Hottt List: Pink Loves Brown Issue #38

Loving Pink Loves Brown

By Amanda McCorquodale
Published: December 1st, 2008 | 12:00am

Remember stationery? Most paper correspondence has gone the way of the 8-track, made obsolete by newfangled e-cards with singing frogs. Yet, Pink Loves Brown — a paper arts collection that is vintage yet modern in design, and sweet yet sassy in message — will inspire you to send handwritten notes again. Feminine graphics such as curvy dress forms, classic sewing notions, and mod silhouettes decorate the cards and custom stationery. Pink Loves Brown also carries other girlie goodies like pins, pocket mirrors, and bookplates. The original bookplate features a pair of retro glasses modeled after the stylin’ spectacles occasionally sported by Pink Loves Brown creator, Nicole Balch.

Although she was not raised in a particularly crafty household, Balch always made cards and stationery that inspired friends and family to exclaim: “You should start a business!” Balch took the plunge into self-employment back in 2005, after working at an independent bookstore for nearly a decade. Thanks to her talent, resourcefulness, and attention to branding, it took Balch under a year to transform her hobby into a money-making business.

Balch now runs Pink Loves Brown out of her 1920s-style bungalow in Oak Park, Illinois. “We bought the house with the business in mind,” Balch says, “so one bedroom is my office and one bedroom is my craft space.” Yet, running a business out of your home requires some discipline. “I’m better now, I don’t usually work nights and weekends but it’s hard not to.” With the help of a part-time employee who handles all the packaging and wholesale stuff, Balch has been able to focus her attention on designing the goods and operating the business.

Balch recently added a card series entitled the “Periodic Table of Sentiments” to her collection as well as an innovative paper suitcase which houses her stationery gift sets. What’s up next for Pink Loves Brown? “Eventually, I’d like to do more lifestyle stuff like pillows and tote bags.” Yet these days, Nicole is more focused on growing a little one — she’s expecting a baby this April.

As a successful DIY craft business owner, Balch has learned to trust her instincts: “I am my own customer. I figure if I like [something], others will too.” Balch is a connoisseur of paper arts, often collecting other designers’ stationery for her own stash. So what’s been catching her eye lately? “I’ve really been into wallpaper lately. I keep seeing new ones I want!”

The Secrets of Her Success:

We asked Nicole to share her savvy advice on starting a DIY craft biz

1. Charge a fair price.

“Don’t forget to pay yourself for your time and overhead (not just materials). Don’t compete on price with mass produced goods; people will pay more for a quality handmade item.”

2. Do your research.

“It’s tempting to just jump right in, but you should make everything legal and on the up-and-up first.“

3. Get online.

“Whether you have your own website or a shop on Etsy, the online craft community is huge and you should be a part of it.”

4. Participate in craft fairs.

“You get instant sales, feedback, and exposure. It’s worth it to travel to the big shows like The Renegade Craft Fair and Crafty Bastards if you get accepted!”

5. Think about branding from the very beginning.

“A polished logo, business cards, and a website will make your business look professional and well-established. People will assume you’ve been around awhile, making you appear more trustworthy.”

www.pinklovesbrown.com