to feature this week for Mom Boss Monday! Her name is Rita and she sells invitations on Etsy. Can you guess how I found her? That’s right…my tiny baby turns two next month and I had to find the perfect invitation to match his animal party! Out of all the animal themed invitations on Etsy, hers stood out to me the most. I’m really into water color lately which make these invites that much cuter! Rita was super sweet and easy to work with and she got my invitations to me so fast! Definitely check her page out if you are in the market for any sort of invitations!

 

Tell me a little bit about what you sell:

I sell invitations and party co-ordinates for kids birthdays, baptisms/christenings, baby showers and bridal showers. One day I would like to design wedding invitations, however, I wouldn’t start that until my son starts kindergarten and I have some more time to dedicate to wedding designs and to brides! I had 18 proofs for my wedding invitation, so for now I definitely don’t have the time to deal with that.

 

How did it all begin?

Designing and selling invitations has been in the works for a few years now; however, I was never able to give it the amount of time and energy it really needed to grow. I was working full-time and then I became pregnant and then there definitely wasn’t time (if only I knew then how much free time I really had ha!).

My husband and I agreed that I would stay home for 2 years with my son, and in that time I was to start my invitation business. Initially I said I’d start when my son was 3 months, then 6 months, then 12 months. Eventually it was nearing my 2 years at home, and my husband gave me the push I needed! I really wasn’t ready to re-enter the workforce yet, I still wanted to stay home with my son. So in January 2017 I FINALLY started designing and committing to making this work. I opened my Etsy store in March 2017, and I thought it would take months, to get my first sale. Within my first week I had gotten a sale, and I couldn’t believe it! This really gave me the confidence that I needed to really get things rolling and to really believe that this could be a viable business.

 

Tell me about you! Where are you from? What do you love? How many kids do you have?

I was born in Lisbon, Portugal and my parents moved to Melbourne, Australia when I was 5 years old. I still live in Melbourne with my husband, my 2 year old son and my Russian Blue Cat.

What do I love, hmmm it has been a while since I’ve actually thought about myself and what I enjoyed doing pre-toddler. I have always loved reading (though rarely get the time now); traveling (we are heading to Hawaii next week so let’s see how much I enjoy traveling after this trip); going to the movies (I’d pretty much watch anything if it meant I got to eat movie popcorn and drink coke); running. Realistically though, I rarely have any me time these days, so I really do love seeing my son experiencing new things and sneaking in a movie with my husband whenever one of the grandparents will baby sit!

Do you support a cause? If yes, tell me about it!

Animals! I love animals. Before Ross I helped care for stray kittens, however, it is a bit too much work now with a toddler and kittens.

We also support doctors without borders and sponsor a child from Mozambique (an old Portuguese colony).

 

What is the most challenging part of what you do?

Trying to get everything done and finding a balance. Because I am working from home, it’s easy to get carried away with orders. It’s the hardest when I am in the middle of an order or emailing a customer and my son will come and grab may hand to go and play with him. He still naps, thankfully, so I try to get out as many orders as I can in those 2 hours.

 

What is the most rewarding part of what you do?

Being able to contribute financially, and staying home with my son full-time. Also, doing what I have wanted to do for many years, but never had the courage to really follow through.

What is your ‘why’? (the biggest reason you do what you do)

Initially, it was so that I could stay home longer with my son. My husband said even if I make $100 a week, its something and it all helps. But as the sales started coming in; as I was becoming more and more adventurous with my designs; and meeting all of these great people from all over the world, I really started seeing my little business as something that I would really love to do even when I no longer have young children at home. 

 

How long have you been in business?

I opened my store on Etsy in March 2017, and received my first sale a week later. 

 

Who is your biggest supporter?

My husband! He really pushed and gave me the confidence to get it all started and to share my designs. I always thought that my designs were just too much my taste and that it wasn’t going to appeal to many people.

 

If you could start all over again, would you change anything?

I always think that had I only started when I intended on starting (back in 2015) I could be in a very different position now. However, I really don’t like to regret anything I do in life. What’s the point! I had a solid 2 years of my time dedicated to my son and only my son, and I can never get that time back. So while it would be great to be well established Etsy by now (had I started 2 years ago); I would have missed out on a lot with my son. So no, I don’t think I would change anything.