We were lucky to catch up with Amy Cortez James recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Amy 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?
Hi, my name is Amy Cortez James, the owner of Amy’s Social Butterfly handmade greeting cards. My creation of greeting actually came after learning about scrapbooking, I soon ventured off into making greeting cards for fun and as time went on I began giving them to people I worked with. These same people soon began paying me as I began getting more creative with them and once I realized how much joy I was able to bring to people with my card I decided to form my company Amy’s Social Butterfly.
As an owner of a company, I soon realized there is alot of work that goes into creating a successful company and when you are doing it on your own, it can be quite challenging. However, I was ready for this challenge because I knew how to work hard and never give up even when it becomes too much you just have to keep going. Luckily for me, I was raised by my parents who were both very hard working individuals which is where I got my work ethic I have today and has been a great quality I have because without it, I would not have been able to get to where I am today without it and for that I thank my parents dearly.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As stated previously, I hand make 3D greeting cards without the use of machines. I cut my own cardstock and mats for each card and I also handpick each embellishment which is placed on the card. No two cards are the same, which in turn makes them one of a kind and makes them even more special to the recipient of my cards. My cards are also unique because they can be customized with any theme or name for that special loved one. In addition, another thing that sets my card company apart from the other Greeting Card companies is that I personally speak with my customers to make sure I create a quality card for them and should they have an issue with the card they can always reach out to me directly and will make it right in a timely manner.
I am currently creating various card lines for every budget. I will begin with the luxury cards which are the original 3D cards, I will then have a second line of cards which will be at a different price point but still the same quality and uniqueness that all cards created for Amy’s Social Butterfly will always have. These designs will come out again for everyone to see just in time for the 2023 Christmas Season!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Having great customer service skills are very important when creating your brand. Trust is also very important to earn from your customers which leads to word of mouth which is the best advertisement you can have. Using quality products is also very important. Patience and the willingness to continue when you think you can’t go on are also important qualities to have.
My advice to anyone starting a new business, would be to make sure you are willing to interact with your customers and gain their trust. Research the products you use do not purchase something because it is inexpensive sometimes paying a little more is worth it when you want to produce a quality product. My final piece of advice to someone starting out is to be patient and Never Give Up even when you think you want to give up.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
I am currently facing a difficult challenge and that is getting my greeting cards seen locally in the DFW area where I am from. A few years ago, I was asked to create greeting cards for the Oscar Nominees in Beverly Hills, CA and due to this opportunity I went on to attend the MTV Movie Awards Gifting Suite and the Emmy’s Gifting Suites and my cards were also featured in INSTYLE Magazine as well. Even with all of this publicity in California, my cards were not seen in DFW and in order for me to sell my cards I have to be in person to sell them at events in luxury venues. I use Facebook, and Instagram to show my card designs. My cards can also be found on my website as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.AmysSocialButterfly.com
- Instagram: @AmysSocialButterfly
