We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jess, from The Rosy Redhead. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with her below.

The Rosy Redhead has a large focus on positivity and happy vibes, and because of that, one of the biggest misconceptions people have about me is that I am happy all the time. Which, for pretty much anyone, is unrealistic. I admit I have a very cheerful disposition and I’m incredibly optimistic. However this doesn’t mean that I feel happy 24/7. I’m always very open with my audience about acknowledging and processing our many emotions. We aren’t robots, we are human beings, and it’s a normal and healthy thing to have different feelings, other than happiness. What I think people may be getting confused with, is my ability to turn a negative situation around; to look at things from a different, more positive perspective. By overcoming personal challenges, including years spent uprooting my life over and over again, I’ve learnt that living with an optimistic outlook can lead to a happier and more fulfilled life. I’ve found that looking for the good can bring moments of joy, and having a heart full of gratitude can help you heal. Those are the messages I love sharing with others. I understand the world can be a challenging, confusing place, and that’s why I want to share my lighthearted and positive nature with others. If I can help someone feel a little brighter in a moment of darkness, or encourage them to shift their mindset to a more positive place, or make them smile by appreciating the simple things, then that’s the most rewarding part of what I do. I may not be happy all the time, but I am passionate about spreading happiness.

My name is Jess and I’m the creative owner behind The Rosy Redhead. I create illustrations and products with the intention to add a little happiness and positive encouragement to someone’s day. My work is whimsical, cute and playful with a focus on florals and use of a pastel colour palette. Most of my art is digitally created using Procreate and Adobe Illustrator. I understand our lives can be complex and there are factors that can negatively affect our mental health, which is why I love making things that add a pop of joy to the every day. I’m an Australian currently living in the USA with my hubby (who is also an Aussie). We have a small, very sassy dog named Ruby. I have a background in graphic design and can’t function in the morning without drinking coffee!

I started The Rosy Redhead in 2019 after moving from Australia to the US. I was all set to follow the same career path I was on, and return to a corporate job in Marketing. However, while I was waiting for my US work permit to be approved, I picked up a pen and started drawing. I’ve always been a creative person, and it felt great to be an artist again. I made the decision to ditch the idea of corporate and launch my own eCommerce and illustration business instead. I now sell a range of stationery products (such as prints, stickers, cards etc) in my online shop. I’ve also expanded my business to include private commissions for brands, personal tattoo design, and wholesaling to retailers. Additionally, I’ve just started working with a third-party manufacturer to further develop my product line. What started as a hobby to pass the time has become my full-time job, and it’s been the most exciting, challenging, rewarding journey.

My mission has always been to add happiness to someone’s day; to make them smile. Whether it’s seeing one my fun stickers, using my cute notepads or scrolling by one of my illustrations on Instagram, if I can make someone feel a little more uplifted, that’s a win for me! I have an optimistic and cheerful outlook and enjoy sharing that part of my life with others to inspire them to live with a positive mindset. I believe we all need support, kindness and love, and I aspire to make sure people know they are worthy of a good and happy life.

The one thing I didn’t anticipate when starting The Rosy Redhead was the number of hours and various skills needed to operate as a solopreneur. For example, there is a surprising amount of non-creative work that happens behind the scenes to create a physical product. From finding inspiration, drawing, researching, financing, manufacturing and marketing, there are a number of steps involved that small, creative businesses don’t often speak about. I’d like to make consumers aware of all the effort that goes into creating a product, and why artists like myself value your business.

Finding suppliers that meet my budget and quality requirements can be particularly challenging, especially if it’s something I haven’t made before. My recommendation for creatives who are looking for suppliers is to use a variety of sources in addition to Google. Instagram, Tik Tok, targeted advertising and speaking to other small business owners is a good start. Another time-consuming aspect of production is researching and calculating the retail price to ensure you remain competitive. There are a number of additional fees that are often overlooked which need to be accounted for, such as overhead costs, transaction fees, packaging and shipping costs. Knowing this information is an essential part of price setting to ensure a healthy profit margin. Photographing, editing, listing and marketing, is important for preparing the product for sale, and again requires time and skill if you choose not to outsource this. I have made a few videos and posts on my Instagram feed for fellow creative business owners about how to take effective product photos (good lighting is key!).

To hold a product I designed in my hand; to physically feel something that came from my heart and mind is the best feeling. Most of all, I love seeing my work out there in “the wild”. Preparing cute and fun products to be sent out as happy mail is my favourite part of the job. Knowing someone will be receiving something that will make them smile; that will brighten their day, makes me excited for them! I know my products have a positive impact on my customers because I get the kindest feedback from them. Many of my customers tell me my products and illustrations have helped them, reassured them, and made them feel better. I find happiness through making others feel happy, which is why I’m so dedicated to creating things that do just that. Seeing my art being appreciated and enjoyed as I hoped and envisioned it would, makes everything worth it.