Conversations with Staci Brown

Today we’d like to introduce you to Staci Brown.

Hi Staci; thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always loved paper, from cards and journals to gifts and confetti. I am from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and every Southern girl is gifted with monogrammed notecards, and thank-you notes are as common as iced tea. When I started my career in non-profit, I used my penchant for thoughtful notes and cards to motivate volunteers and thank donors, so I always had some handy. For as long as I can remember, I included confetti in every card, and people either loved or hated it. Still, it was always memorable, shared a little celebration, and made people smile. During the early days of the pandemic, I quickly realized that my work was considered non-essential. It was time to pivot, and if I ever wanted to take the leap of faith and start a card business, this was the time. My friends Shannon and Lydia helped with the know-how and the little nudge I needed. Remember to underestimate the value of your friend group when you’re up to big things. Things come together when two things happen. First, I’ve always been known for Staci quotes, so the company name Staci Says felt like it was meant to be.

Then I was introduced to a talented young artist through my goddaughter. Libba Fernandez does most of the Staci Says artwork; even though she is young, she has completely brought this vision to life. Next, the brand Staci Says came to life through my “paper mentor,” Lydia Beaulieu, who taught me what I needed to get started and navigate the ins and outs of this business. I envision creating cards and gifts that share a celebration every time you open them. From clever sayings, small bags of confetti, gifts, and party supplies. I love thinking about all the people who are smiling at what I create. I still work with charities and the community, but I’m most excited to see Staci Says grow and expand.

Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The biggest obstacle is taking a passion and turning it into a business. While having fun being creative, you must think about sales, marketing, technology, and other day-to-day things. If I bring the celebration to more people, I have to make sure people know who we are and what we do.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Through my work with charities, events, and the paper business, I’ve been blessed to do all the things I love. Through each project, I can focus on my creative side and build on what many call an ‘outgoing personality.’ I have a zest for life with energy and passion, and I want others to thrive. Whether building a community of volunteers for a National non-profit or helping to find sponsors for an event I am working with, it’s always more fun when everyone feels appreciated and supported. That same energy is what I bring to Staci Says. From our retail partners to pop-ups in Arizona to our online store and social media – you’ll always get an uplifting experience.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk-taking is all about feeling the adrenaline pump and the dopamine go up in your body and using it for good (even when you’re mind is telling you differently). While I’m not risk averse, I like to pick challenges that excite me and bring me joy. When I decided to go out alone, it was the scariest and most liberating thing I had ever done. Covid has created an exciting transition as I’m older and less risk-averse. I started Staci Says, and I’m so proud of how far we’ve come in such a short time, but I haven’t gone “All In” the way I did with my first business because it’s all so new. My post-pandemic advice would be to try not to let fear drive your decision-making. It’s a mindset I’m working on every day, and to continue to build up my risk-taking muscles and make it fun! I know that failure is part of life, so I aim to fail forward.

Pricing:

• The cards are 6.95 Each
• Card Packs from $25 – $60 per packet
• Cocktail Napkins – $10
• Guest Towels – $8 – $12

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.staci-says.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/staci.says/

Image Credits
LaShonda Adams at adamsvillephotography.com