Small Business Sunday with Willow Design Shop

by in Business, Baby, Calgary, Edmonton, entrepreneurship, Fraser Valley, Gift ideas, Gifting, Modern Mama, National, Newborn, North Shore, North Vancouver, Online Shopping, Pregnancy, Products, Sherwood Park, Shopping, Small Business Sunday, Spruce Grove / Stony Plain, St. Albert, Vancouver Comments Off on Small Business Sunday with Willow Design Shop
Small Business Sunday with Willow Design Shop Small Business Sunday With Willow Design Shop

This is a very challenging time for so many people and so many small businesses. We love supporting local and wanted to do our part in showcasing some fantastic small businesses.

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This week we are speaking with Jessica Davidson,  Founder of Willow Design Shop.  She is based out of Surrey, BC but sells and ships to just about anywhere, worldwide.

Jessica designs and prints simple books to document life’s special moments. Willow Design Shop is a small shop that makes unique and customized baby books, planners and journals.

You can find Willow Design Shop on Instagram Facebook and on their website.

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What made you choose this type of business?

I have always loved creating and making things. To be honest, books were the last thing on my mind but once I had my children I was having a really hard time finding a baby book that I liked with the content that I thought was important. So I figured why not make one! It turned out that I loved the process and decided to try and make a business out of it. 
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What is your favourite small business (aside from your own)?

Hands down The Heart in Cloverdale! The owner is such an inspiration to all of us small shops! She started in her house making mugs (Pier Prints, which is still in business as well) and now she’s moved on to such an amazing store in the heart of Cloverdale! I admire her perseverance and strength to push through it all.I definitely look up to her and model my attitude to match hers!

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If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

DON’T GIVE UP! There are soooo many hurdles starting a business, for a working business too frankly, but it all helps you to be stronger and learn how to be the most successful business you can be.  

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Willow Design Shop - Journal

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If applicable, has your business been negatively affected by COVID19? If so how have you coped?

Yes and no. My business has been affected in sales. A lot of people aren’t working or lost their jobs, therefore not spending unnecessary money. At the same time, I have not been working at my regular day job which has allowed me to focus on my business and create more books. 

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What are your long term business goals?

I would love to come to a point in my business where I feel comfortable quitting my regular day job so I can work from home and spend more time with my family.
Willow Design Shop - Letters to my son

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What are you most looking forward to with the launch of your new business?

Being able to bring modern, easy to use books into the hands of busy people to help make staying organized as stress free as possible. I know how hard it can be staying on top of things and if I can help with making it easier, that makes me ecstatic!

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What is your funniest/weirdest/most memorable experience with a customer or client?

Honestly, I haven’t had anything too crazy, yet. But I did have a customer order a custom book as a gift for a baby shower. I sent her the draft and she loved it and approved the name spelling, so I got it printed. I gave her the book about a week before the baby shower and the day before I was showing the cover to someone that happened to be a teacher ( and one of many people I showed it to) and she noticed a HUGE spelling error on the book that no one noticed! I wrote “geatest” instead of “greatest”. I was actually doing a market at the time and thankfully I had a good friend with my because I had to leave the market only an hour into it and find somewhere that would reprint the book for me on a moments notice and to the caliber that I required. It took me HOURS to find somewhere to get it done but thankfully I was able to and was able to drop it off to the customer that night. She was shocked that she didn’t notice the error (as was everyone else that I showed and told about after!). Now I get all my books overlooked at least three times!!
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Willow Design Shop - Journal.

Thank you to Jessica Davidson for participating in this week’s Small Business Sunday. Be sure to check out her online store on Etsy.

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If you are a business owner interested in participating please email tina@modernmama.com

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