I am so excited to feature another creative small business lady on the blog today: Rebecca of RepeteLove! I first met Becca when I photographed her engagement session last spring, and we clicked right away. She and Greg are such a fun couple, and I knew we’d be fast friends! Luckily, we’ve stayed in touch throughout the year, and she even helped me celebrate the launch day of this fancy space right here! I am so happy to have a local #CLE gal on the blog today and can’t wait to share her insights with you! 
Introduce yourself and your business: What hats are you juggling every day?

Hi, I’m Rebecca from RepeteLove! RepeteLove sells hand-drawn & hand-designed cards and prints! I’m a full-time Program Coordinator; and Small Business Owner on nights and weekends. Hats I’m juggling every day include: trying not to work on RepeteLove while I’m at my day job, trying to remember that my day job is the main focus (for now), and making time in my ‘free’ time to work on my passion. So that someday, hopefully my full-time passion can become my full-time job. ;)

I love: RepeteLove! Traveling, graphic design/typography, painting, and cooking (sometimes).

Why did you start your own creative small business?

A little over two years ago, I moved to Cleveland from Dayton, OH to live with my now fiancé. I was working in a job where I didn’t really have a lot of creative independence. I was a fine art major, and being creative is all I’ve really known for most of my life. I worked at that job for 4 months until one day I realized I wasn’t happy. I knew I had to be doing something artistic even if it meant I couldn’t completely support myself on it.

What has been your greatest challenge as a small business owner?

My greatest challenge is definitely my use of time and energy. I’ll be real – Sometimes when I get home after a long day at work; I have orders to fill, or know I should be working on that new listing, but all I want to do is binge watch Orange is the New Black. So, sometimes I have to remind myself of my priorities.

Another challenge is that #ugly feeling of jealousy. I sometimes can’t help myself from looking with envy at other Etsy sellers who get to do this as their full time job. They make it look so effortless.

However…I have to remember that it isn’t like they posted their first listing, and BOOM they had a full time small business overnight. No – they worked hard too. They struggled. And I have to remember that’s why this is worth it. It’s not easy. If it was easy, I’d be bored!

What was the biggest game changer in the way you run your business and manage your time in this last year?

I’d have to say putting a priority on my packaging. I used to just ship items out without any regard to the look or feel of my product. Now each RepeteLove package comes hand-stamped on the back with my logo and business cards inside. I also include a hand-written note to each customer. I feel it personalizes the whole process.

What are some of your productivity tips?

Saturday/Sunday mornings are by far the best time of the week for me to get things done. I’m sure everyone has a different answer for this, since everyone’s lives and schedules are different. But for me, this time is the best to get RepeteLove things done. I’m most motivated in the morning with a good cup of coffee/shot of espresso in hand. ;) And since my other job takes up my mornings during the rest of the week, this time of the week is the best. :)

What’s the one tool you couldn’t manage your time without?

Photoshop, Photoshop, & Photoshop. No, but really – Photoshop. And acrylic paints.

What’s your favorite non-essential business tool? :)

Hmm…definitely a chai latte or a mocha from one of my favorite #CLE coffeeshops :) (Phoenix Coffee, LOOP, and Civilization to name a few). And changing up my creative space from time to time. While I get a lot done at my desk at home, sometimes it’s nice to pack up my laptop and head to one of my favorite coffee shops or the library.

What is the key to staying on top of your small business and not getting too overwhelmed?

Taking it one day at a time; as cliché as that sounds. But really. I can’t overthink everything too much. If I do, it’s easy to get discouraged and think I’m never going to ‘make it’. So I take it each day at a time, constantly trying to improve my shop and my product.

How does your business bring you joy?

When I know someone really enjoys something from my shop. When they send me a photo of it on their wall, the frame they chose, or the desk it sits on. I really love seeing my work in their space, and how they chose to incorporate it into their homes.

If you could give one piece of advice to all the #bossladies out there, what would it be?

I’d say to study the work of other #bossladies and imitate what appeals to you. Your business will only improve from this. When I was in art school, something we heard constantly was: “Steal from other artists, as much as you can.” While this may sound crazy or like I’m trying to encourage plagiarism, that’s not the case at all. I’m not saying to copy other artists, but instead to “steal ideas” from them.

One of my favorite quotes is from Jim Jarmusch, an independent film director (who was actually born in Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Not too far from #CLE!) He’s known for directing ‘Stranger than Paradise’, ‘Dead Man’, and ‘Ghost Dog’ among other films. It goes a little something like this…

“Nothing is original. Steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination. Devour old films, new films, music, books, paintings, photographs, poems, dreams, random conversations, architecture, bridges, street signs, trees, clouds, bodies of water, light and shadows. Select only things to steal from that speak directly to your soul. If you do this, your work (and theft) will be authentic. Authenticity is invaluable; originality is nonexistent. And don’t bother concealing your thievery—celebrate it if you feel like it. In any case, always remember what Jean-Luc Godard said: “It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to.”

Yes, I get envious of those Etsy sellers who make it look so easy – but they also help me better myself and my product. I will always keep looking and paying attention to how they do business. The small things they do that have separated them from the rest of the pack: from the high quality of their products, great listing photos, and cohesiveness of their brand, down to beautiful packaging. I think it’s great to learn from them. Obviously they’re doing something right; Right? So I try not to compare, but instead be an #ideastealer. And learn.

And that’s a wrap! I loved Becca’s insight on comparison — it’s so easy to see other successful businesses and be jealous, because you don’t see the hard work, the failures, and the crazy schedules they’re balancing, too! That’s why I love this series: transparency can be a hard thing to find in this community, but it’s good. Sharing stories is what reminds us we aren’t in this alone!

And her last point? It sounded crazy to me when I first read it, but it’s true! After all, isn’t that what this is all about? Some of my favorite blogs to follow are ones that share insider tips and tricks! Lauren of Elle & Company said it best in her post, Share Your Secrets — radical transparency can be scary, but it’s worth the risk. Not only does it position you as an expert, but it gives you credibility and creates community at the same time! So don’t be afraid to spread ideas and find inspiration; like Becca shared, “It’s not where you take things from—it’s where you take them to.”

Wanna see more of Becca’s awesome work? :)

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