Interview with Courtney Warren of Come Together Cards

Ever since I was a little girl I have loved Texans…so it was a true joy to interview Courtney Warren of Come Together Cards today.  Without further ado, let’s get started with the questions!

Meylah: Tell us a little about your passion for card making and how you got started.

Courtney: I went to Baylor University and majored in Social Work. I knew I wanted to help people and after I graduated I started doing counseling for an adoption agency. When I was there, I found that I loved planning celebrations and my favorite part of the day was when I made an invitation for one of our events. People from other departments started asking me to design invitations for them and I realized that using paper was another means to help people. Though subtle, creating invitations allowed people to come together with their loved ones and spent quality time with them. And that is where my name came from- hoping my products would encourage people to "Come Together"! And no, it was not because I am a Beatles fan. Then I would have named it "Hey Jude" or "Imagine".

Meylah: We saw that you were interviewed on Good Morning Texas, how did you come across that experience and what was it like?

Courtney: I have had the pleasure of being on Good Morning Texas twice in the last 6 months. Although it made me extremely nervous, it was a ball! The first time I was on in a segment called "Momtrupenuers". (Try to say that 5 times fast!). Once I was on, I got a much better feeling for what they were looking for and how to talk in sound bites. (I tend to be more on the long-winded side- just ask my husband!).  I contacted them again a couple months later, and pitched my idea for a Valentine's Day segment, and they accepted it. The second time around I felt much more comfortable and was not nearly as nervous. I am sure by my third tv appearance I will be a pro and they will ask me to replace Oprah. Well, maybe not...but its been a fun, crazy addition.

Meylah: What is your most popular item?

Courtney: There are a couple of items people tend to flock to. Customizable notepads and personalized note cards would be a tie for the most popular. The note pads are a hit for teacher gifts, and the personalized note cards are popular for all ages of girl gifts- whether its a birthday present, or a time like now when people are looking for a creative graduation gift. But don't let me mislead you into thinking these products are just ordered for young girls. I have done both the note pad and note cards for groups of moms, friends, and grandmothers.  My favorites are when "mom groups" order a set of customized note pads for gifts for their groups of friends, and have crazy names like "Ya-ya girls" or "Sew What- the Sewing Club". That just cracks me up and makes it really fun to create for these creative ladies! My mom is part of a Bunko Game group, so I can totally identify with what goes on at those groups. (Probably gossip? But I digress....!)

Meylah: Can you explain the process for people interested in ordering custom work?

Courtney: Sure! The best way to order is to contact me via email and tell me what you are wanting--and the sky is the limit! I love to brainstorm and be creative! After that, I will send you a PayPal invoice to start the order and then send a proof of your custom design via email to make sure all the design details are correct. Once you approve the design we will go to print and ship! Right now, I am very hands on in each of the designs, so I am able to build a relationship with each person that orders. Someone can contact me years after an order and I can tell them exactly what I designed for them! It is so fun for me to have that one on one connection with each customer. Sometimes, after the design is over, I actually wonder how the party went and if the birthday girl/boy liked it- I wish I could see pictures from all the parties I create for! :)

Meylah: What’s the toughest part of managing your business?

Courtney: That is twofold- juggling life and wearing all the hats.  As it is with most women that have families, I want to have a balance between family time and work time. It’s an ongoing process to continue to figure out and do well. Can anyone relate? I think in a business sense, the hardest part for me is that I am a one-woman show, which means I am stretched beyond my comfort levels to maintain parts of the business I am not gifted in. For example, I had no idea when I started that I would update my own website or promote myself in a PR sense. I am a creative person--the last time I was good at math was when I was 12, and now I am balancing my books...yikes! I long to be able to hand off some of those tasks to people that actually know what they are doing!

Meylah: How has social media impacted your business?

Courtney: I think for the most part it has had a very positive impact. Obviously, people can share ideas and inspiration with their friends quickly via a link on Facebook or a retweet on Twitter. That is always fun and usually brings my self-esteem up a couple notches when I see Come Together Cards being referred to others!  :) The downside goes back to the previous question. There is now a new pressure not only to have adorable, fresh products, but to have an interesting, frequently updated blog and to say cute, witty things in 140 characters or less on Twitter. It’s hard to do all of it without feeling like one part is suffering. Social media shifts the focus from the products to promoting the products, which has an upside and a downside. I like that it makes people seem more human and puts a face behind the business- its entertaining to see personalities come out!

Meylah: What are your future plans for Come Together Cards?  Any exciting new projects or products?

Courtney: Right now I am in the brainstorming stages. Christmas time is quite busy for me, so I need a couple months to catch back up from that. Spring and summer is a great time for me to dream big. Right now, I am updating my website to add a new, easier cart, and I am brainstorming if I want to expand my wholesale opportunities in 2011. I am also reaching out with partnerships- on blogs (guest blogging and giveaways) and vendors (businesses that are compatible with stationery and would like to work together in some capacity). That is exciting for me because I love working with other small business owners. It’s easy to feel alone in this kind of work, when friends may have "normal' jobs, so I love meeting other people that do something similar. It makes me feel normal when I hear someone else is not worried about tomorrow's office lunch meeting but instead can tell me the specific font name used on a menu and what coffee shop has the best Wifi.

Thank you so much Courtney for all the great answers.  You are incredibly talented and a true gem!

You can find Courtney’s work in her online shop, Come Together Cards or connect with her through her blog or on Twitter!