Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicole Wald. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nicole, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Upon graduating college in 2008, I found myself bored with all of the extra free time I had. I had attended college full time with a BBA in Human Resources and Finance and also worked full time at a community bank in Connecticut. Both far from the world of graphic design and wedding and event stationery, and also far from anything that really gave me purpose.

From a young girl I always loved cards, and writing invitations. I loved planning and helping with all of the details at parties. When I sat back and thought of how I could fill in all this extra time, I thought maybe I could learn the stationery business, which sparked my first business, Tutti Belli Invites. I, along with a partner, started the business. We worked hard to learn the different printing styles, trends, local and national contacts and vendors, went to bridal shows, and did as much marketing, pre-social media, that we could. We became a local success, all based on our core value of being “real people”. We never up and over sold, we were honest and really set out to make connections with our clients.

In 2012, I relocated to South Florida, and Danielle remained in the Northeast and that was when Tutti Belli dissolved. We had a great time, but the distance was hard to maintain a business, but my love for stationery remained. When I moved to South Florida I started to work for Jennifer J Events, a top event planner, as support staff. Because I knew so much about stationery, I would assist her clients with some small orders. After a bit I realized I really did miss working on stationery. My new clients and their ideas inspired me. I knew that if I started my business back up, I would need to create a custom product, not a cookie cutter product, that I had previously provided.

I started researching and reaching out, self-learning Adobe on all my extra time, meeting with event planners and building relationships. Learning from everything I did the first time around, which was great, but I was able to perfect it and make a product of my own and here I am now, Nicole Marie Paper Co!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Nicole, I was born in the Big Apple, moved to a small town in Connecticut and now have my feet planted in the sand of South Florida (when I have time to get to the beach). I am a wife, mom of two toddlers and four dogs, and have a big love for graphic design and stationery!

I started my first stationery business in 2008 in Connecticut and later rebranded myself and my business structure in South Florida, to make it something of my own, just like the stationery I create. I work directly with event planners and their clients to customize stationery for their exact event theme and mood. We work together to go over style, colors, theme, feel. We want guests to open their invitations and say wow! I cannot wait for this! One thing I always say is it does not matter if you have the grandest centerpieces and the best band in the world, if you send someone a flyer, they will wear jeans. The invitation sets the tone and excitement for your day!

What I love the most about business is it allows me the flexibility to have time with my family, but also produce an experience for my clients. I plan my appointments in the afternoon and evening, because we are all real people. I find that is the easiest time for my clients to take time away and not feel rushed on their lunch break to take a call, or take time off work. We work together.

Every piece of stationery I design as though it was my own. I work hard to make sure their day is translated in the piece.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I knew about custom printers. I spent many years in a cookie cutter business, trying to take a piece from one item and put into another to try to make something better. I wanted to deliver a custom product but didn’t know where to start. I eventually found one contact that opened up a ton of doors and I have never looked back.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Seeing the concept come to life! As a creative, I think outside of the box,. My goal is to create something different, something unique, something specific to the event. Although I can mentally see the product, the client cannot. But when they actually see the finished product and are just blown away by their exceeded expectations.

Contact Info:

• Website: nicolemariepaperco.com
• Instagram: @nicolemariepaperco
• Facebook: Facebook.com/nicolemariepaperco

Image Credits
Evan R Photography, Blink and Company Photo, Sasithon Photography, Alain Martinez Photography, Wald Creative