When I first got my new blog (this blog) a couple years ago, I started a series called “Small Business Spotlight” to feature some of the small businesses either run by my friends and family, or those that I discovered while working in the wedding industry. I’m a small business, which is one reason why I love other small businesses. So I like to support them when I can! I haven’t done a feature in this series for a while and since today is Small Business Saturday, it’s an appropriate time for the addition of Paper Hearts Invitations!

Paper Hearts Invitations is owned by one of my 2013 brides, Allison! Do you remember her wedding? The navy blue and pink one with the amazing details and beautifully decorated barn!?! Here is she and Bob’s wedding blog post in case you missed it, or would like to see it again: http://jessicafikeblog.com/allison-bob-west-overton-barn-wedding-scottdale-pa-photographer/ (FABULOUS wedding!!). Allison designed all the paper goods for she and Bob’s big day and I was so impressed! Everything was so beautiful and so professionally done, so I was extra excited when I learned she started her own little paper design company. I want to support Allison and her small business endeavors, so I’m pleased to feature her on my blog! Enjoy learning a little more about Paper Hearts Invitations from Miss Allison…

(Allison was one of the vendors at our MOPS Fall Vendor Fair last weekend (she had a beautiful table!), so I took advantage and got some pictures for this blog post. 🙂 )

Tell me a little bit about yourself…

My name is Allison Kotarsky. I live in Morgantown, WV but I am originally from Uniontown, PA. I graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with my degree in Graphic Design. When I was little, all that occupied my time was either dancing, school or something crafty. If there was a new crafty gadget or activity out there, I had to have it. If I were about 20 years younger, I would be all over this new rainbow loom craze! My whole family would be decked out in jewelry and keychains! In elementary school I would spend my recess giving the girls hairwraps or making friendship bracelets. When the time came to choose a major in college I immediately knew what I wanted to do when I saw that Cal U offered a bachelor’s degree in graphic design. I would get to design things, be crafty and eventually get paid for it. Sign me up! After graduation I had a couple different jobs before I ultimately began my full time job as a graphic artist at a newspaper.

I recently got married to my wonderful husband in August and we have one little girl, a 60 lb chocolate lab named Sierra! When I’m not working full time or designing things for my business, I also enjoy running and completed my first and second half marathons this year.

Describe Paper Hearts Invitations (your products, what you offer, etc.)…

Paper Hearts Invitations is a full-service invitation and paper goods company. I mainly focus on wedding invitations, but also provide party invitations, shower invitations, escort cards and ceremony programs, etc.

When and how did you decide you wanted to start your small business?

My friend Amy got married in March of 2011. I designed her save the dates because I had the craving to try something new. Up until that point, I had never really designed anything for anyone outside of my full-time jobs. She loved them, everyone loved them and she really encouraged me to start doing this for a living! For years she kept saying I needed to start a business on Etsy because she knew people would buy my invitations. I was younger and just getting my feet wet, so selling things to strangers scared me. In 2012 another friend contacted me about doing her wedding invitations and that’s what really kicked things off. I ended up doing four weddings that year based on her recommendations to other people. That’s when I decided to do serious research on starting a business and in January 2013 Paper Hearts Invitations was officially born!

What’s the inspiration behind the business name? Your products?

My husband actually came with the name (thanks, babe)! I was brainstorming with him and telling him I wanted the name to have something to do with paper and love and weddings and he said “What about Paper Hearts?” I loved it! It was perfect. I love weddings and party planning so my inspiration for my business name and products is based on my own personal love for love!

What’s your goal in starting this small business?

Design is my own personal creative outlet. It gives me time to just be alone with my ideas, my Macbook Pro and my Adobe Creative Suite. It gives me a chance to enjoy my job while making others smile. The best of both worlds.

Who is Paper Hearts Invitations for? 

The target audience for my business is anyone planning a party, event or wedding.

Where are you hoping Paper Hearts Invitations is a year from now? Three years from now?

One year from now, I would like to see Paper Hearts continuing to move forward with more and more wedding and party invitations in the works all the time! In three years from now, I want to start moving forward with ideas to open a store. My long term goal is to own a shoppe. It would have shopping area for people to purchase paper goods, a consultation area for clients to discuss their custom invitation orders with me and my own little print shop/craft area.

What’s the biggest challenge with being a small business owner who also has a full-time job?

My biggest challenge is trying to have enough down time to run errands and just relax. I work 9-5 Monday-Friday and then usually come home and work on things for my business for at least two hours, three to four nights per week, sometimes more if I have a big job due.

What are some of your BIG small business/product ideas?

There are plans in the works to work with a store in Uniontown to have my cards and other paper products for sale in their store. I may also be involved with a bridal workshop in the spring in Morgantown to help brides learn more about the bridal industry. I am very excited for both of these opportunities!

 

And just for some extra goodness, here’s a look at some of her paper goods from she and Bob’s wedding day…

Thanks a million for sharing your business with us, Allison! You do superb work and I cannot wait to have you design something for JFP! If anyone else is interested in Allison’s products or services, check out her website and go like her on Facebook!

Good luck with your business, Allison! And Happy Small Business Saturday to you! 🙂