What I’d Do Differently If I Started My Stationery Business Today

There are some things you only learn through experience. And wow, have I learned a lot since starting my stationery business over 15 years ago.

When I launched, I had no roadmap. No guide. No Facebook groups. No real sense of what it would take to turn this creative passion into a profitable, sustainable business. Heck – I don’t think I ever really even dreamt of it being an actual business. I pieced things together through trial and error, late nights, and Google rabbit holes. Looking back, there are definitely a few things I would do differently—not because I regret where I am now, but because I know how much smoother (and faster) the journey could have been.

So if you’re in the early stages of your stationery business, consider this your shortcut. Here are the top three things I’d change if I could start all over again:

1. I would prioritize systems from day one.

When I first started, everything lived in my head. I had no workflow, no CRM, no consistent process. Every client experience felt like starting from scratch, and it was exhausting. I was writing the same emails over and over, constantly second-guessing timelines, and trying to juggle every moving piece without anything to hold it all together.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that systems weren’t about being high-tech or overly structured—they were about creating mental space. One of the first big shifts came when I implemented Dubsado. Finally, I had one place where leads could inquire, receive a response, and move through a custom workflow that felt polished and professional. It was a game-changer.

Around the same time, I started using Trello to manage my day-to-day tasks. Instead of scrambling every morning to remember what was due or what I had half-finished, I had a visual board with my weekly to-dos, client project stages, and content planning all laid out. That one system alone helped me feel less reactive and more proactive. I even created Trello templates to help other stationers get started.

If I could go back, I would have prioritized setting up these systems before I got busy—because once the inquiries and bookings start rolling in, it’s even harder to find time to build the structure you need.

If you want more on how these systems work behind the scenes, check out this post on the 3 systems every stationer needs—or dive into the complete setup inside The Stationery Business Roadmap.

Lesson learned: Systems don’t make you less creative. They give you space to actually be creative—and to scale without burning out.

2. I would stop waiting to feel “ready.”

I spent way too long sitting on ideas because I didn’t feel ready. I didn’t have the perfect logo. Or the right website photos. Or a pricing guide that felt polished enough. I kept telling myself I needed just a little more time, a little more practice, a little more polish—before I could show up like a “real business owner.”

But here’s the truth: your business will always evolve. There will never be a “perfect” time. The sooner you start putting yourself out there, the sooner you learn what works and what doesn’t—and the faster you grow. Action breeds clarity. Every offer you test, every client you work with, every post you share helps you refine who you are and what you want your business to be.

And on that note—stop comparing your timeline to someone else’s. You don’t need to launch like someone with five years of experience under their belt. You don’t need the perfect brand photos or a studio space or 10K followers. You just need to start. Your story is allowed to look different, and it’s still valuable.

Lesson learned: Done is better than perfect. Start before you feel ready—and give yourself permission to grow at your own pace.

3. I would invest in the right kind of education sooner.

In the beginning, I tried to DIY everything. I downloaded freebies, signed up for random webinars, and watched endless YouTube tutorials. Some of it was helpful. Most of it just left me overwhelmed, piecing together bits of advice without any real direction. I spent more time second-guessing myself than actually implementing anything.

It wasn’t until I made my first big investment in targeted, industry-specific education that things really started to shift. Was it scary? Absolutely. My heart raced as I hit the “buy” button. I worried whether it would be worth it, whether I’d actually use it, whether it would really move the needle for my business. But once I did, I realized it was exactly what I needed—a step-by-step framework, designed for the kind of business I was building. It gave me focus. It gave me clarity. And most of all, it gave me momentum. For me, that was a stationery conference where I was able to actually meet other stationers and realize I wasn’t alone.

Now, I look at every investment with intention. Is it aligned with where I want to go? Will it support a gap I’m currently feeling in my business? The right kind of education doesn’t just teach you something new—it gives you the confidence and tools to grow faster and smarter.

The Stationery Business Roadmap was born out of that very experience. I created it because I saw a gap in education for stationers who needed focused support—systems, pricing, client management, strategy—all built around the actual work we do.

Lesson learned: Strategic education pays for itself over and over again—and the right investment can change everything.

If you’re nodding along with any of these, just know you’re not behind. But you do have an opportunity to move forward differently.

The Stationery Business Roadmap is the course I wish I had when I was starting out. It’s the shortcut I needed—the systems, strategies, and support to grow a profitable, purposeful stationery business without wasting time or burning out.

You can start today. And years from now, you’ll be so glad you did.

Check out The Stationery Business Roadmap!