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

Aria Jolie, appreciate you joining us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

My story starts in December of 2020. Like everyone else, my family was dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic as best as we could. That meant keeping myself busy and finding small ways to stay connected with those I love. I started making hand-painted greeting cards with brief messages and poems and sending them to my family and friends–especially with the drastic effect that the pandemic had on everyone’s mental health.

I’ve always used art to process complex emotions that I cannot voice–whether that be through prose, digital art, music, or sketching. There is something so freeing, and so therapeutic about telling a story through creative means.
I sent one of my greeting cards to a dear friend of mine in Michigan, who shared it with her friends. When she said I should start a business making cards, I laughed it off as inconsequential. She was persistent, though, and convinced me that it would benefit not just me but those with whom I can share my talent. So, in January 2021, Jolie Paperie Studio was born.

I had no idea how to run a business, At age 16, I was a senior in high school and had taken an economics class that glazed over different types of business structures, but never had I considered I’d be starting one of my own. I did research online through the Department of Revenue, and looked at how to start a creative business, as well as what formed structure would be best for me as a new founder. I decided an LLC would be the safest route, as it would keep my personal and business assets separate, but still have lower taxes and allow me access to resources for legal owners of businesses.

I then had to figure out what my main product offerings would be, how to introduce them to a market, how to setup an online presence, how to keep track of my expenses and create a budget and revenue goals, and who to connect with that can help me start my business. At this point, my head was spinning–not because I couldn’t accomplish those things, but because I had no idea running a business could be so involved, and costly!

I started by setting up a free website through Square, opening a business bank account with a local credit union, and obtaining an EIN (tax ID). I knew this business would not be a one-off, and had the potential to grow and develop into something much greater–I just had to take one step forward at a time.

I bootstrapped my way through the startup expenses, using savings to finance my overhead and costs of production for my greeting cards. I purchased a small amount of quality cardstock and envelopes, and my parents (who are on my board of directors) invested by purchasing a craft printer.

The next step would be letting the world know I exist, and setting an “open for business” date. I used Canva (yes please!) to create a simple logo, social media posts, and mockups for my website, and started a drip campaign that counted down to July 31st, when I would be fully operational. I created about 10 greeting card designs, printed and pre-packaged them, and made sure to post regularly as I saw my number of followers start to creep up. Most of my first orders were from friends and family who wanted to support my new venture. Using your network to bootstrap your business cannot be underestimated, especially if you’re just starting like I was. Coincidentally, two of my best friends had been in business together selling custom t-shirts and tumblers, and we decided to collaborate on a collection of t-shirts, mugs, notebooks, and other stationery items that became a huge hit! We made sure to of course have our agreement in writing and discuss our terms. To our surprise, by the end of our launch night, we’d sold over half of our inventory!

I had a lot of small wins, but still lacked know-how in many areas of my business. In the fall of 2022, I’d just started college when I got a call that would change my life. At the time, I’d chosen Business Administration as a major, which I felt would relate to my current business and help me become more efficient and successful. Through a tuition-aid state program, I was privileged to not pay a dime in tuition.

What I didn’t know was that my college, Ivy Tech, had recently launched an entirely new major along with 3 new programs– Entrepreneurship. I knew very little about the classes or what they entailed, but submitted a request form online and received a call from Dr. Trina Lynch-Jackson, the program chair for the local campus. I was one of 7 to be accepted to the new program and would receive hands-on training that I could apply to my business each week.

I’d found a mentor, another very important step in running a successful business. From August 2022 to May 2023, my understanding of creative entrepreneurship was flipped on its head. Under Dr. Jackson’s instruction, My class and I toured business incubators and accelerators, connected with bankers who could help us with financial education, received seed funding to help with expenses, had speakers in class each week, learned about federal certifications to guarantee big clients, and mentoring one-on-ones to help address weak points in our business strategy. My small greeting card shop morphed into a stationery design business, through which I’ve been able to work with event planners and couples to design their stationery, create signage, and flyers, and even do a bit of brand design on the side. My business gained more traction and direction, and I found my target audience–creative women who want to turn their hobbies into a hustle, as I did.

After graduating with a certificate in Entrepreneurship in May 2023, I started a blog designed to reach my target clients and added several large calligraphy and stationery projects to my books. I am on track to graduate in May 2024 with 4 certificates and one Associate of Applied Science in Entrepreneurship. My goal for 2024 is to launch a merch line along with my blog and design the stationery for 5 events, including 1 or 2 corporate clients. Jolie Paperie Studio has not just been a small venture, but rather a springboard into the entrepreneurial world. It has allowed me to connect with C-level executives, including Erin Gallagher, the founder of Ella and the #HypeWomen movement. I have resources that will help me continue in my business and even enter the corporate marketing industry if I choose to do so.

I’ve found my passion at an extremely young age–something that most spend their whole lives searching for. I will not waste this opportunity, and I want to help other young women do the same.

Aria Jolie, 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?

My name is Aria Jolie Davis, and I am a minority, woman youth-preneur and the founder of Jolie Paperie Studio. I am an artful soul, a daughter, a friend, and a student. I love the work that I do in stationery design, creating invitation suites, thank you cards, signage, table arrangements, and more for anniversaries, weddings, graduations, and corporate events. In my spare time, I enjoy digital illustration and will soon release museum prints and merchandise of my art. I use hand-lettering, foiling, wax seals, and other embellishments to add a unique touch to special occasions, specializing in elegant, clean designs for formal events.

My passion is sharing what I’ve learned in my creative journey with those looking for guidance on their own. I am most proud of the personal and professional growth that running a business has afforded me, and view it as an invaluable experience that young women of all backgrounds, especially those who come from a minority background, like myself. Jolie Paperie Studio is more than just a means of income, it’s a way to give other young women what I wish I had when I started this business. The only way we can move forward is by working together.

I also have the following certifications:
Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Technical Certificate in Entrepreneurship
Certificate in Digital Marketing
Technical Certificate in Business Administration

My family and my furry assistant, Louie the Goldendoodle, are very important to me and I enjoy spending time with them often.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

In the second year of my business, I began expanding my services to gain some experience in digital marketing and brand design. I started by designing simple logos, and gradually took on larger projects involving flyers, business cards, and the like. My entrepreneurship class exposed my business to more leads and opportunities for projects, but not all of them were fortuitous. I took on a small brand design project without first vetting my client and their business thoroughly and learned some hard lessons, including experiencing scope creep for the first time.

Thankfully, my business was not seriously affected, and I learned you cannot–and do not have to–take on every client and project. Some projects are too complex or pay too little for you to consider in your specific entrepreneurial journey–and that’s okay. As an artist, you have to know when to say no and protect your artistic license and peace of mind. When you feel limited in your income or options, look for ways to create a multi-stream income to get you through slow periods. Depending on your specialty or talents, this can include creating…

– Digital notebooks
– Print-on-demand merchandise
– Bookmarks
– Stickers
– A for-profit blog
– Online comics
– Graphic design assets on Adobe or Procreate
– Art prints
– Digital or mixed-media portraits
– User-generated content for brands you already use as an artist
– Canva templates

…and the list goes on. Monetizing your talents is not a waste of time. It takes patience, but exploring different avenues within your business is one of the best things about being a creative entrepreneur. Your options are endless because no one can create something exactly like what you create.

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

As an artist, there are endless ways to grow and change direction in your business.

Art is interpretive and impactful, and the story you tell with your creative style can connect with your audience in a way that cannot be replicated. Every day, you can show up to your work authentically without working to fit into a role, box, or style.

If your style changes, begin a new collection of designs.
If your product-based business becomes exhausting, move to services or coaching.
Tired of running a business? Tell your story, publish it, and let it work for you.
Leads running dry? Join a vendor event to let your community know you still exist.

There’s always a way forward in your creative journey. As an artist, realizing this and maximizing your creative versatility can become your superpower. I love being an artist in every sense of the word–creating my unique designs, creating my own business, creating my own life, creating my unique way forward–and now, I can create a way to share that rewarding life with other young, women creatives.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.joliepaperieco.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/joliepaperieco.llc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aria-jolie-davis-842822230
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWGb4TpfECQ
• Other: https://ariajolie.myportfolio.com/