December’s highlights included two fun branding projects, participating in the Chicago Department of Aviation’s four-minute fast pitch, placing a first product order for the Chicago History Museum, and taking a little holiday break.

If you’re new here, welcome to my business journal. This twelfth edition of the monthly business journal blog post celebrates the wins and serves as a space of reflection of this business journey, which has been such an important practice for me in 2020.

The Big Wins

• I created custom postcards for the Chicago History Museum! Three custom designs - a museum building illustration, a series of fashion illustrations, and an Abraham Lincoln design - were turned into postcards and sent to the Chicago History Museum’s gift shop this month!

• I participated in the CDA’s 4-Minute Fast Pitch. The Chicago Department of Aviation’s Concessionnaire and Small Business Expo was held virtually this year, which meant participants had to submit a video pitch showcasing their offerings. I am hopeful that 2021 will be the year of getting my work into airport gift shops.

• I created branding for Yam Global Travel, LLC. Owner Yamonee Barboro and I met through our participation in the WBDC’s ScaleUp program. She was a joy to work with and I feel so honored to have a small part in rebuilding her business after it was hit so hard by the pandemic.

General Updates:

• I presented part two of the branding webinar series hosted by the WBDC: Are You On Branding During COVID-19? | Part 2 - Time for a Brand Refresh. If you missed it but would like to watch, send me a message and I’ll send over the replay.

• I hand-addressed over 200 holiday cards/postcards. With happy mail more essential than ever, it seemed only fitting to challenge myself to send more than two times what I sent last year. Blase and I also brought back the Candid COVID Cards!

• I attended the Entrepreneur Experience with Amy Porterfield. The two-day virtual conference had some great information that left me feeling energized and hopeful about the future of my business and online course I’m launching. My biggest takeaway was truly committing to saying “no” to opportunities that aren’t the right fit.

• I shared about passion projects with the Roundtable networking group. There’s no better time to start a passion project than right now. It’s always so enjoyable to share my passion, insights, and experiences with other motivated business owners.

• I reduced my available wholesale stickers from 150+ designs to 48. Revamping my wholesale offerings has me excited to connect with new shops in 2021. I also added a new Wholesale page for more information. If you know anyone who might be interested in carrying the Lettering Works product line, please pass the link along.

• I attended the General Mills Supplier Diversity Holiday Party. No, they aren’t one of my clients…yet. But I did enjoy learning more about their initiatives to support small and diverse businesses.

• I started working on a logo design for Here in Little Town. And it’s been the perfect creative project to close out the year. More details coming in January when the podcast officially launches. And spoiler alert, Jacob already recorded our episode.

• I sold 296 stickers to Kind of Box. They are a customizable gift box company that exclusively features goods from small businesses, meaning our stickers will be headed all over the US as a result of their support. Here’s to hoping there will be more subscription boxes filled with Lettering Works goodies in 2021!

• I connected with some incredible business owners. Through a mix of one-on-one calls and a handful of networking events (including the WESOS Holiday Brunch where I won a chocolate basket from Barb Hollock).

• I started my coaching calls for artists! It’s truly amazing what we can accomplish in only an hour when addressing the specific questions and challenges that an individual artist faces. This is such a rewarding new avenue as I can relate so much to the challenges of paving your own way. I love passing along tips and advice that can save so much time, money, and unnecessary frustration.

• I took some time off for the holidays. It’s always nice to take a break, even when you love what you do. I was glad to spend a couple days with my parents and have been cuddled under the t-shirt quilt my mom made and gifted me ever since I got back to Chicago.

Special Announcements:

• I’m offering year-end specials on all branding packages! All proposals are valid for two weeks (meaning you have until early January to decide if any packages are right for you). Request a custom proposal here to lock in 2020 rates and specials.

• The Year End Sticker Sale is happening now! Remember when I said I reduced stickers from 150+ designs to 48? Well this is your opportunity to get some of those discontinued designs for a steal. Because of the varied quantities, I’m offering a crazy special on a mystery happy mail package. Order one for yourself and everyone you know and love here.

If you’ve made it this far and followed along with all twelve of my small business journal entries, thank you. Thank you for being here, for supporting me, and for following along with this beautiful journey entrepreneurship has taken me on.

PS - Want to work together in the new year? Book your 2021 project today! Bring on all the logos, branded merchandise, and brand identity projects… let’s make some beautiful and impactful things together in 2021.