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

Hi Jasmine, thanks for joining us today. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?

One of the most exciting and craziest moments in my career as a stationery business owner happened during the 2021 NBA Finals. An NBA player on the Phoenix Suns was photographed wearing one of my original bucket hat designs “Happy Days Ahead” right before heading to the arena! The photo, taken by an official organization, quickly made its way to Instagram, and when I saw it, I was in complete shock. It was surreal to see my work on such a grand stage, and it became the highlight of my year. This experience is something I will always cherish, reminding me of the unexpected and incredible opportunities that come with being a designer. I always feel so blessed when I can reach the world.

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?

Established in 2019, Jasmithdesigns (pronounced j-smith, with the “a” silent) has always aimed to make you feel loved, renewed, and inspired. Our journey began in my last year of college as a hobby, selling stickers. During COVID in 2020, freshly graduated and without a job, I turned to Uber Eats to fund essential supplies like an iPad and a printer. My designs quickly went viral, leading to sold-out sticker collections and enabling me to expand my product line to include apparel, keychains, bookmarks, accessories, and much more.

Over the years, we’ve reached new heights, collaborating with well-known brands like Epson, Scotch Tape, Alibaba.com, and more. These partnerships have been instrumental in funding our growth, allowing us to explore new possibilities and expand our selection of goods. Today, we even sell wholesale, with a vision of getting more of our products into retail stores and reaching an ever-growing audience.

I am using my God-given talents and an Apple Pencil, to create many original designs, drawing inspiration from the world around us. From food to memes to suggestions from my online community, each piece is crafted with love and attention to detail, many of them handmade.

I am incredibly blessed to have created a business out of my love for art. As a young kid, being an artist was such a “risky” career move, but with time, dedication, prayer, and support I have been able to make a living. My mission is to bring a little joy to your everyday life because you deserve it.

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

Building my audience on social media has been an exciting and rewarding journey. When I started jasmithdesigns on Instagram and TikTok, I was a college student in my last year, selling stickers as a hobby. Things took a serious turn during the early days of COVID in 2020. Freshly graduated and with no job prospects, I decided to focus on growing my business. I worked as an Uber Eats driver to fund essential supplies like an iPad and a printer, which were crucial for creating and sharing my designs.

One of the key moments in building my audience was when my designs went viral. Consistency was crucial; I posted regularly, sharing not just my products but also behind-the-scenes glimpses and stories about my journey. Authenticity resonated with people, and they connected with my brand’s mission to bring joy and inspiration through my designs. Engaging with my audience by responding to comments and messages helped build a loyal community.

Collaborating with well-known brands like Epson, Scotch Tape, and Alibaba.com also gave my business credibility and extended my reach. These partnerships, combined with the strategic use of hashtags, participation in trends, and the right keywords, significantly boosted my visibility.

For those just starting to build their social media presence, here’s my advice:

-Be Authentic: Share your story and show the human side of your brand. People connect with authenticity and genuine stories.
-Consistent Posting: Regular updates keep your audience engaged and attract new followers. Create a content calendar to stay organized.
-Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments and messages, and create content that encourages interaction. Building a community is key.
-Utilize Trends: Keep an eye on trending topics and incorporate them into your content in a way that fits your brand. This can increase your visibility and reach.

Take your time. Social media is always changing so you can’t rely on it solely. Keep doing email outreach, run ads, collaborate with influencers to grow. Social media is a great outlet to share more personable aspects of your business which people love.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

Having multiple selling platforms are beneficial. I sell on Etsy and Shopify. I love both because having a platform reach customers for me is wonderful, while also establishing my own website is awesome.

One con of having multiple platforms means you have to track your inventory for it. Sometimes I oversell. In addition there are fees. Fees on Etsy add up. From shipping, to tax, to listing fees it is annoying. Then on Shopify you pay a monthly fee.

In addition, with a website you have to create your own traffic, which is hard. Using social media is one way to do it, but I have found that running ads or hiring help is something worth investing in.

Some pros for having my own website means I can do whatever I please! I have built a beautiful site with unique elements, touch-points, and fluidity that I love. While some pros for Etsy is keeping everything easy. I simply add my product details or information and Etsy builds it for me. It’s user friendly.

Overall, I will continue to use both (and hopefully more) because having more markets to sell in will expand my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jasmithdesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jasmithdesigns/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jasmithdesigns
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jasmithdesigns?_t=8bkjPT044Gx&_r=1