We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Enrica from Enrica’s Creative Designs. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Enrica below.

Hi Enrica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I don’t know if there is an exact moment of when I knew I wanted to pursue a creative path; it was more just a feeling that I fell into. As a child, I always enjoyed drawing and colouring and making crafts in general. It just made me happy. As an adult, I used my creativeness to help me get through the darker days, and it soothed me. I would get lost in a project and spend hours, tweaking and perfecting it until I was happy with the result. This then evolved into creating cards and special keepsakes for family and friends. I did this for a number of years, on and off.

It wasn’t really until the first Covid lock-down happened in 2020 that I realised perhaps I’ve got something here! I began networking with other creatives on social media and next thing I knew, I was joining virtual markets and started getting a steady order flow for custom greeting cards and other custom crafts! I continued to network and grow on social media and 2 years later, I am proud to say that I have rebranded, expanded my product line, created my own website and able to join “in person” artisan and craft markets!

Enrica, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Enrica and I am the founder and owner of Enrica’s Creative Designs. A paper shop that creates custom greeting cards, keepsake frame, puzzles, magnetic bookmarks, cake toppers and more! I am a one person show for the most part. I design, create, assemble, package and ship each piece on my own.

I am so honoured when I get a request for a new project, and I absolutely love being able to take part in the special moments of others. Knowing that I was creating a special card or keepsake frame for someone that is completely unique to them, and imagining the joy they would feel when they received it made me happy. While the customized pieces remain a favourite, there are other items in the product line that are universal, but still, thoughtfully made pieces.

I love what I do and what my business stands for. Live in Moment, Be in the Moment, Create for the moment. I’ve learned in my own journey not to take things for granted, don’t wait for tomorrow and be present always. LIVE. BE. CREATE.

Being creative has always been a part of me. But I felt something was still missing. I wanted to create something that was unique and that would spark for each recipient. Meaning. Emotion. Love. Being lost in the moment. My career has changed so many times over the years. I have worked in the food, education and recruitment industries. While I performed well in all of them, something was still missing. In 2018, with the support of my husband and family, I took the leap to leave my corporate (steady paying!) job and focus on my creative path full time.

My very first ever meaningful project is what I call a Life Frame. It is a collection/collage of words, images, etc created specifically for the recipient. I created my first one for a work colleague in 2014. Little did I know then that the Life Frame would become the foundation of my creative journey. I am so honoured when I get a request for a new project. I welcome the challenge and absolutely love taking part in my clients’ special moments.

Have you ever had to pivot?

As previously mentioned, the Covid pandemic was a game changing pivot for my business. Like many others, we all had to adapt to a new way of living. My business grew through networking on social media and although I was excited about my products getting out there, I wasn’t ready for the volume. It was a little overwhelming, but what helped me get through it was knowing that my creation was going to make a special person happy..As I continued on, I also began developing better work habits and evaluating and improving processes where needed.

Post Covid, it was completely the opposite. Stores were open, people could get out and meet their friends for drinks or dinner. Purchasing a custom piece was not on the priority list. So, I had to go back and re-evaluate things. Pivot again. So I made a plan to rebrand, expanded my product line, and getting my website up and running. !! I have also returned to joining in person markets and have also been fortunate recently to partner with a few local store front small business owners that carry a few of my products!

I think the pandemic has taught me that don’t think you will have “time” down the road to improve a process or initiative. If you have an idea you want to roll out, get to it!! Take the time now to plan things out for different scenarios so you can be ready for them.

I have found for myself, taking a risk and accepting the change is how I’ve grown. If you don’t try, you don’t know. Cliché, right? But true. The worst that could happen is that I’m no better off than when I started. It took me a long time to realise that. I’m a perfectionist through and through, so putting my vulnerability out there for the world to see was and is scary! But I remind myself how far I’ve come, the hurdles I had to cross, the mistakes that I learned from and all the success that I did have. However, it takes a village. Taking risks looks different for everyone, and that’s ok. I realised for me, I allowed myself to move at my own pace. But, I still held myself accountable to tasks and deadlines and I celebrated my wins, no matter how small.

This past October, Enrica’s Creative Designs celebrated 4 years! I wouldn’t be where I am without my online community and friendships. Joining online markets and having to speak ‘live’ about myself and my products was also scary. I don’t like being infront of a camera, but I realised that it was necessary, and the only way people would get to know me.

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

This October, Enrica’s Creative Designs celebrates 4 years! I wouldn’t be where I am without my online community and friendships. Joining online markets and having to speak ‘live’ about myself and my products was also scary. I don’t like being infront of a camera, but I realised that it was necessary, and the only way people would get to know me.

Social media is how I started my business. If someone would have told me that 20 years ago, I would have laughed at them! It is both a blessing and a curse! Pre-Covid, I started slowly networking both on social and attending craft markets. During Covid, I participated in many virtual markets, where I had 15 minutes to showcase my products live with the market moderator. The audience got a chance to know and interact with me from the comfort of their own home! This was a huge success for me! The concept of custom cards and direct delivery to the recipient was a huge hit, especially during a time that no one could leave their homes. Post Covid, things started to slow down a little, but that’s the business. Highs and lows. I still make an effort to be present on social media, and that’s the key. I still have a loyal client base that come to me first when they need something, which I am so grateful for.

Supporting local communities online is also very important to me. Whenever I can, I host/participate in special campaigns and giftaways, to give back to the community. One of the examples I am particularly proud of is raising funds for a local food charity in Toronto which supports the BIPOC community. I created a card set called the “Spread Kindness Card Set” which included 6 cards; 2 each of “Spread Hope” (rainbow), “Spread Love” (hearts) and “Spread Solidarity” (children). $10 form each set sold was donated to the charity, and in 2020-21 I had donated $144.

When you’re new, you are vulnerable and at the mercy of your audience. My advice to anyone wanting to start would be to 1.Try something at least once. If you like it and it works for you, do it again. Not every method works for all businesses.

2.Keep your guard up and trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, it likely isn’t. The blessing of social media is it is a great way to get your brand out there and to form alliances with trusting, like-minded entrepreneurs. The curse is there will always be someone trying to take advantage of you, whether it’s a fake bot account, or a client that is ghosting you.

3.Set up clear payment, fulfillment and delivery policies. For example, most businesses want payment upfront prior to order processing. When you get your first few orders, you are over the moon and will jump though hoops to win that client over so they become a future order placer. Before you get to your happy dance, ask yourself – do they know my policy? if they don’t, don’t be afraid to ask, and stick to you policies. A conversation does not confirm an order. Payment does.

4.Don’t be afraid to say NO. You will receive all kinds of “opportunities” as you grow your business. Before you jump in, ask yourself, how will this help me/my business? Will it impact positively/negatively? Is it worth the cost (if there is one)? Again, going back to trusting your instincts.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://enricascustomcards.square.site
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enricas_custom_cards/
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