Meet Kayla Hutchinson | Stationery Shop Owner

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

Hi Kayla, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Despite my business only launching a little over 5 years ago, my love for greeting cards has been around since I was 2 years old. So in a roundabout way, my stationery shop was 22 years in the making.

When I was young and visiting my grandparents each summer, my grandma and I would spend the days doing crafts and some more wild things (like an impromptu backyard circus inviting the entire street). My favorite craft by far was handmaking paper. We would create a nice thick pulp, fill it with fun-colored lint to dye it, and sometimes sprinkle glitter or run shiny threads through it. I would then use them to write letters to my family and friends during the summer.

22 years later, and I was still making my own cards for family and friends (except this time digital design and printed at a local print shop or on my personal printer). I decided in 2017 that I wanted to share these designs with the world, to help others send a little joy to someone in their life. And that was how Lucky Dog was born.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is about 95% paper-based, so greeting cards, stickers, notepads, art prints, and card sets. One of the things I love most about my art and what sets me apart is the quality of the paper I use. Although I’m not making my own paper anymore (for now), I use thick, luxurious, felt-textured stock that just feels and looks amazing. It’s all made from post-consumer recycled fibers and made in the USA in a factory that is 100% wind-powered. Owning a paper shop, I understand the footprint I’m leaving behind, so it’s important to me to mitigate that as much as possible.

I also just have a fondness and love for designing unique, relatable, and fun encouragement cards. Ones that you seek out when your best friend needs a reminder of how amazing they are or needs a little pick-me-up.

My route here has not been easy (but is it ever that way?) or free from challenges. About a year into my business, I was working way too much. I had a full time job (still do!), working every other second of my life on my shop, and I was not taking care of myself or thinking about creating a healthy life. I loved my business so much, and I thought that the more I put into it, the better it’d get. Well, I burned out to a crisp, it was dreadful. I lost all desire to design. As a very driven and planned out person, I was suddenly lost. I spent about a year in that state. I would process orders and send things out, but I didn’t create anything new, didn’t promote any of my work. Because of that, I was slowly finding myself again, developing new hobbies and friendships. I was doing things only because I loved doing them, nothing else. After about a year, my day job at the time offered to pay for a career coach, and I took that opportunity. Through introspection, lots of hard work and diving deep into why I burnt out, I discovered that the fire was still there. However, fire needs oxygen, and I needed to take care of myself first and foremost.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ah, some of my favorite places to go. I haven’t nearly explored the city as much as I want to, and I feel like there are so many more places and people to see. I do enjoy going to West End for amazing brews. Best End Brewing in particular seems to always have live music playing, and their hot honey fried chicken sandwich is to die for. I love free yoga downtown on Wednesdays, and shopping and people-watching in Little Five Points. And now that it’s baseball season again, I’d be remiss to not mention going to a Braves game!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Hands down my grandma. Without her sharing her love of crafting and making things with her hands, I don’t think I’d be where I am today.

Also, my parents, husband, family, and friends who are constantly supporting me through the super high ups and the super low downs – and everywhere in between. Entrepreneurship can feel awfully lonely sometimes, so I’m incredibly thankful for a good support system.

Website: luckydogdesign.co

Instagram: instagram.com/luckydogmailclub

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-hutchinson-048351113/

Facebook: facebook.com/luckydogmailclub

Image Credits
For my photo: Cree Butler Others: Crystal Hollman