Meet Grace Batista | Designer / Owner of WCo / Stationery Lover

We had the good fortune of connecting with Grace Batista and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Grace, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was traveling and journaling once when I realized I didn’t have stickers representing me, a woman of color, on this trip. At that moment, I thought: I need to create something for myself, but what if more people feel the way I do? That opened up a world of possibilities. I came up with the Wednesday Company, slowly building the stationery store I wanted to become for the last three years. Including stickers, Postcards, Stamps, and Washi tape, all centered around the adventures of PoC women.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
After creating a business plan, conducting research, chatting with friends, I started working on what would become my best-selling product. I came with City Chicas, because I’m a City Chica. But I’m still shy and nerdy, so I needed that to be reflected in the art. I take the train downtown; I love reading and going to cafes. Women of Color are often excluded from nerdy spaces; that’s why my chicas are in the settings they’re in. It hasn’t been easy because I’m still learning how to be an introverted entrepreneur. I am pushing myself daily to confidently promote myself to retailers. Even to my own friends or new people I meet. Yes, I am a business owner. I can’t hide this, and it does not benefit me to withhold this info.

What I want the world to know is that I sell art to represent us as WoC. We can travel, sit at a cafe, and enjoy any genre of book. We are not a monolith.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
2 Days in the Bronx – Bronx Little Italy. We can eat here, tour, and have dessert.
– Bronx Botanical Garden
– Bronx Zoo
– We’ll stop by The Lit Bar for book browsing and a drink at the wine bar.
– Bronx Native store. My bestie can grab some Bronx-themed art and goodies.
– We can visit a couple of cafes in the Bronx, Miles Cafe Bar, Boogie Down Grind, or Mottley Cafe.
– For a relaxing full day, we can go to Wave Hill.
Manhattan & Brooklyn
– We’re going to visit all the Stationery Gift shops.
– Plenty of fantastic food to eat
Queens
– We’re going to Flushing!

I pick the places above that mean a lot to me and have taught me how to see places from a new perspective, try fresh foods, live and outside of my bubble.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
When I was first starting, I wanted to jump in with no plan. My Co-worker, who I confided in about my WCo ideas, sat me down and told me I needed to put my ducks in a row. I need a business plan; I need a company name and a whole list of things. Without her guidance, I wouldn’t have made it into my first or second brick-and-mortar store. Although we don’t see or chat much now, her advice always comes up in my mind; I use it to move forward. And, of course, along the way, I’ve met such lovely people online. These folks have helped boost my brand and encouraged me to be my best creative self. They include Elaine at Leeniale, Nadia at Curated Monotony, Rae at Sweet Lotus Co, and Mia at Petite Papeterie Shop. I can’t finish without talking about my boyfriend’s unlimited support, friends, and my lovely customers.

Website: https://www.thewednesday.co/

Instagram: wednesdaycompany

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBPcJJXmYn86boUHTaRIydA

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thewednesdaycompany