Anything but Simple
In the fall of 2016, I was a freshman at East Carolina University majoring in Interior Design. I had a hobby of calligraphy and crafting but never would have guessed my passion would become my career. I would make gifts for friends and family with my skills, and in December of 2016 I decided to make an Etsy shop called “TDHDesign”, selling vinyl decals with my lettering on them. I would make and ship orders from my dorm room with the help of my now husband, Nick. There was vinyl for decals stored in buckets in my closet and machines under my bed. I quickly became known as “sticker girl” around campus, selling my decals in front of the Dowdy Student Store. By May of 2017, TDHDesign had 500 sales on Etsy.
Over the summer of 2017, we launched “Bridesmaid Proposal Boxes” in June, and they took off. I changed my major to business and decided to pursue the company as a potential career. Come fall of 2017, Nick and I were back at ECU, and while walking on campus saw a sign for the Pirate Entrepreneurship Challenge (PEC). We didn’t know anything about business or how to pitch, but we decided to enter anyway. On the day of the first round, TDHDesign became Simple & Sentimental. As the team proceeded through the inaugural competition, we made it to the final round. In February of 2018, Simple & Sentimental walked away with $12,500 in seed capital. The craziest part - the night before the final round, I had entered another pitch competition to practice for the Pirate Challenge. We won first place, taking home $6,000 less than 24 hours before the PEC. Over the course of 2 days, Simple & Sentimental received $18,500 to kickstart the business.
By April of 2018, the funds were used to sign a lease on a new office space in an incubator in Greenville and hire 3 employees. In May, the office expanded to a 1,500 square foot production space to keep up with orders. Engagement boxes and gifts became a staple for S&S. Soon, Christmas season came along, and the volume was more than we could have ever imagined. In November, the office was expanded to 2,600 square feet to allow for higher order volume. Simple & Sentimental quadrupled its revenue from 2017 to 2018. That would not have been possible without the financial push from the PEC and Uptown Greenville and hard work from the S&S team.
Now we are known on Etsy for our Christmas ornaments, gift boxes, and personalized gifts. What started in a dorm room became a thriving business that employs a full-time production staff in our warehouse located in Ayden, NC.
Thank you so much for ordering with Simple & Sentimental or just stopping by to check out our shop. I started S&S to help people feel loved and appreciated through convenient, innovative, and meaningful gifts that honor God - in fact, that is our company's mission statement! But in 2016, I received the best gift to date when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I exchanged my fear and anxiety for the infinite love and forgiveness of the Father. His free gift of salvation was far greater than any gift we could ever create at S&S. Colossians 3:23 tells us "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord". My business is my ministry, and if you've ordered with us, you probably noticed the pocket-sized Gospel of John included in your order. We include one in every package we send out with the hope that you’ll enjoy it as a personal gift from me, whether you decide keep it for yourself or pass it along to someone else.
With love,
Taylor Walden
Owner & Founder, Simple & Sentimental
