We recently connected with Shawnna Johnston and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Shawnna, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?

I love to show my customers appreciation all the time. I love doing raffles around the holidays, Especially around Christmas to give back.I have done free gift boxes because I appreciate each and everyone of my customers.

Shawnna, 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 business name Is Shawnie Secret Design. I customized In making customized items .But i specialize In Bridal. I love to help brides and grooms make their big day special.I start my business in 2020 when Covid 19 begins. I knew I wanted to start a business but I had no idea where to start . I knew I had a love for bridal because I worked at two popular bridal shops in Maryland. I put my to love together and Shawnie Secret Design was born.

My favorite items to make are customized gift boxes . I love to see someone open the gift box and they can see that someone was thinking about them . I also customized Cups,T-shirts,Purses,Flower boxes , Bridal proposal boxes and the list goes on .

What sets me apart from other Is I love to go above and beyond to make my customers happy . I like to see the person who purchases the gift and the receiver to smile . It makes my heart smile to know that I have done my job well.

Am so proud that I have not given up on my passion.Having a business can have its good and bad but to know that end result Is worth sticking in there.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What I learned about reputations starting a business is that you want to be the best you .So when you are using your business names you always want to put it all on the table . When I started in 2020 I didn’t have a website, social media Etc . But when I would email and call other businesses to ask if they have any spaces to be a vendor. I felt that every pop up shop or bridal expo I did was putting my business name out there and the more events you attend the more your name will get out there . I still remember the first time I did a bridal expo. I was out of my element but to this day I trusted the process and to this day I still do the expo and I get a call to return so it’s so worth it.

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

I sold off my site. It was the best investment. The pro about a website is that you can give someone your business card and they can look you up at their own time . The cons could be that someone may not know how to place an order online. But I love to do Pop up shops and put.

Contact Info:

• Website: Www.Shawniesecretdesign.com
• Instagram: Shawniesecretdesign
• Facebook: Shawniesecretdesign

Image Credits
Photographer-Johnston Strong Photography