Our week long spotlight on local businesses continues today with Melanie Musicant and No Stress Address. Focusing on local businesses isn't always about a storefront. There are plenty of local, home based businesses with products and services to offer this holiday season. Check out what No Stress Address does and how you can get in touch.
WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR BUSINESS?
"No Stress Address."
WHAT TYPE OF BUSINESS IS IT?
"It's a calligraphy business. I hand letter wedding and party invitation envelopes, place cards and signage. I also do custom orders such as a wedding ketubah (Jewish marriage certificate), party favors and recently, a photographers signature for his portraits."
HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK FOR YOU?
"Just myself!"
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
"I hand addressed all of my own wedding invitation envelopes and received an enormous amount of positive feedback. I decided to start my own business to make it affordable for anyone trying to avoid that stressful task."
"No Stress Address."
WHAT TYPE OF BUSINESS IS IT?
"It's a calligraphy business. I hand letter wedding and party invitation envelopes, place cards and signage. I also do custom orders such as a wedding ketubah (Jewish marriage certificate), party favors and recently, a photographers signature for his portraits."
HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK FOR YOU?
"Just myself!"
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
"I hand addressed all of my own wedding invitation envelopes and received an enormous amount of positive feedback. I decided to start my own business to make it affordable for anyone trying to avoid that stressful task."
WERE THERE ANY OBSTACLES TO GETTING YOUR BUSINESS STARTED?
"It takes money to make money! The initial start up wasn't as bad as most businesses, but it was hard for me as a single parent with no child support."
WHAT MAKES YOUR BUSINESS BETTER OR DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS OF ITS KIND?
"I don't actually do Calligraphy. It's just my handwriting so it truly is unique. I price my time lower than other calligraphers to help avoid a costly expense for something that will be thrown away. I'm very detail oriented as well. If I don't like how an envelope or a place card look, I won't present it to a customer. Also, I think hand lettering is more formal than having a computer generate the addresses or running labels from a computer. That is the WORST thing a bride can do for her invitation envelopes!"
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET INTO BUSINESS FOR THEMSELVES?
"Network! Talk to people in the field you'd like to be. Great advice is wisdom from experience. Be confident in your abilities. Remember that it takes 3-5 years to turn a profit so don't be discouraged if you aren't immediately successful. And never forget to update your website!"
DO YOU EVER HAVE ANY HOLIDAY SPECIALS, DEALS OR EVENTS AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR?
"I offer holiday card envelopes to be addressed at a discount. People like to send out so many of them but hate to address them! I also offer holiday party invitation envelopes, place cards and accessories to be hand lettered at a discount. Right now I'm offering 10% off those services."
"It takes money to make money! The initial start up wasn't as bad as most businesses, but it was hard for me as a single parent with no child support."
WHAT MAKES YOUR BUSINESS BETTER OR DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS OF ITS KIND?
"I don't actually do Calligraphy. It's just my handwriting so it truly is unique. I price my time lower than other calligraphers to help avoid a costly expense for something that will be thrown away. I'm very detail oriented as well. If I don't like how an envelope or a place card look, I won't present it to a customer. Also, I think hand lettering is more formal than having a computer generate the addresses or running labels from a computer. That is the WORST thing a bride can do for her invitation envelopes!"
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO GET INTO BUSINESS FOR THEMSELVES?
"Network! Talk to people in the field you'd like to be. Great advice is wisdom from experience. Be confident in your abilities. Remember that it takes 3-5 years to turn a profit so don't be discouraged if you aren't immediately successful. And never forget to update your website!"
DO YOU EVER HAVE ANY HOLIDAY SPECIALS, DEALS OR EVENTS AROUND THIS TIME OF YEAR?
"I offer holiday card envelopes to be addressed at a discount. People like to send out so many of them but hate to address them! I also offer holiday party invitation envelopes, place cards and accessories to be hand lettered at a discount. Right now I'm offering 10% off those services."
No Stress Address is located at:
2555 Welsh Road
Suite 415
Philadelphia, PA 19114
Check them out on Facebook and visit their website!
www.NoStressAddress.com
www.facebook.com/NoStressAddress1