We recently connected with Carrie ONeal and have shared our conversation below.

Carrie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I think it really just takes a passion and a belief in yourself to be successful! I don’t think you need some big degree or fancy plan. I think if you have a passion inside you, a fire that keeps you excited and alive…coupled with the belief that you’re capable of ANYTHING…you can’t help but be successful!

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?

From Minted greeting cards in your neighborhood Target to the logo for a new theme park in Qatar, Carrie ONeal Brenner is an award-winning graphic designer and entrepreneur who can move with ease from creating holiday wrapping paper to branding a new museum. Carrie’s signature style is refined elegance as much of her work involves sharpening the ideas of her collaborators and clients. Her work has been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and in publications such as Martha Stewart, Real Simple and The Knot. However, her work can also be experienced in person in exhibits and attractions for Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, the Prudential Center Observatory in Boston and on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi. Carrie received her BFA in Graphic Design from The Ohio State University in 1999 and worked for a design studio until 2001 when she had the first of two children and decided to take the leap of starting her own company. In 2019 she pursued her love of stationery and opened an eclectic stationery and gift shop in Hamilton, Ohio called Scripted Studio.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Yes, my side hustle definitely turned into my career. I always had a love of stationery and pretty paper, but never realized you could actually make that into a career. I had designed cards for family and friends, and even my own wedding invitations. But again, didn’t think it could be more than a hobby. I found an advertisement for Minted.com in 2013, and saw they held “designer challenges”. I entered a challenge in early 2014 and was selected as a winner. My first royalty check was $13.00 but to say I was “hooked” was an understatement. I have continued my graphic design business as well as my involvement with minted.com for the past 10 years. Through my work with them I have partnered with brands such as West Elm and Target, as well as established other licensing agreements with brands across the globe. That same passion for pretty paper eventually led me to open Scripted Studio, an eclectic stationery and gift shop in Hamilton, Ohio.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I don’t necessarily think this is “new” advice, but being truly authentic on social media has helped build my audience. Like most businesses, Scripted Studio, exists in a small town with lots of other little shops. I think being “myself” both on social media and in the shop have helped build my audience. I am well aware that my little store isn’t for everyone! And that’s ok!! I want to connect with those that share my same quirky aesthetic. I think if you try to make everyone a fan…you’re missing the point. It’s our differences that make us fun, and beautiful and interesting and captivating! I try to just be “me” on social media….imperfect an all. I think readers and shoppers appreciate and connect with that authenticity.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shopscriptedstudio.com
• Instagram: @shopscriptedstudio
• Facebook: shopscriptedstudio
• Other: My graphic design website is: www.onealdesigns.com My personal instagram is: @carrieonealdesigns

Image Credits
Terri Calla Photography