It’s always exciting when I get to know a Startup Princess pre-launch and get to follow their journey post-launch. Heather Barnard has been a pleasure to follow and watch in action, with lots of energy and enthusiasm. I was touched as I read Heather’s answers in her interview, she’s a tough chick, so it’s appropriate that her online stationary business is called Chickadee Prints! I also really like how they appeal to all the twitter users with their tagline “Sharing Your Tweetest Moments”. Be sure to check out the adorable selections, loving the mommy calling cards and great holiday choices!
Enjoy getting to know Heather Barnard of Chickadee Prints!
-Kelly King Anderson, Startup Princess Founder
Hometown: Carmel, CA
Current Residence (City, State): Draper, UT
Education: Master’s in Education
Professional Background: In my post graduate professional career, I’ve done two things: I was an elementary school teacher, teaching 2nd and 6th grades, and then an inspiring entrepreneur!
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A mommy to a lot of kids!
What you are: A mommy to 3 wonderful children ages 16 mos, 3.5 yrs., and 5 yrs., a wife, and a mompreneur
Brief Summary of your Start Up: Chickadee Prints offers beautiful stationery for almost any occasion, printed on high quality cardstock which is FSC certified because we care about our environment. Our site now allows our customers to take control by having live text editing and proofing, and soon to be, live photo editing.
Company Website? www.chickadeeprints.com
What inspired you? I was inspired by other mompreneurs! I saw that they were achieving dreams they had, and knew that I could do it to.
How long have you been in business? I started under a different name three years ago on a VERY part-time basis, with me alone, and doing everything custom. It wasn’t working.
How did you fund it? We didn’t have much to put down at once to build it all, so we slowly put what money came in towards it, and over a year, we finally have what we need.
Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? I have so many people who have supported me, helped me, and stood by me. Everyone from Julie Cole at Mabel’s Labels, to Allyson at Ladybugs and Lullabies, to my biggest fans…my step-mom and my husband.
Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Startup Princess
Current Business Challenge? Marketing
What are you doing about it? I have joined with a few PR companies to spread the word, and I am a social networking butterfly! I am on Facebook and Twitter which has opened a lot of doors, even before opening!
Favorite motivational quote: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own, and you know what you know. And you will be the guy who’ll decide where you’ll go. Oh the places you’ll go.” OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Dr. Seuss
Family? Yes, I have 3 children.
If so, how do you balance family and business? It’s hard! When I’m working from home, I feel guilty because I should be with my children. When I playing with my children, I feel guilty because I should be working. The best thing I’ve figured out is to have an actual office in the home, where the door can close during business hours. And to set those hours firm, so that business can end, and family time can begin. We have also made sure to have a bi-monthly date night set in stone, and weekly family night, also set in stone. This helps me to make sure that neither the business nor the family falls short of the other.
Favorite book? Goodnight Gorilla
What do you do to relax? Right now, I haven’t found a lot of relaxing time…but we try to take family vacations to major decompressing at least twice a year. On a smaller scale, for me, just getting out of the house to go grocery shopping is relaxing since I’m on my own, and not thinking about the business.
What do you want to change most about your world? I want my world to be filled with a more understanding and compassionate people. I feel that there is still too much daily judgment on everything from religion to skin color to sexual choice to material items. It creates a lot of stress.
What are you most proud of? I’m most proud of never giving up. I lost both parents by the age of 17, I could have easily given up. I’ve been through a miscarriage that could have been a roadblock for me, but I’ve overcome. And most currently, I am most proud of getting through the tears and frustrations of trying to launch this business, and finally getting it up and running.
What advice would you like to offer other Startup Princesses? Simply…don’t give up! Have you seen the movie Meet the Robinson’s? Just ‘keep moving forward’.
Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? The Internet! As funny as that might sound, the Internet has been such a wonderful wand for me! The resources I have found through networking, have been amazing, presenting lots of opportunities for me.
If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use? A Sapphire, an Emerald, an Alexandrite, and a Blue Topaz…the stone of my children.
