Meet Jaclyn Wilson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jaclyn Wilson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jaclyn below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Jaclyn with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My work ethic is rooted in my early life experiences and upbringing. I was taught the value of hard work and the importance of earning what I had. Nothing was ever handed to me without some form of “work” or chore, whether taking out the trash or other tasks, which helped instill a strong work ethic from a young age. At 16, I entered the “real world.” I began working in customer-facing roles, where I developed people skills, discipline, and a deeper understanding of the importance of hard work during my formative years.

Over the past 19 years, I’ve found my place in the hospitality industry, serving people in various capacities. This journey has helped me cultivate a multifaceted work ethic grounded in core values such as dedication, reliability, punctuality, trustworthiness, and effective communication in positive and challenging scenarios. Additionally, I am deeply committed to continual learning and growth, being accountable and responsible for my words and actions while remaining professional, humble, kind, and a safe space for others. My work ethic helps set me apart from others, allowing me to create positive, meaningful connections with those I work with!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m a calligrapher and stationer specializing in creating custom wedding stationery and signage. I collaborate closely with each couple to bring their unique love stories to life through the meticulously crafted finer details. As a former DIY bride, I founded IBJ to help other couples navigate the challenges I faced while planning my wedding. I have a deep passion for hospitality, and I pride myself on providing a seamless, exciting, supportive, and organic design experience that feels effortless!

One of my favorite parts of my business is working almost exclusively with other small businesses for all of my work. By supporting other companies, such as local artists and family-owned printers, I can ensure my couples receive the highest quality designs and products, while each IBJ couple can feel good knowing they’re supporting many dreams in the process. It’s truly so special and an honor to be entrusted to be a small part of each couple’s big day, and there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing their excitement as our designs come to life!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three of the most impactful skills and qualities that helped me throughout my journey are my communication skills, willingness to try something new, and ability to learn new things. Weddings are personal, emotion-filled events, and clear, effective communication is an essential part of the process. This skill allows me to understand the couple’s needs and translate them into beautiful designs while collaborating with their other vendors to ensure each aspect cohesively aligns.

My willingness to try something new has vastly expanded my business and forced me to leave my super-cozy comfort zone! It helps keep every wedding project unique and the creative problem-solving and designs flowing so I can effectively adapt to new couples and their distinct demands. This quality goes hand-in-hand with my ability to learn new things, as I’m so open to learning and growing. There is no other option for me, as I always want to improve. This quality allows me to grasp new concepts quickly, pushing me to find new ways to challenge myself and grow my business.

My advice for folks who are in the early stages of a new journey is to take the time to hone in on specific skills before jumping into the deep end. You already took a big, exciting step in creating the business, so take the time to build a solid foundation! I recommend taking a workshop or online course in the field, following like-minded and inspiring people, and connecting with them to start building your community. Learn a new thing or two at a time and dive into the ins and outs of it because it will set you up for the most seamless process. I wish I had taken this advice myself, as it would have saved me a *lot* of anxiety at the beginning of my journey! I tried to do too many things simultaneously, creating more chaos and stress than was needed. So, invest in yourself — buy the course, connect with others, and ask questions while perfecting your skills. It’s a marathon, not a sprint 🙂

Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?

This is such a great question! So many amazing people have helped me build the skills and knowledge I have today. I have learned from three amazing teachers: Crooked Calligraphy, Design by Laney, and Elisabeth Stuckey Design. Each powerhouse has given me a well-rounded view of the industry and design or lettering techniques from a different and valuable perspective. The stationery & signage community here in the northeast are also so special to me and have been extremely helpful in my business journey. Along with sharing tips & tricks, we instill community over competition, embracing each other’s strengths, lifting each other up, and collaborating to bring our clients the very best! I can lean on all these ladies to work through business or lettering challenges and materials questions or have an ear ready to listen (and vice versa!). It was scary starting a business, but having the support of my fellow stationery and signage makers makes the journey so much more enjoyable. I am blessed and feel so lucky to have their support!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Taylor Frost Photography
Kim Go Photography

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