You remember the first people you met at SCAD, that made you want to go even more than before? There were a couple of people like that for me and Erin McManness was one of them. I remember the first SCAD Day I came to check out the different departments at SCAD a few years ago. I walked in thinking, Graphic Design sounds good. Though at first I got a headache, it still sounded good in theory; it wasn’t until I reached the illustration department that I completely changed my mind. I remember there being a screenprinting demonstration that day, and several grad students hanging out. One of them was Erin, who was working on her thesis featuring Female heroes. We struck up a conversation in which she literally invited me to go sketch with her and her friends, and I remember thinking, “YESS!!! Please, I want to go sketch with you and your friends! This sounds amazing.” She was so unique and brilliant and kind. That’s what I wanted to be like. And though I didn’t realize it before, that was the reason I wanted to go to art school, to become an actual artist that did things with other artists. Although she ended up graduating before I came to SCAD, I still run into her here and there at creative events and find the same beautiful spirit. Her business, Paper Raven Co. reflects her personality succinctly.
I was recently able to interview her in the midst of her current success and busy life! Here is what she had to say about being an entrepreneur and the steps she took while in school to pursue her dream. Enjoy.
Paper Raven Co. logo
1. What is your full name and what do you do?
Erin McManness and I am the Principal and Designer at Paper Raven Co., an illustration and paper goods brand based in Atlanta.
Photo Courtesy of Common Creative ATL.
2. Where are you from?
I am originally from Baltimore, and moved to Atlanta in 2012 to pursue (and complete) my MFA in Illustration from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
A Fine Southern Lady, photo courtesy of Paper Raven Co.
3. What made you want to start a business?
The honest answer was that I realized very soon into my adult life in the “working world”, that I did not want to spend 2+ hours in the car sitting in traffic everyday for the next 40 years. I did not want to be restricted in my freedoms at a traditional job, and I did not want anyone else to determine how much earning potential I had – or have that power over my self-worth. Entrepreneurship has always been at the heart of my endeavors, and during my full-time employment at other jobs, I was always singularly focused on the end goal: to get my side business to the financial point where it could become a full-time business. In summary, the brutally honest truth is that I really believe that I was not made to be a robot in a cubicle; I really believe that life is about creating. It is about so much more than just working a job and going home and watching TV – eat, sleep, repeat. This works for some people, but I know it does not work for me. Entrepreneurship comes with a lot of risks, and is not better or worse than working a traditional job, but the freedom and potential for growth is what really gets me up in the morning.
Southern Gentleman card, courtesy of Paper Raven Co.
4. What were the steps you took the year before launching toward getting your business off the ground?
I actually worked on my business behind the scenes for 2 years while I worked full-time jobs. I think that the more financial planning (and saving) you can do before starting a business is key. Establishing a presence on social media also helped when I took the leap full time into Paper Raven Co. I had worked very hard to create a consistent look for my brand, posted regularly, and collaborated with other people in the industry. So when I went full-time, I had a built-in audience that had already been familiarized with my products. Another component of planning was developing my business education. I took a ton of online courses and webinars (during lunch hours or listened while I was at my desk – I know, rebel!) and learned as much as I could about business finance. This sounds super dry, but the numbers are the difference between a business that succeeds and a business that is failing. I made a budget for my expenses, set a weekly sales goal and spreadsheets to keep track of it. Numbers sound boring, but they can be fun and exciting! Coming from a life-long art major, I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s true! Lastly, getting your business off the ground means accepting that you’ll never truly be “ready”, there will always be an element (or more!) of fear and the unknown. One of my favorite quotes says, “Becoming an entrepreneur is like jumping off of a cliff and building a plane on the way down.”
Pumpkin Spice Love Card. Photo courtesy of Paper Raven Co.
5. What advice do you have for someone looking to become an entrepreneur in the same field [possibly branching out in the future as well]?
Get clear on your numbers. Know how many sales you have to hit to pay your bills AND put some into savings (for Savings, I recommend Digit). Know how much it costs to make every part of your product, and know your profit margins. For this, I highly recommend Megan Auman’s Creative Live Course, “Make a Living Selling What You Make“. She provides actual numbers and spreadsheets for nailing this information down, because I know, it’s daunting! Investing in this course was one of the best decisions I made for my business before going full-time. And like I said above, this is an exciting and thrilling time, but the unknown is a powerful force. Entrepreneurship – especially creative entrepreneurship – has become extremely trendy, and on social media it looks like a lot of mimosas on the beach and 4 hour work weeks. But be prepared to put in more hours and make more sacrifices than your friends who work 9-5’s. Your lifestyle is going to be different, and that’s okay. On the flip side, I have personally found everyday – even if I’m not fabulously wealthy (yet?!) – that I have a much deeper sense of fulfillment, happiness and purpose than I ever did going to a job.
Autumn Harvest Wedding Suite, photo courtesy of Paper Raven Co.
6. Lasty, what advice do you have for students who still have a year or two left at SCAD? What are some key things they can do to gain the most from their time here?
My advice for students who have a year or two left is to focus in on what lights your fire artistically. This is a wonderful, but very limited time in your life where you will have every opportunity to experiment and try new things because your priority is your education. Once you graduate and a career shifts into primary focus, this time will be harder to come by. So enjoy your moments of taking risks, pay attention to the projects that really excite you, and do more of those projects. If you can figure out what avenue of illustration you love and want to pursue after graduation, take all of those projects to the next level – go above and beyond. Make extra assignments for yourself. This is what will make the difference when employers and art directors are looking at portfolios of the same projects, versus looking at a portfolio that has obviously taken initiative. Your passion does come through in significant ways!
Check out Erin’s website for more of her amazing products and updates. Sign up for her newletter and follow her on social media for free inspiration!
To find other lady entrepreneurs, get connected with the Ladypreneur League of Atlanta!