Meet Valerie Thomas | Owner of Quote the Culture

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

Hi Valerie, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
My passion for stationery emerged while I was a student at Howard University. I worked in a small card/stationery store. I enjoyed cataloguing the newest journals and looking at the boxed notecards that would be delivered with each shipment. This love for stationery continued into adulthood. When given the opportunity, I decided to cultivate my brand of stationery, a company with one consistent goal. I aspire to design journals that mean something to the person that purchases them. Journals are necessary for documenting one’s journey in life. I design each journal with a detailed view in mind. Quote the Culture is a culturally conscious stationery brand that encompasses many items such as journals, notecards, notepads, and magnets. Hiphopisms, the first series in the company’s expanding line of journals, established the tone for the brand. The journal covers range in topic but aim to inspire you to “quote the culture”. In addition, creating content that encourages positive and culturally conscious conversations is another goal of the brand. My goal is to make sure that my journals create a space for genuine conversations as well as shine a light on the many cultural influences that we consistently encounter.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
In business, the way you move matters. It is always necessary to remain focused on the goals you have established for your brand. As a business owner, the thing I am most proud of is my ability to stay laser focused on what’s next. I don’t waiver in the goals that I have established for my brand. It is not easy to pivot as a business owner, but it is indeed necessary. As customers look for different ways to shop, businesses must be flexible in the options they offer. I am excited about the various ways my products can be purchased. They are available in various retail spaces, bookstores, online and at local events that support vendors. The challenge is finding more ways to expand and increase viewership but that is a challenge I am certain I will also overcome.

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?
The most exciting places to visit in Atlanta are off the beaten path. They are the areas of the city that are not oversaturated and carry the most history. A typical outing with friends involves grabbing coffee and a pastry at a local, small eatery. I love Everything Nola Café for both coffee and pastries. After coffee and treats, I am off to a cultural event at one of the many venues throughout the city. My favorite place to lurk is Hammonds House in the West End. Then, we are off to a mom-and-pop restaurant for lunch or dinner. Or, if it’s nice out, we may visit the food truck park and sample a few different types of food. When I go out in the city, I like to circulate my dollars in the small business community as much as possible. That’s the most important part!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My sister and I were raised in South Georgia. We both grew up with our grandmother. She was the owner and operator of a small family business. She was a teacher by trade, but an entrepreneur at heart. She revived, rebranded, and breathed life into her business. In addition, she nurtured many others that would soon become business owners. I learned all that I know about business integrity, work ethic and networking from her. She taught me that how to “mind what matters” in business. She is my “shout out”!

Website: https://quotetheculturellc.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiphopisms/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hiphopisms

Image Credits
*EcomSpaces *MyMilkandMoney *Capstonecrate