Paper Talk

Learn from our guest Poy T. Granati and how she has made the most of her time while building her paper flower business.

Building a small business means wearing many different hats. How do you find time to advertise, bookkeep, communicate, network, and create? 

With time management. 
 

This isn’t just a catchphrase. We’re all busy. We have to make the most of the time that we do have so that our businesses can thrive. But we know that it’s easier said than done.

Read more about Poy on our website: www.papertalkpodcast.com

Susan Beech shares how she knew that being a paper florist was the right career path for her. Plus, hear about the publishing journey of her new paper flower book.

Do you ever worry that you’re committing time and money to the wrong job?

Even if you know that you love paper flowers, how can you be sure that you’re in the right specialty within our industry?

How can you avoid investing too much in a path that is ultimately a dead end?

In our latest episode of Paper Talk, we chatted with the lovely Susan Beech of A Petal Unfolds. She told us about her process of putting together and publishing her new book, and she shared her journey of discovering which artistic medium was the right fit for her.

We’re all about finding your why this season, and a huge part of that is being in the best job for you. Listen now to hear how paper flowers clicked for Susan and how you can evaluate which industry or speciality within paper floristry is right for you.

Here’s what you’ll learn when you listen to our conversation:

► How Susan knew paper flower making was right for her.
► Details about her book writing and publishing process.
► How your unique background plays an important part in your career.
► Where to find the best visual references when you can’t access fresh flowers.

If you can’t listen right away, start with these three tips to get you thinking about whether you’re in the right place for your career.

Push the Boundaries

In the exciting world of paper flowers, we’re pushing boundaries all the time. In the episode we chatted about the amazing growth that we’ve witnessed in our industry in a very short period of time. Discovering new uses of paper flowers happens because people like you try something!

On a personal level, you will also benefit as you explore new areas of our craft. You won’t know if something works until you try it. You won’t know if you love something until you roll up your sleeves and do it.

To get to that excitement stage, try something new. It’s how we all discovered paper flowers initially. We weren’t born making them. We had to push the boundaries of what we knew first.

Practice New Skills

As you navigate new areas of your career, pay attention to whether something is simply not for you or if it’s really just beginner’s nerves. Susan touched on this when she told us about how she began teaching.

“When I first started teaching, I wouldn’t say I was a huge natural at teaching—standing up in front of people and teaching a class. But over the years I have had quite a lot of experience with teaching workshops, so I have built up my confidence quite a lot. I can run a class now without getting nervous.” -Susan Beech

Trying something new is uncomfortable. That doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s not for you. While you don’t want to invest too much into a pursuit that’s not right for your business, do give yourself enough time to get comfortable with the skills needed for it.

Find ways that you can practice a new skill like teaching without putting too much time or money on the line. We’re creatives, so get creative!

Give Time to Self-Reflection

Once you try that new skill, you have to give yourself time to think about it. This is where the sometimes difficult work of untangling your feelings comes in. Will you like teaching if you get more comfortable with it? Or will it always feel like a drag?

In the episode, Susan told us about her experience trying new tactile mediums. You can hear more on the podcast, but in short, she could feel that paper flowers were special.

“It felt different. I think it’s the excitement thing. I could see potential, and I could see opportunities, and it was exciting to make as a creator.” -Susan Beech

If Susan hadn’t been paying attention to how she felt, she wouldn’t have worked this out. We’ve talked a lot about self-reflection this season because it’s such a critical step to focusing on your why. Sometimes we’re so busy and stressed out that we can easily miss what our gut is trying to tell us.

Listen to hear even more about how Susan could tell that paper flowers were right for her, and how you can discover the best path for your career.

Also, here's the PDF format for THE WHY WORKSHEET that you can download for free.

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About Susan Beech:

Susan Beech is a paper artist with a degree in Fine Art from the University of Brighton. She is the founder of the studio A Petal Unfolds, teaches paper flower m...

Title: Episode 133: An Exclusive Interview with German Crepe Paper Manufacturer Werola

Welcome back to Paper Talk Podcast, Season 6! We’re so excited to be back with more of the best in the world of paper flowers and creative small businesses.

In this highly anticipated episode, we dove into the vibrant world of crepe paper with an exclusive interview featuring Bernd Firmbach, the Vice President of the German crepe paper division Werola at Seaman Paper. This was such an incredibly rare opportunity, and you won’t want to miss a moment of our conversation. Join us as we explore the production process, sustainability initiatives, and the future of German crepe paper. This episode is a must-listen for paper florists and enthusiasts seeking to discover new insights to unleash their creative potential.

Here’s a peek at what you’ll hear when you listen.

Why Is Each Sheet of German Crepe So Unique?

Bernd took us behind the scenes at Werola, where the art of transforming jumbo rolls of paper into exquisite crepe paper comes to life. Dyeing, dipping, cutting, and rolling are just a few of the intricate techniques employed by their skilled artisans. Bernd emphasized the importance of quality control and revealed how the manual nature of their production leads to the fascinating variations in color and texture that make each sheet of Werola's crepe paper unique.

If you’ve used German crepe paper before, you know firsthand how beautiful and unique it can be! You won’t want to miss the details of what goes on behind the scenes to create this favorite paper.

How Sustainable and Safe Is German Crepe Paper?

At Werola, environmental sustainability is a core value, making German crepe paper a wonderful choice for paper florists who want their art to have a positive impact on the world. In the episode, Bernd discussed Werola’s conscientious efforts to conserve water, recycle dyes, and prioritize the use of recycled paper whenever feasible. Listen to hear how these efforts are part of the reason why German crepe paper has those variations in color discussed above.

Bernd also addressed common concerns regarding the safety of crepe paper. You can get the full rundown by listening, but know that Werola conducts rigorous tests to ensure their crepe paper meets strict safety standards. Their products are free from harmful substances, further exemplifying Werola's commitment to consumer well-being.

Any Exciting Product Developments on the Horizon?

Bernd shared about exciting collaborations and emphasized the growing demand for certain colors from our paper flower community. With a keen eye for artistic styles and cultural preferences, Werola's team continuously explores new color options. Listeners will be thrilled to learn about the potential for expanded color ranges and even larger folds of crepe paper, allowing for endless possibilities in our creative endeavors. Be sure to listen for details about which colors and products they are planning to add.

Bernd also acknowledged that Werola is keen to improve market accessibility, responding to feedback from the artistic community. Listeners who yearn to find Werola's exceptional crepe paper in local stores will be delighted to learn that the company is actively working to expand sales distribution and forge new connections to better serve artists and crafters worldwide.

What You’ll Learn When You Listen to Episode 133

• The intricate production process behind Werola's crepe paper
• Werola's commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility
• The safety of Werola's crepe paper for contact and ingestion
• Exciting collaborations and expanding color options
• Werola's plans for enhanced market accessibility

We collaborated with Werola to bring two lucky winners a packet of German crepe paper featuring ten beautiful colors. All you have to do is answer our poll questions by August 3 to enter.

To enter into the giveaway, click here to fill out the poll questions.

This exclusive interview with Bernd Firmbach of Werola unraveled the captivating world of German crepe paper. We would love to see what you have done with this incredible paper! Tag us on Instagram with @papertalkpodcast and let us know what you want to explore in future episodes.

You can also join our Facebook group where you can share, connect, and grow with us. Please also consider donating on our website to help us keep producing great content like this. Thank you for your support!

How can you stay true to the why behind your art and grow your business at the same time? Janna Willoughby-Lohr chats with us about how she’s done both.

Artists need to eat.

While we create paper flowers because we love our art and touching people’s lives in a unique way, we also have bills to pay.

Can you do both? Yes!

In our latest episode of Paper Talk, we talked with Janna Willoughby-Lohr of Papercraft Miracles. Starting back in her college days, she set the rules for being an artist and building a successful business at the same time. As she put it, “I wanted to be an artist, and I didn’t want to be a starving artist, because that’s terrible.”

Janna made the right choices at the right time so that she could take advantage of opportunities that stayed true to her why and made financial sense. Listen now to get a shot of confidence for how you can do the same thing.

Here’s what you’ll learn when you listen to our conversation:

► Jenna’s paper flower journey and the why that’s fueled it.
► Why being open to new opportunities is critical for building a business.
► How Jenna made her appearance on a discovery+ TV show.
► Her advice for where to start when trying to grow your business.
► How Janna became a meme.

If you can’t listen right away, here are three things we discussed on the episode to get you started.

Be Open to Opportunities

One way that Janna has helped her business grow is by being open to new kinds of opportunities.

She has received many requests over the years for things that were outside of her norm. That’s how she discovered paper flowers! A client asked if she could make them, and she said yes knowing that she’d have to learn something new. That led her to discover yet another medium that she now loves.

You can listen to the episode to hear many more examples, from being on a discovery+ show, to fulfilling an order for half a million seed bombs for Lowe’s. Each time she pushed the boundaries of what she did, and doing so paid off in big ways in the end.

Focus on What Will Work

When a potential client comes to Janna with a crazy request, rather than thinking about all the ways it won’t work, she focuses on what might work.

Maybe she’ll try something that fails. Then it’s just back to the drawing board. Maybe she’ll try something that ends up being fantastic and leads her somewhere even better.

“I really try not to be that person who thinks of all the reasons it’s not going to work.” -Janna

With a positive attitude and a problem solving mindset, you’ll face more challenges—which means you’ll overcome more challenges! Your skill set will grow, and your business will grow.

Give Your Business Time

No business is built in a day. That’s especially true when you’re forging a new path, which many of us in the paper art world are doing.

On the episode, Janna told us that she didn’t pay herself until very recently. Every penny of profit she made went back into building up her business. She avoided debt and was able to invest in things that helped her paper business grow in the long term.

You might not be in the right financial situation to do that, and it simply might not be the right choice for you. However, being patient is definitely the right path for all of us. Even if you were somehow able to work on your paper flower business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it would still take time to grow into what you envision.

Listen to the podcast now to hear even more about how Janna has focused on her why all along her journey, and how her business is all the better for it.

Also, here's the PDF format for THE WHY WORKSHEET that you can download for free.

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ABOUT Janna Willoughby-Lohr:

Janna Willoughby-Lohr is an artist, poet, musician and entrepreneur from Buffalo, NY. Her company, Papercraft Miracles, specializes in handcrafted paper art that brings meaning to people's lives. She was awarded a $25,000 Ignite Buffalo Grant in 2018 and was named 40-Under-40 from Stationery Trends Magazine in 2019. She’s worked with large brands such as Twitter and Capital One. In 2021, her team created 500,000 plantable seed bombs for Lowe’s Spring Garden Giveaway event. Janna was also a contestant on Meet Your Makers Showdown, a new crafting competition TV show that is streaming now on discovery+.

She is the host of Reach the Stars Podcast—which features inspiring stories of persistence, passion and purpose. Janna leads the membership committee for the Nati...

Juggling multiple brands as a small business owner can be tricky. Listen to how Laura Richey manages marketing, aesthetics, and customer service with her paper art brands.

You have a fantastic new paper idea. It’s innovative. People are going to love it.

The only problem? It’s a little off-brand for you. It relates to your paper flower business, but it’s different enough that you’re not sure if you can market it all together.

You might need a brand new brand.

Next problem? How in the world do you manage more than one brand?

In our latest episode of Paper Talk, we chatted with Laura Richey of Pucker Up Paper Lips and 2 CLVR Designs. On top of her paper flowers and lip sculptures, she has also started creating paper portraits. Her art is all related, but appeals to different audiences and needs to be handled accordingly.

Here’s what you’ll learn when you listen to our conversation:

► Laura’s paper journey and how it led to sculptures and portraits.
► How to get found by big brands who want to work together.
► How to source paper despite shortages and shipping problems.
► Laura’s process for frequently checking in with customers to ensure they’re happy with the end product.
► How to tell when it’s time to pay for marketing or other outside help.

As a little sneak peek, here are three things to get you ready to branch out with multiple brands.

Be Prepared for Opportunities

As we chatted with Laura, we noticed a thread running through her work. She is a cardstock paper artist. She has over a decade of experience working with that medium. That expertise is invaluable when opportunities arise.

On the episode, Laura explained how Pucker Up Paper Lips took off. Without spoiling the entire story, her circumstances changed, opportunities arose, and she had the experience to be prepared to seize the moment. The paper lips were still related to what she is skilled at (working with cardstock), but different enough to warrant a new brand.

“Why can’t I do that with paper?” - Laura

If you’re waiting for your break, or you feel like you’re stuck in a rut, keep innovating. Keep learning new things. Better your skill set. You want to be as prepared as possible for when an opportunity does come up. Otherwise, it doesn’t really matter if you get a chance if you’re not ready for it.

Be Available in Many Places

With three brands comes three audiences. Some of those clients will overlap. Some come from more niche markets. Even within a single market for one brand, customers are individuals. As Laura pointed out on the podcast, some people are more comfortable with emails, others with Instagram DMs, etc.

If you’re looking to expand your sales, then you need to meet people where they are. Your paper art should be in more than one place on the internet, and you should get your work physically in front of people.

To find the best places to be, you should understand your target customer base. On the episode, Laura discussed how her clientele differs for her various brands. Listen now to better understand who you should be seeking out.

Get Outside Help When Needed

Laura shared that she is now working with a PR company to better market her businesses. This wasn’t an easy decision for her to make, and as we discussed, it isn’t the answer for everyone.

Sometimes, however, you simply don’t have enough time to run your business, or you don’t have the skills for a particular need. That’s when it’s time to hire someone. You of course should be mindful of what you’re spending, but if you do this well, you’ll keep making money even while outsourcing some parts of your business.

“Taking a leap with your business is definitely something I recommend.” - Laura

Listen to the episode to hear Laura’s very sound reasoning for why she decided to work with a PR company, and how to know when it’s time to hire someone to help your small business grow.

Also, here's the PDF format for THE WHY WORKSHEET that you can download for free.

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ABOUT Laura Richey:

Hi, I'm Laura. I started my business during the Covid pandemic in mid 2020. I needed a business that was flexible and that I could manage during online schooling and taking care of my son, who has ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). I created the Paper Lip business from the ground up. I have seen so many amazing makeup artists doing lip art that I thought, why can't I do something like that in a form of li...