Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Williams Taylor.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Before I started my business, I never dreamed that I would become an entrepreneur. My goal was to become a curriculum coordinator or an administrator. I went back to school and received graduate degree in Educational Administration and I started to take on more leadership roles on my campus. I had always been labeled as “smart”, so I thought that education would be my only key to success. My mom and brother always had hustle, drive, and charisma that I admired but I never thought I would possess. In 2015 I decided to start Lola Bear Designs as a side business to supplement my income. I also wanted to share my love for creative design with others. At the time, I had been teaching for seven years and while I loved teaching, I also enjoyed designing. I started to watch videos on graphic design and played around in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. My first design projects were printables and worksheets for my students because I was tired of the same old boring handouts. From there, I begin to create invitations for my kids’ parties and I also made custom party items such as cake toppers and banners. Eventually, I decided to open an Etsy store. Initially, my goal was to sell a few items to help pay for my kids’ activities and outings, and I was able to do this with my Etsy store.
In 2016, I decided to step away from Lola Bear. I had major life changes taking place, and it was hard for me to keep up with my Etsy orders while teaching and raising two children. I never thought my business would grow beyond the couple hundred Etsy orders I had, and my teaching salary was ultimately paying all of the bills, so I stepped away and had no plans of going back. As I started a new chapter in my life, I reconnected with someone from my childhood, and he saw the potential in Lola Bear Designs and he helped me to see this potential as well. With a little reluctance, I slowly started to pick up new projects. I had help and more support this time around, so this made it easier to run the business. My orders were few, but the excitement I felt before when creating projects grew stronger. I finally decided to invest in my business and take it to the next level by signing up for a coaching class in March of 2018. I took the class hosted by Chloe Cook and signed up for her coaching. My business has started to grow beyond what I could have ever imagined.
Since July, there has not been a month where I have not exceeded my sales goals. I am consistently booked for new projects. Some days, I can’t believe that my “little business” has grown in the way that it has. It is still hard to find a balance between my full-time job of teaching, taking care of my family, and running my business. The best part about this business is not the money, but the joy I get from creating custom items from scratch. I love when my clients come to me with challenging projects. There is no better feeling than when I execute their vision. I have big plans for Lola Bear Designs and I am so grateful for the people who continue to support me and those who have helped me. My goal is to keep working and growing this business until it is one of the most well-known creative design and event styling businesses in Houston, Texas, and beyond.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Running this business has not been a smooth road. I think one of my biggest struggles right now is finding the time to do everything that needs to be done. Since I’m teaching full time, a large part of my day is spent at the school with my students. When I get home, I have to care for my kids, take them to their extracurricular activities, cook, clean, all of the things they expect me to do. I usually start my work on Lola Bear after they have gone to bed. I work on my business every night and I put in 8-10 hour a day on most weekends. My family doesn’t see me as much as they should some days, and they let me know when I’m working too much. My mom tells me that I spend most of my time “Parenting and working” with little time for myself. This is hard for me to hear because I know that time spent with family and self-care is so important. Another struggle is making sure that I have systems in place so that my business runs smoothly. I’m still working out the project management part of my business to ensure that I’m responding to clients and getting proofs and orders completed in a timely fashion. This is a struggle, but I am thankful for the clients that I have because they have been so patient and understanding as I work these things out.
o, as you know, we’re impressed with Lola Bear Designs – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Lola Bear Designs is a creative design company that specializes in creating branded items and stationery for events and small businesses. I am known for creating custom items that range from customized napkins and coasters to designing wedding and event stationery. There are really no limits to the items that I can design. I’m known for accepting the design challenges that my clients share with me. What I am most proud of as a company is my willingness to do whatever it takes to make a design come to life and make it unique. I don’t share with my clients the many times I delete and start over, or throw away items I’ve already created just to start fresh because designing something that is just right is so important to me. Many think that the creative process is quick and can be rushed, but my best work takes time. I think that my love for graphic design, my willingness to try something new, and my ability to work until I get the design just right is what sets me apart from others. A lot of times, clients want designs that are quick or similar to others. I like to put my own spin on any design that I create. I think that’s important.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I definitely have big plans for my future! I am looking forward to continuing to grow Lola Bear Designs, hiring employees, expanding my design capabilities and so much more. I will always love teaching and reading is my first love, so I am hoping to start an organization focused on promoting literacy for at-risk youth. I also want to eventually start speaking and telling my story (ups and downs, triumphs and failures) to girls and women who want to share their creativity with the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lolabeardesigns.com
- Email: lolabeardesigns@gmail.com
- Instagram: IG: @lolabeardesigns
- Facebook: FB: https://www.facebook.com/lolabeardesigns
Image Credit:
Professional Photos: Natalie J. Photography, Product Photos: Lola Bear Designs
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