Exploring Life & Business with Mona Dixon of Inspired By Mona

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mona Dixon. 

Hi Mona, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I was homeless for about half of my life growing up on the streets and in and out of shelters. I went on to become the National Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 2010 and received over $100,000 in scholarships. I also was recognized by President Obama in the Oval Office, was recognized by LeBron James, was featured in commercials, and was a part of many events with celebrity alumni, including Denzel Washington and Jennifer Lopez. I have successfully completed college, but I quickly learned that I didn’t want just any kind of job. I wanted to be passionate about what I do for work. I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I started out as a motivational speaker, and I still am one today. In that role, I started to create products that are also motivational, and I always send out my own custom greeting and note cards to say thank you and send special notes to people for different occasions. During the pandemic, people couldn’t be face to face as much and people loved my stationery and started to ask me to make it for them. Then I expanded my business to create diverse stationery to help people stay connected across the world! Once I make certain products, my customers ask about other products and if I find that there is a big enough want and/or need for it, I add it to my product line. I love the flexibility, I love that I can bring diverse products to my customers, and I love that I can make a difference with my business! 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Being an entrepreneur is hard work! It has its ups and downs but I love it! When struggles and problems come up, it forces me to remain innovative and never become too comfortable. I always have to be willing to adapt to the needs and wants of my customers while working with suppliers, as well as making sure that I always stay true to myself. 

My biggest struggle is raising capital or funding to purchase my products upfront. My profits only allow me to buy small quantities of product at a time even though I have a market big enough to sell more product than I have on hand. I could have access to lower prices and gain greater profits if I was able to take advantage of larger order discounts upfront. When I research different funding institutions, many of them want to see income levels that I haven’t been able to reach yet due to the continuous cycle of having to buy small quantities and sell small quantities at greater prices. 

Another struggle I have is that I am the only employee. If I had the funding to expand, I would also make enough to hire a part-time employee. 

We’ve been impressed with Inspired By Mona, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Inspired by Mona aims to create products that are diverse. I create stationery products such as greeting cards, note cards, invitations, calendars, planners, stickers, dry erase boards, scrapbook paper, and postcards. I also make blankets, towels, hats, and canvas art. 

Inspired By Mona “For the Diversity in You,” is my slogan. I create diverse stationery that is reflective of the person receiving the card. I also offer over 25 designs of people of color on my greeting cards, which is rare. I customize cards as needed, as well. Another way that I am innovative is by allowing organizations to use my products as fundraisers for their organization! In this way, the organization promotes my products and sells them and I split my profits with the organization so that they can fulfill their social missions! That has been a hit! Lastly, every greeting card that is sold, a portion of the proceeds goes to my Inspired By Mona Foundation that provides teens with resources, opportunities, and real-life skills, such as financial literacy and civic engagement, before graduating high school so they can be successful. 

How do you think about luck?
I’m not so sure about “luck,” good or bad, having a role in my business. I will say that God blesses me in more ways than I can ever thank Him for! I also learn many lessons along the way in my entrepreneurial journey, so I do not beat myself up when something doesn’t turn out exactly how I want it to. I just learn from it and grow forward! I am also fortunate that the universe responds to the energy I put out. When I am being productive, putting out quality products, and providing great customer service, my business expands through word of mouth. 

Pricing:

• Greeting Cards 1/$3, 5/$13 or 10/$20

Contact Info:

• Email: Contact@MonaDixon.com
• Website: https://inspiredbymona.com/collections/greeting-cards
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiredbymona/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InspiredByMonaOfficial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/monadixon
• Other: https://monadixon.com/