This week I talk to Katie Leamon, who turned her love of paper and pattern into her eponymous family-run stationery studio. Her notebooks have been a daily companion to me for many years, so it was really fun to chat with her about her designs, her process and the realities behind running a product-lead business with the family on board!

Things we talk about:

* Building from a home studio to printing and selling at scale

* Designing products based on creative instinct

* The rise of independent stationery makers and designers online

* Selling wholesale vs. direct

* Family business, and drawing the the lines between work and home life.

* Taking time for creativity outside of work

* Growing a team, and when to let things go

* Katie’s new experiments in creating ceramic range

* Launch strategies and learning from mistakes

* Trusting your brand identity and staying authentic

Links we mentioned:

* My Substack Soiree class

* Katie’s online store, Katie Leamon

* Katie’s new ceramic range (I LOVE THIS CUP!)

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