Too often in our society, people picture men in their heads when they hear words like, “boss”, “entrepreneur”, or “CEO”. Being a small business owner has put me in touch with so many successful female business owners and entrepreneurs that when I hear these words, I often picture a woman or I just don’t assume anything at all. Women are obviously just as capable as men when it comes to the business world and it is high time that women business owners and entrepreneurs are more visible in the media in our society. This is where the idea for Women in Business was born. Women in Business is a bi-monthly feature that highlights female entrepreneurs and business owners. Not only is it a fantastic opportunity to learn more about small businesses in various fields, but it is a great shopping guide for supporting small businesses.
An Interview with Megan + Cedar
Tell us a little bit about your business. What exactly do you do and how long have you been doing it?
We are twin sisters, Megan & Cedar, owners of Paper Goat Post. We opened the doors to our brick & mortar shop in Fall of 2015, in the city we now call home, Orlando, Florida . With over 20 years of event planning experience, ranging from million dollar grand openings to corporate events, we have a solid foundation of industry experiences allowing us to take a leap and follow our dream of opening our first shop.
It always has been our dream to open a shop that combined all things we loved – paper, events and gifts. We truly believe there is something to celebrate every day! At Paper Goat Post, we strive to promote togetherness. We do this through the lost art of snail mail, gathering in celebration, and the thoughtful art of giving. Our goal is to ensure that whether you are attending or hosting a celebration, it’s filled with unique details to make the celebration truly one-of-a-kind. With our unique product/service mix we are able to do just that.
In our shop, we offer a curated collection of gifts and paper goods that are perfect for every occasion. You will also discover our balloon and gift wrap bar, where you can customize our three-foot “Billy” balloons with tassels in assorted colors and styles, or leave with a perfectly wrapped parcel. In the studio we specialize in paper and invitations, as well as offer services that range from creative design consultations to full service planning packages.
What/who inspires you and your work?
When we travel, we shop and eat local, stumbling upon so many great local finds. There is something special about how a local shop reflects the feeling of each community. It’s these feelings that have become our main inspiration. We wanted to create a local shop that would provide our community with a unique place to shop for any celebration.
Do you use any apps or programs that help with marketing/social media? Which are your favorites?
Instagram is our happy place. It’s helped us grow our following & communicate our brand! Although Instagram is our favorite, you can find Paper Goat Post on Twitter & Facebook as well.
How do you stay balanced with your career and personal life?
With a planner and prioritization! There’s always a way to fit in the things you find important. Keeping everything organized & prioritized in a planner ensures that nothing is missed. The reality is that some things can wait while you take time to have fun, relax or spend time with family and friends.
Do you have a favorite project or product you have worked on so far?
Some of our favorite projects to work on so far have been for the customers who are totally open to a completely custom design, especially the ones where I get to paint a one of a kind design for them.
What is the one thing you could not run your business without?
Each other! Two people are better than one! We are lucky to have each other to help balance the work, bounce ideas off of each other, and support each other through owning a business. Opening a shop has been a dream for both of us and we couldn’t imagine doing it with out each other!
How do you define success as a business owner?
While a vital part of success is to make a profit and continue to grow as a business, the true definition of success for us is the feedback from our customers. Not only are our customers amazing, but they share their love for Paper Goat Post with friends, neighbors, families, and us as well. It is that feedback that is priceless and has helped us grow.
What has surprised you the most about being a small business owner?
We always knew Orlando had a growing sense of community, but the outpouring amount of support for local businesses, especially our neighbors in Ivanhoe Village, has been shocking! Everyone is really out to help each other grow and be successful.
What advice would you give to someone who is looking to become an entrepreneur?
Do your research and plan, but in the end just take the risk! Although we hit a few bumps in the road while developing Paper Goat Post, we didn’t let that stop us. We knew we had a strong plan with research to back it and some of those bumps were points where we had to decide if we should play it safe or take a risk. We always went with our gut. Although it’s scary, taking the risks have paid off in big ways for us!
What upcoming projects are you excited about?
We have a lot of fantastic projects that are in the works for 2016. One we are most excited for brings together other local brands for a unique educational party within a party! Stay tuned for more details!
You can find Megan + Cedar here: Paper Goat Post | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram |