Building Minted Oak Designs from the Ground Up: A Journey of Creativity, Resilience, and Dream-Chasing
Building Minted Oak Designs from the ground up has been nothing short of a transformative journey, one that’s been filled with learning curves, rewarding wins, and countless early mornings fueled by a blend of creativity, ambition, and plenty of Teeccino (a coffee alternative I rely on since I avoid caffeine due to rapid heart palpitations). Starting a small business from scratch is no small feat, especially when that business is a personal vision brought to life. I started Minted Oak Designs as a creative passion project, but it’s grown into something much larger—a brand that I hope resonates with people who love quality, handcrafted designs. Here's what it's been like to build Minted Oak Designs every step of the way.
Dreaming Big, Starting Small
In the early days, Minted Oak was nothing more than a concept—a blend of inspiration, vision, and a deep love for design. My initial focus was on hair bows, handmade with care and attention to detail, each one meant to bring a little charm to everyday life. From sourcing the right materials to perfecting each design, those early moments were both thrilling and daunting. I took baby steps, figuring out how to balance design work, product sourcing, pricing, and the logistics of an online business. And while that sounds straightforward now, each step took research, experimentation, and a good deal of patience.
Crafting a Unique Brand Identity
Minted Oak Designs needed an identity that felt both unique and authentic, something that would set it apart in the world of handmade designs. The name "Minted Oak Designs" came as a reflection of strength and growth—qualities I wanted my brand to embody.
The oak tree represents resilience, while the “minted” part captures the freshness and originality I aim for in every design. From there, I carefully crafted the brand voice, messaging, and visuals. This involved crafting color palettes, choosing fonts, and developing a cohesive style that seamlessly tied together my shop, website, and social media presence.
Learning by Doing
Running MOD has been like jumping into a crash course on everything from design and production to marketing and customer service. I found myself learning new skills every day—things I never expected I'd need to know so deeply. From mastering Adobe Illustrator and designing patterns to navigating Shopify's algorithms and refining product descriptions, every task challenged me to step outside my comfort zone. With every challenge, there’s been an opportunity to grow and refine the brand further. I’m proud of each “first” that’s marked the journey: the first collection launch, my first sale, and even my first customer review.
Building an Online Presence
MOD’s online presence has been a work in progress, from setting up the shop to launching my website and starting my Instagram page. These platforms serve as the storefront and community for MOD, where I get to share my creative process, new collections, and behind-the-scenes glimpses. Social media has been both exciting and a challenge, especially since I’m learning to connect with my audience in a meaningful way.
Designing Collections with Heart
Each Minted Oak Designs collection is crafted with a theme in mind, telling a story through its designs and patterns. I pour my heart into creating cohesive designs that are visually captivating and meaningful. Collections aren’t just products; they’re an expression of creativity and a way to invite customers into the world of MOD.
Building Systems and Processes
As a one-woman show, I’ve had to create a system for everything—from production and inventory management to customer service and order fulfillment. Designing a streamlined workflow took time and plenty of trial and error, but these processes have become the backbone of MOD. Creating an efficient system means I can focus more on the creative side of the business and less on getting lost in day-to-day tasks.
Looking to the Future
The journey doesn’t end here. Building MOD has given me insights and experiences that I plan to share through courses and resources for others looking to start their own creative ventures. I’m thrilled to be launching a surface pattern design course soon and a YouTube channel to share my journey. I want to inspire others who dream of building something of their own, showing them that while it’s challenging, it’s absolutely possible.
Minted Oak Designs is more than a business to me; it’s a testament to the power of small steps and big dreams.
Thank you for being part of this journey. If you're considering starting a business, know that each step, each lesson, and each success is worth it. MOD has taught me that building something from the ground up is challenging, rewarding, and something I wouldn’t trade for the world. Here's to the journey ahead and to the dreams yet to be brought to life.