We were lucky to catch up with Katrina Herritt recently and have shared our conversation below.

Katrina, 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 more than anything else consistency is the key to success, especially with something such as starting your own business. There will be highs and lows, you will make mistakes, and you will feel simply discouraged at times, but coming back and showing up for your business every day is so important. Of course working hard, doing your research, and implementing what you learn along the way are also elements of success, but that can only happen if you first show up.

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?

My name is Katrina, and I run the Etsy shop RusticPagesCo and social media page @rusticpages on Instagram. I am a physical and digital artist who specializes in scenic, seasonal art and cozy book related gifts. I print my art on a wide variety of products such as mugs, shirts, desk mats, stickers, bookmarks, and of course wall art prints.

I have been creating art for as long as I can remember, but it wasn’t until 2020 and my cross country move that I found myself with an audience following my journey not just to the east US, but as an artist and eventual business owner online. It’s due to the immense support from this community that I am able to run my small business and get my art out into the world.

I am most proud of my art style, developed over time and feel that my portfolio is really reflective of me. It’s something I’m really proud of and strive every day to improve. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to share it with you today.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

My stationery items I print at home using my Canon iX6820 inkjet printer. When first starting I used a press to hand make every shirt and mug I sold, but over time as my orders grew I decided to get the help of a printing company (being the sole operator behind the scenes I’ve learned to manage my time wisely). After much trial and error (always ask for samples) I now use Printify and Smartpress for certain products found in my shop. It is and always will be important to me though that it is my own art sold in my shop, so though I have help now with production, I am still the sole artist behind the scenes.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Social media has been immensely helpful with getting my art in front of so many eyes. Utilizing Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc is a part of my day to day business marketing strategy and I think is an important aspect to keep up to date on. I also always recommend Etsy, especially to those just starting out because the website already has a marketplace of buyers and gives you a greater chance to be seen and discovered.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rusticpagesco.etsy.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/rusticpages
• Youtube: https://YouTube.com/c/rusticpages

Image Credits

Photos found on @rusticpages on Instagram