Interview with Julie of Cartoules Letterpress

Today we have the good fortune to introduce you to Julie of Cartoules Letterpress.  Inspired by creating the design and letterpress of her own wedding invitations, Julie has grown her expertise into a small business.  Read on to learn more about Julie and what she’s learned about creative entrepreneurship through her journey, from being a young girl to managing her business.

Meylah: Can you tell us about your craft and how you got started creating letterpress designs?
Julie: I was always that little girl who had Elmer’s glue stuck to her fingers and was knee-deep in construction paper most of my childhood days. I love projects, and I still do, so letterpress was something I was bound to discover. Cartoules was unofficially created right around the time I got engaged to my wonderful husband, as I was determined to be the ultimate DIY bride. I felt it silly to spend money paying others to create my invitations and other wedding stationery when I knew I would love to do it myself. The problem? I had been ogling over letterpress printed stationery goods for years and desperately wanted this beautiful artwork to be the first impression our guests experienced of our wedding - yet I had no clue where to begin.

That's when I learned of letterpress classes being offered at the International Printing Museum in Carson, California. After taking a few classes, my instructor at the museum offered me her private studio space where I was able to letterpress my whole wedding suite. I became so enamored with the experience, and with the final product, that I decided I wanted to offer this service to others who pined over letterpress stationery, but at an affordable price point.

Meylah: What do new designs entail - work wise for you?  Is it complicated?
Julie: Because I’m still working on building my portfolio, most of my work is custom and each design is completely different from the next. I really want to get as much insight from each client, even if they still haven’t fully developed their vision. Colors, themes, and key words or phrases really help me identify the look they’re hoping for, so I generally run with that, and give them a few options to choose from.

Meylah: What tips do you have for other artists trying to process custom orders?
Julie: Listen to your clients and create things for them that they’ll love. But in doing this, make sure to stay true to your creative aesthetic. This will ultimately allow you to serve your clients best.

Meylah: How has social media impacted your business?
Julie: All of my new business comes from word of mouth, and social media is the ultimate platform for word of mouth marketing. As a nascent company with no budget for advertising, I had to get creative. My Facebook, my Twitter, and my blog all offer me different forms of communicating with my various audiences. I wouldn’t say that they all work for every type of business, but for a small business such as myself who is constantly sharing photographs of my work, my inspirations, and my experiments in letterpress, social media really allows potential clients to learn a little bit more about me and my work.

Meylah: Is there any advice you wish you would have had prior to starting your own small business?  If so, what is it?
Julie: The advice I would gladly welcome, even still, is general business advice. I’ve definitely learned a lot along the way when it comes to what I should expect from clients and making it clear what they can expect from me. Being clear and upfront about your policies and process helps to avoid any confusion later on. Be specific and spell things out for people – you’d be surprised how easily people can glance over very important points. I would also say to have fun. Obviously most of us who have a craft that we love, go into business because our art is what motivates us. I always try to remember that besides running a business, creating is the most important thing and I just have fun with it.

Meylah: What are your future plans for Cartoules Letterpress?
Julie: I would love to expand my studio for sure. Currently I’m working out of a spare bedroom, but a large basement or garage would be ideal. Carpets + ink = no good. I’ve acquired and sold many presses along the way, but I would love to be able to hold on to them and showcase them as antique pieces. The extra workspace would be great too. Eventually I’d like to work with wholesalers, but for now I love working with my clients one-on-one.

Thank you, Julie.  Your work is stunning.  I wish I could go back in time to have you make our wedding invitations!