Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Pearson.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Nicole. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I fell in love with paper and printing in general more than a decade ago. I was fascinated by all of the different papers, textures, weights, and printing processes. I use to spend hours looking through paper swatch books just dreaming up ideas, wishing I had the money to print everything I created. I remember I purchased a Dell computer and there was this program called “Corel Draw”. Mind you this was around 2003, so I started playing around creating this and that and soon found myself spending hours designing. Over the years, my skills and knowledge improved and I finally purchased my first Adobe Creative Suite, even though I don’t think it was called that back then (lol). At this point in my life I still worked in Corporate America and did graphic design on the side. I always found myself unhappy with the mundane 9-5 after about a year on the job. Growing up, I always admired by my Mom because she owned a small insurance agency that is actually still in business today, so having the same entrepreneurial spirit felt natural. Fast forward –it wasn’t until 2010 when I designed my cousins wedding invitations and had my son a year later that I had an ah ha moment and decided to take my love for design and combine it with my passion for fine stationery. After having my son, I decided if I was going to spend long hours working for anyone it would be me. I created Invitation Architects in 2011 and I’ve been going ever since.
Has it been a smooth road?
Growing a brand is a lot of hard work and requires a significant amount of time, money, and sacrifice. Over the years, I’ve learned that each phase in business has its own obstacles and challenges. The key to success is persistence and to just “keep pushing”. When I first started the business, it was very challenging for me to find my identity and niche. Over the years I’ve branded and re-branded until I achieved the perfect image. I’ve also had to learn how to have work/life balance. As an entrepreneur, you wear multiple hats daily, and sometimes it becomes difficult to separate the two. Over time, I have become a Jane of all trades. On any given day, you will find me designing, marketing, advertising, taking photos, emailing clients, assembling orders, etc.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Invitation Architects is an award winning full-service invitation and stationery boutique. We specialize in luxury invitations and stationery for weddings and special events. We are known for creating classic, timeless designs with exquisite detail and luxurious embellishments. Our professional customer service, one of a kind designs, and exceptional quality are what set us apart from our competitors. We work closely with our clients to provide the best combination of service, quality, and pricing.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Chicago is a great place to have a stationery business. It’s very competitive, but there is plenty of opportunity to make your imprint. My recommendation for those just starting out –have a vision, be persistent, keep perfecting your craft, maintain a positive and professional attitude, and always stay true to yourself.
Contact Info:
- Address: 7601 W. 191st Street, Suite 4
Tinley Park, IL 60487 - Website: www.invitationarchitects.com
- Phone: (888) 516-5557
- Email: info@invitationarchitects.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/invitationarchitects
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/invitationarchitects
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