Just Maybe ...: My Journey with Paperkutz SG

Paperkutz SG is almost 1. Thus i guess it's apt for me to make a post dedicated to my home business.

The idea to start a custom sticker business had been around since 2011. But i kept shelving the idea because I need to invest a small amount of money on the machines and materials. Thus, i delved into selling cosmetics online through Spendless Cosmetics. Wasn't really making much money with them though. But anyway, those were the past.

Why i waited till 2015 to brave myself into putting in money into the business? Because I had the support of my fiance. Back then when i was still with the ex, i did mention about investing in this particular machine but well, seems like i was communicating with a wall. But with fai, even he was excited and gave me the go ahead with the investments. Oh, apologies for not wanting to reveal what is the machine i bought; Singapore is quite a small country so I'm kinda selfish into sharing what I have. Imagine many people getting the same thing then i guess the demand for customized stickers will decline since every Tom, Mary & Jane can make their own stickers.

Well since I had been eyeing the machine since 2011, naturally the curiosity in me will want to learn more about it's functions and capabilities even though I do not have the machine on hand. COnfusing at first, but once i got the machine in March last year, i slowly got the hang of it.

To be honest, I got slightly demoralized and almost gave up because it was so complicated! But when i think about the monies i put in, and the future that i have planned, i made sure i persevered on. Life is a lifelong journey anyway. This is when i learnt that watching videos and reading tutorials about a particular instrument doesn't really help much unless you have hands on. Same theory like when you are at work lah kan?

I am thankful for the small group of friends who supported my initial journey in Paperkutz SG. Without them I could not have a portfolio to advertise on social medias. I'm even more thankful for my fiance whose ideas seems neverending. Because of him I also managed to play around more with the instrument and create unique stickers like couple stickers, and hard to find stickers. Somehow I feel like he's the boss and I'm just the worker, because he assisted in putting the price guide on the stickers i made for customers.

My first ever product with Paperkutz SG

But nothing is perfect in the beginning. I wasted alot of materials, and i really mean, ALOT! because I wasn't familiar with the settings, I had to play around with the settings, had to do alot of trial and error. And sometimes when I thought i was already accustomed to the machine, something just had to go wrong. But it's part and parcel of starting up a business. We learn from our mistakes.

I don't come from a family of entrepreneurs. My relative in Malaysia only recently started their teak furniture business which is thankfully doing well, but not after several failed attempts at other businesses. I didn't really know who to learn the business trade from, thus I'm still not willing to take a big jump and do something big. Either way, I'm still quite tied up with my full time job.

Halfway through, my buddy in Gixxers@SG entrusted me to help him with his business decal. Honestly he's a scary client. Fussy, OCD, but the end product finally made all of us happy. Then, we decided to create a club decal for the Gixxers. Again, fussy fella. But his fussiness is not about the typical boss who only orders around, he's particularly observant and has an eye for intricate details, which makes the Gixxers@SG sticker more stand out even though it's of die-cut finishing.

Shortly after, I had a bulk order with a corporate company. The experience was honestly, shit. Sometimes the "people up there" has the IQ but low on EQ, or importantly, basically no common sense. You obviously do not demand to pay $1 for a design with intricate detailing. I was down with severe back pain at that point of time, suspected slip disc, i couldn't stand or sit for long periods of time. So it made the work even more not worth the time I honestly regretted dealing with them. But then again, it's another learning point taken.

All these while managing Paperkutz SG, I learn a lot of things. At least it rejuvenated my brain cells which was long dead when I work day in and day out in the lab.

From customized stickers, to customized wedding/engagement guestbooks, I'm now venturing into the custom apparels business. It will definitely take a while to take off, but patience is obviously going to be a virtue. I've done up several customized baby rompers/tees/vests and thanks to the Almighty that my customers loved them.

So much love from my customers who entrusted their faith in my services, and double triple love from my recurring customers who came back for more! Alhamdulillah...

Guess that's all for now. In the mean time, check out my previous works... And happy 1st year Paperkutz SG!