We recently connected with Jennifer Slogar and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Happy Day Design Co. uses creativity to inspire joy and empowerment. The past several years have been very difficult and I aim to use my art to add a bright spot to someone’s day. I also use my art to speak up about issues that are important to me. Most recently, with the overturn of Roe v Wade, the sales of my existing pro-choice items went through the roof. I donate a portion of the sales to a national abortion fund. It’s really important to me that Happy Day doesn’t just create empowering designs, but also has empowering actions.

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

I own Happy Day Design Co., a design studio and shop. Besides providing graphic design services to my clients, I also sell stationery and novelty goods that I design. I started this business almost three years ago when I was a senior in college. It started out with one sticker design and one portrait service, but has quickly grown into my full-time job. It’s still a pinch-me moment that I built this creative business from the ground up and I get to do what I love every single day. Work doesn’t feel like work to me.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

A little over a year into running Happy Day, I had to travel across the country to get a pretty major hip surgery from one of the only doctors in the country that did that specific surgery. The joint capsule surrounding my labrum needed to be reconstructed and it was a pretty lengthy recovery. I didn’t want this injury to stall my business growth though, so I took my laptop with me for the two weeks I was gone. I was laying in bed with my leg in a continuous passive motion machine, still working with clients, creating designs and working on content. When I got home, I packed orders standing with crutches. I had worked so hard to get Happy Day to where it was before my surgery, and I didn’t want it to lose steam because of my surgery.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

My business started out with digital services. This allowed me to start earning money immediately without any expenses. As I was saving up, I also entered a business competition hosted by Her Campus and Aussie Hair. From this competition I won a small grant. Between the grant and what I had saved up already, I was able to invest in basic supplies – a printer, a Cricut machine, packing materials, branding collateral, etc. to start selling physical products. I’ve always been able to reinvest what I’ve earned from the business back into the business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.happydaydesign.co
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/happydaydesign.co
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/hellohappydaydesign.co