Apr 13, 2006

My First Entrepreneurial Moment...

Someone brought up Mrs. Grossmans stickers the other day and I was instantly reminded of something I hadn't thought about in years. First of all, Mrs. Grossman started her company on her dining room table, not unlike many ScrapBiz members. Unfortunately, though, Mrs. Grossman sort of forgot her roots and will only sell to bricks and mortar stores now. I think it's sad when someone forgets their own humble beginnings and doesn't support people doing what they did - building their business from home! What if the printer had refused to work with her because she was "too small" and therefore would not be worth his time and energy? So many industry powerhouses started out of someone's house. Many haven't forgotten that and will gladly help legitimate fledgling home-based businesses - I appreciate that!

But, I digress... In the early 1980's, I was living in the northwest corner of Washington State in a town called Bellingham. I was an 8th grader and a store opened in the small mall just down the hill from my house. It was a store with a TON of rolled stickers. My mom and I were instantly in LOVE with these brightly colored stickers on tear-off sheets. I used to ride the city bus down there in the summer and buy stickers like crazy. I stuck them on EVERYTHING - letters, notebooks, my journal, my dresser, my desk, etc. They were Mrs. Grossmans stickers. I still remember the brightly colored flip-flops, bunnies, hearts, etc. Even now, from time to time, I'll open an old scrapbook or journal and see them and be reminded of that neon-colored store.

I remember telling my mom that when I grew up, I was going to open a STICKER STORE and sell nothing but stickers on the roll. I KNEW I would get rich doing that. I was passionate about those stickers. It was my first entrepreneurial moment. I never did open that store - but look where I am now. I am not running a sticker store, but I am involved in decorating paper. We just didn't call it "Scrapbooking" at the time. I guess you could say that my passion for scrapping started at 13!

1 comment:

Sarah said...

We could be sister separated at birth, Kim! I have this exact same memory. The bear stickers...they were awesome...and I must have purchased a hundred red hearts and put them everywhere. It is sad that Mrs. G forgot her roots.

I always love reading your blog. I admire you so much.