We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Patricia Johnson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Patricia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

One Fall morning in October, 2016, I came across a passage in my daily devotional urging us to use our God-given talents to honor him. The message struck a chord within me, inspiring me to take action. At the time, starting a hobby, let alone a business, was the last thing on my mind. As a wife, mother, grandmother and retired art teacher of 36 years, I was happily immersed in enjoying life’s simple pleasures; traveling, spending time with family and friends, being active in church, and embracing the joys of everyday life.

Much to my surprise, starting a hobby to glorify God proved to be quite rewarding. My artistic gift of creativity kicked in. I loved designing scriptural and inspirational verses and scripting them on marble and ceramic tiles of various shapes and sizes. As I delved deeper into learning and managing my new found handcraft, I began to sell them to friends and family. My collection was a hit as I vended at craft shows, bazaars and fairs. I opened an online shop with Etsy.com where I am proudly featured as a “Star Seller”.
Growing to business status was exciting but came with fearful concerns of moving forward. Because of my age and ethnicity, I felt insecure and began to doubt myself.. As an African American woman of 70+ years, I wondered if I could handle the demanding pressures that lie ahead. Although my health was very good, both cognitively and physically, I worried about my legacy. What would happen to my business when I could no longer manage the workload? I also worried if I would be able to keep up with the rapid pace of technology that continue to brew at every turn. Finally, as a double minority, I wondered what business opportunities would be afforded to me at this juncture of my life. I pondered over my fears and realized the God had successfully brought me to this point. My faith kicked in as I trusted God to guide me through to the next level.
After making some very hard decisions, I am very excited about the direction my business is going. I now have a team that is rebranding my business and preparing it to compete on the global and corporate stage. In addition, my grandson who is growing with my business will be working very closely with me and my team, and has agreed to take over the business when necessary. Hence, my legacy and generational wealth is now possible. As I continue to let God order my steps, I am confident that my business will succeed.
The ability to lovingly connect with customers, meet their need, tell my story, and extend God’s message, is truly a blessing. Our vision is to design with purpose, infusing each creation with a touch of spiritual flair and inspirational essence that not only reveals God’s glory but also leaves a lasting impact.

Patricia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

When I stepped out of my relaxed lifestyle in 2017 as a retiree and into the vast world of business, I became determined to make my mark. Hi, I’m Patricia A. Johnson, CEO of Paje Designs, Our business specializes in high-quality gifts and home decor, reaching customers nationwide.

Paje Designs was born from my response to God’s call to use my talents for His glory. With a Master’s Degree in Art Education and 36 years of teaching experience, along with prior business ventures, I embarked on my entrepreneurial
journey well-prepared. However, navigating the complexities of technology and machinery, as well as the day-to-day management of a business, presented its challenges. Nevertheless, my faith and determination never wavered.

Our company offers handcraft coasters, plaques, trivets, and clocks adorned with uplifting quotes and scriptural verses. We use beautiful marble and ceramic tiles in various sizes, shapes and textures. ranging from bright white to tans and neutrals.
Our distinct formal and whimsical lettering styles give our pieces a unique touch.

We take pride in crafting each piece meticulously to set us apart. Unlike typical coaster sets that offer only one design, our “Scripture” coaster sets feature four different verses per set. Similarly, our “All in One” plaque collection includes a scripted verse, a beautiful clock, and a detachable photo frame, offering our customers a variety of options.

Our5 Star rating on Etsy and numerous testimonials are a testament to our commitment to excellence. We pride ourselves on attention to detail, impeccable quality control, staying people-focused, creating gifts that connect, and ensuring on-time shipping. It’s this dedication to our values that has earned us the coveted Etsy “Star Seller” rating.

As President and CEO, I’ve seen firsthand how our products impact lives. Our mission is to bring communities closer, one design at a time, infusing every cherished moment with love and fostering relationships that go beyond mere transactions. Our vision is to design with purpose, infusing each creation with spiritual flair and inspirational essence that reflects God’s glory and leaves a lasting impression.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the fears of public speaking.

A support group, which consisted of myself and five other women in business, met every Monday at 10a.m. We shared our highs and lows while learning from each other and showing support. Our presenter and mentor, Glenda Boone, shared many helpful workshops, one of which pertained to using social media as a way of expanding our customer base. Each of us was asked to do a video on Facebook and You Tube. Fear gripped me as I imagined the world viewing and judging my every word as I made my presentation.

I continued to receive nudging and encouragement from my mentor and fellow classmates. They echoed the same manta…”To get over your fear, Pat, you just have to get out there and DO IT! Months later I finally developed enough confidence and courage to do my first video on Facebook. The purpose of the video was aimed to promote and grow my Facebook Business page. My husband and partner in business, Manasseh, filmed me and after several tries, I nervously released it to the public. To my surprise, I began to get very positive comments and a flood of “Likes”. As my network expanded, my skepticism and fear gradually gave way to new found confidence.

Several months later, I prepared my first You Tube video. Because I had envisioned You Tube as a much larger audience than Facebook, fear surfaced once again. What I failed to realize was that most of my fears were directly related to lack of self-confidence. The decision to embrace trusting and believing in myself, and praying with faith, made all the difference. It was not easy at first, but I became more comfortable with each new video.

I have gotten over my fears of online public speaking and in 2020, hosted my very own You Tube show entitle, “Gift-Away-Wednesday”. Used as a marketing tool to increase my customer base, it aired twice a month on Wednesdays from 12:00 noon to 1:00pm. highlighting local business owners. A gift from my collection was awarded to the lucky winner of the day. The encouragement from my mentor and fellow classmates, along with building up my confidence and faith were the keys, but also…you have to just get out there and DO IT!

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

One of the most effective client acquisition strategies revolves around vending at Craft Fairs, Conventions, and Bazaars. Building connections with customers before and after these events is crucial for expanding my contact list. Initially, I used signage books at each venue to encourage interested individuals to share their contact information. However, the QR Code has proven to be a game-changer for my business. By strategically placing QR Code posters around my booth, customers can easily provide their details using their smartphones. This information is then seamlessly integrated into my contact database, allowing me to stay in touch with new leads and existing customers.

In terms of staying connected, I utilize a variety of channels including ads, emails, newsletters, and specials. Automation plays a significant role in reaching out to groups of contacts simultaneously, saving me valuable time. Additionally, I incentivize repeat buyers with discounts and create enticing sales and specials to attract new business. While managing marketing efforts can be time-consuming, dedicating a block of time daily helps me stay on top of communications, ensuring consistent engagement with my audience.

Contact Info:

• Website: pajedesigns.com
• Instagram: pajedesigns.com
• Facebook: Script2TilesbyPaje
• Youtube: pajedesigns.com