We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Colleen Corcoran a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Colleen, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
As a creative person, I find endless inspiration in the uniqueness of every wedding and event embroidery project. Each celebration holds its own special story, and that translates into distinct ideas, designs, colors, and a personality all its own. This variety keeps my creativity constantly engaged, and collaborating with other creative minds on these projects adds a whole new dimension to the process.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
The Handkerchief Shop was built from my love of pretty details, thoughtful gift giving and the happiness that comes from creating special wedding handkerchiefs and embroidered keepsakes for special occasions. I love that I am creating heirlooms with my custom embroidery work. It’s about crafting things that will tell stories as they are passed down through generations. So much is digital & disposable these days, having those little, quality items from an important day feels extra special.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Love to learn! No experience is wasted especially if you want to own your own business. Get some corporate experience if you can, even if it is not in your industry. It is a great way to learn about processes and be around people who have experience in a lot of different areas of business. Ask questions! Don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know” and “can you teach me?”.
Keep hustling! Being an entrepreneur is hard but very rewarding. I read once that an entrepreneur is someone who will keep trying when most others would have given up. So keep trying!
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most impactful things that my parents taught me that have helped me as a business owner have been a good work ethic, embracing the love of learning, and strong organizational and planning skills.
Contact Info:
- Website:www.thehandkerchiefshop.com
- Instagram: @the_handkerchief_shop
Image Credits
Photography: Love Me Do Photography, Caitlin Rose Photography (floral bouquet), Carhart Photography (dinner napkin) Wedding Crest Design: Papergarten (used on floral bouquet & dinner napkin embroidery)
