If there is one thing that goes hand in hand with weddings, it’s happy tears! Hanky’s have always been a traditional gift to give to the mother of the bride or groom, bridesmaids, etc. but we’re here today to let you in on a secret! Colleen started by collecting vintage handkerchiefs which has now turned into The Handkerchief Shop, and has been modernizing these hankies for over a decade now. You can do custom embroidery or monogramming to make for the perfect keepsake. They now even do handwritten embroidery to make that special note you’ve been hanging on to a little bit more permanent. Let’s dive right in to see how Colleen started her journey with The Handkerchief Shop!
NO. 01
We are so curious to know how you got started in the industry! Tell us a little bit about why you felt inspired to start this brand.
I have always been drawn to pretty laces and fabrics which gave way to a love of handkerchiefs, even at a young age. My mom gave me a handkerchief for my First Communion and my love of handkerchiefs continued on through my adult life. When my husband and I were getting married, I looked for embroidered handkerchiefs to give our family but could not find any. From there, my first handkerchief collection was born. I love sourcing beautiful laces and quality fabrics to make handkerchiefs for weddings and special occasions. Customers can embroider messages, monograms, their handwriting or custom designs on their handkerchiefs to make them personalized and extra special.
NO. 02
What is your favorite part about being a girl boss and owning your own business?
I love the creative freedom that comes with being able to make decisions for my business, brand, and product!
NO. 03
Have you ever found it difficult to balance your time while being a business owner? If so, how did you work through it?
Ah, the juggle is real! A wonderful advantage of owning a business is the flexibility which allows me to work and also be there for my family. But this also puts my planning skills to good use because my schedule varies from day to day. I work in chunks of time that do not always fit the traditional day as well (early before the kids are up or when they go to bed at night.)
NO. 04
If there is one thing that you have learned while owning your own business, what would it be?
I know I am on the right path when things start organically falling into place. It is a lot of trial and error, retooling my product, listening, evaluating and learning from my mistakes. It’s still that way for my business!
Quick Q’s
My guilty pleasure:
An almond croissant and a cup of coffee – I love a really good flaky pastry!
My favorite tip to getting re-inspired when in a creative rut:
I look for inspiration everywhere! Going to NYC and trying a new restaurant, visiting unique shops and people watching in my favorite districts always inspires me. But so does gardening or taking a great nature walk!
One thing that is never *not* on my desk:
A “to-do” list
What gets me going on Monday Mornings:
My kids! We hit the ground running on Monday morning because of school and I usually have lots of orders and inquiries for The Handkerchief Shop that I have to work on from the weekend.
Looking to peruse some more Girl Boss inspired stories? Check out The Girl Boss Story Behind Ellie and Piper!