We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Christiana Unaeze. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Christiana below.

Christiana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

OhSoColorful Co. is a stationery and gifts brand that features bold imagery, vivid colors and uplifting messages. The current product line includes a collection of stationery items like journals and bookmarks, tumblers, gift sets, party favors and more. To understand the backstory of how OhSoColorful Co. came to fruition, allow me to take you back to my early childhood days. My late mom was a seamstress and small business owner. As a little girl, I was utterly mesmerized watching my mom transform simple and colorful fabric into patterned works of wearable art. Sunny yellows, electric blues, dazzling prints in various hues and designs. Needless to say, my mom’s artistic flair and entrepreneurial spirit left an indelible impact on me. I carried that awe for color, design and craftsmanship into my own creative career.

Over the years, my creative career has spanned several years. I have a computer science and design background that has given me the opportunity to work in the corporate world for both small and large enterprises, including government agencies. I have designed a wide array of products both digital and physical. Some of which include an african language children’s book series, an animated children’s planetarium show, corporate branding materials and a 3D version of an exhibit for the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in NYC – to name a few. With all that experience under my belt, I decided it was time to create my own line of products, which took me back to childhood memories of my mom, and my love for vibrant colors and patterns.

I envisioned a brand that could turn everyday essentials into canvases of joy and positivity, items that were not just functional but can serve as a celebration of life’s vibrant colors. I brainstormed various ideas and made lists of things we do daily/regularly – we read, write, eat, drink and love to give and receive gifts. So, a brand that features stationery items like journals, bookmarks and notepads, and drinkware – like tumblers, and make them personalizable, for the ultimate gift items. I did quite a bit of market research to see if there is a profitable market for such items, and to see if there are other people who are experiencing success doing something similar – and there are! So that was encouraging. So I decided to move forward with the brand idea, and OhSoColorful Co. came to life.

Ultimately, OhSoColorful Co.has become for me, a playground of creation, where I get to spread happiness, color to the mundane, and carry forward my mother’s colorful legacy. It’s not just a business, but an ever-evolving maker’s playground where I intertwine my professional design experience with my mom’s colorful and entrepreneurial spirit. Every product, from our vibrant tumblers to our colorful journals, is designed to ignite joy, to make every moment a little more special. Whether you’re sipping from one of our vibrant tumblers, jotting down your thoughts in a journal, or unwrapping a giftbox filled with colorful surprises, I want each moment to spark a smile.

In essence, OhSoColorful Co. represents a journey of passion, creativity, and the enduring influence of a remarkable woman. It’s a reminder that the everyday can be extraordinary, and that life, just like art, is best lived in vibrant color.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself, how did you get into your industry / business / discipline / craft etc?

I have a design and IT background that spans several years. I started out with a double undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Graphic Design from Florida A&M University. This unique combination was just the beginning of a journey that would take me further into the realms of creativity, leading me to earn a graduate degree from New York University. As the daughter of an immigrant, my father initially wanted me to become a lawyer. However, my deep rooted desire for a more creative career led me down a different path.

Through my career journey, I’ve had the joy of bringing ideas to life. From crafting a 3D exhibit for the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York to producing an animated children’s planetarium show, and even designing an Amazon best-selling African language children’s book series. Each project was a step closer to a dream I’ve harbored for as long as I can remember: creating my very own brand that embodies my love for color, design, and the sheer joy of making.

OhSoColorful Co. isn’t just a brand; it’s the culmination of years of dreaming, learning, and creating. It represents everything I believe in – the power of vibrant colors, the beauty of design, and the ability of both to transform everyday items into sources of joy and inspiration. Through OhSoColorful Co., I get to share a piece of my world with you, turning everyday essentials into canvases of happiness and creativity.

So, if you’ve ever wondered what happens when a computer scientist with a flair for vibrant color and design decides to follow her heart, OhSoColorful Co. is the answer. It’s my playground, my passion, and my way of adding a little more color to the world, one beautifully designed product at a time.

What type of products/services/creative works do you provide?

At OhSoColorful Co, everything we create is centered around spreading extra joy through functional and motivational products designed to brighten your day. As a boutique stationery and gift brand ,my mission with OhSoColorful Co. is simple: to add a splash of color and joy to your everyday things and to make gifting an art form. I design and create an array of stationery and gift items with vivid colors and uplifting messages. The current product line includes journals, notepads, tumblers, gift favors, corporate gift boxes and more.

Our lineup, which includes everything from spirited journals and handy notepads to eye-catching tumblers and thoughtful gift favors, is crafted to inject a dose of motivation into your routine. Whether it’s the morning coffee in your favorite OhSoColorful tumbler, the evening reflections in your colorful journal, or the joy of unboxing an OhSoColorful gift set, each product is a reminder to embrace the joy and color of each moment.

With every design, I aim to bridge vibrant aesthetics with meaningful personalization, creating gifts that do more than convey thanks—they celebrate the individual, acknowledge milestones, and brighten days. Whether it’s recognizing the hard work of your employees, showing appreciation, or simply treating yourself, OhSoColorful Co. is about making every occasion a little more special and a lot more colorful.

what problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others?

In a world often dominated by routine and digital overload, OhSoColorful Co. brings a splash of joy and color to the everyday. We’re not just about creating stationery and gifts; we’re about transforming mundane moments into vibrant experiences. Our unique blend of vivid colors, uplifting messages, and personal touches solves the common problem of impersonal daily essentials, making every day a bit brighter and every interaction more meaningful.

What sets us apart is our commitment to not just be seen but felt. Imagine starting your day not just with any pen and paper but with a set that speaks to you, that reminds you of your spark, your joy, your vibrancy. Picture giving a gift that says more than “I remembered”; it says “I know you, I see you, and I celebrate you.” That’s the OhSoColorful difference. We turn ordinary into extraordinary, transforming routine into ritual, and objects into treasures.
It’s not just about what we make; it’s about the moments we create, the smiles we inspire, and the color we bring into the world.

What are you most proud of?

At the heart of my journey with OhSoColorful Co. lies a tribute deeper and more vibrant than any color palette can convey—it’s my homage to my mom, a remarkable woman whose legacy of creation and entrepreneurship pulses through me. This venture is far more than a business to me; it’s a way for me to weave my own threads into the rich tapestry of the world around me.
OhSoColorful has become my canvas, where my skills, passions, and dreams converge to create something truly special. It’s more than just a place to showcase my designs; it’s a creator’s playground where learning, creativity, and teaching meld together, allowing me to share a piece of my world with others. This brand also serves as a reminder that when we create from the heart, our light can illuminate the world.

what are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.

For potential clients, curious followers, and burgeoning fans, here’s a few things I would like you to know
– OhSoColorful is a young brand still in the early stages of its journey.
– It’s a testament to the belief that when you have a spark of an idea, a dream that keeps whispering to your heart, you owe it to the world — and yourself — to bring it to life. This brand is my heartfelt response to that call
– Our mission goes beyond creating stationery and gifts; it’s about crafting experiences that add a splash of happiness to your everyday moments. We celebrate the beauty in the details, the joy in the small things, and the power of color to transform the ordinary into something extraordinary.

As OhSoColorful Co. continues to blossom, I invite you to join our journey. Whether you’re picking out a journal, sipping from one of our tumblers, or just following along with our story, you’re becoming part of a movement that believes there’s always room for a bit more joy and a bit more color everyday.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

Originally, we started out on Etsy, but now also sell via our website – www.OhSoColorfulCo.com. Each platform offers its own unique challenges.The advantage of selling via etsy is that Etsy has a built-in audience, which is a major plus. This allowed us to reach customers who are already on the lookout for creative, handcrafted items. However, one of the main disadvantages is that it is a platform we do not own or control. Meaning Etsy can decide to suspend or close down a store on their platform at any time. This does not bode well for any long term business growth.

With having our own website which gives us more control. However, it’s a little harder to build organic website traffic from the ground up. It requires a deep dive into the world of search engine optimization, community engagement, and storytelling to connect with our audience on a personal level.

Have you ever had to pivot?

All creative paths have their twists and turns, and my journey was no exception! When I first dipped my toes into the entrepreneurial waters, I started off handcrafting statement jewelry pieces. But over time, as much as I loved the process, jewelry-making started feeling a bit…confined. Like my creativity was constantly looping through the same spirals and chains.

Deep down, I wanted to design and create products that are not only eye-catching, but able to seamlessly weave into people’s everyday routines and experiences. Products that yes, boasted pops of irresistible color, but also served a purpose in making people’s regular life moments more organized.

So while my original jewelry endeavor was fun, pivoting into the paper-crafting world ultimately allowed my maker’s spirit to soar in vibrant new directions.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.OhSoColorfulCo.com
• Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/OhSoColorfulCo
• Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/OhSoColorfulCo
• Youtube: https://www.YouTube.com/@OhSoColorfulCo
• Other: https://www.TikTok.com/@OhSoColorfulCo