
Business

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3rd October 2018
01:54pm BST

Her then-fiancée (now husband, Trevor) was living in Boston for work and she decided to follow him at the end of 2014.
Initially she worked for a charity there but her new life in the US made her reevaluate what she wanted to do.
"Moving to Boston gave me a new outlook on life.
"I think being immersed in a new country, city and culture gave me the push and uprooting that I needed to really begin to think about what I really wanted to do in life.
"I knew that I wanted to write for a living in some capacity but just hadn’t figured out the details at that stage!"
The moment she sent her dad the poems about her mum clinched it for her and her business Just Happy Tears was born.
Customers submit their photos and details about their loved ones and Just Happy Tears turns them into wall hangings printed with a poem or piece of writing.
What sets the business apart is that the gifts tell a story, Lisa says.
"There are so many personalised gifts available out there, from personalised socks to photo books. We are different.
"A photo book captures some moments in time, our gifts capture love stories and life stories in their entirety and that’s what we pride ourselves on."
"Writing for business instead of pleasure comes with its own challenges.
"There’s a pressure in writing for other people, that doesn’t apply when writing for yourself especially when you’ve got about a week or less to have the gift put together from start to finish and shipped to the customer.
"Initially I thought the business would be about writing poetry but it’s also become about reading people and making sure they’re 100 per cent happy with the finished product."
Her ten years working in the media have stood to her since she started working for herself, she adds.
Working to deadlines, working with a team and being able to adapt and take on new skills are "what entrepreneurship is all about."
"It’s constant adaptation and learning and with the nature of media these days and how quickly it’s changing, the principles are the same."
That's not to say that there haven't been speed bumps along the way.
Leaving a steady job to go it alone was daunting "and still is," Lisa continues.
There have been lots of steep learning curves along the way.
"Trying to figure out things like sales, marketing, the legal side of incorporating a business, dealing with investors is a challenge.
"It’s not massively complicated but it takes a little bit of time to understand how everything works and to become more sure of yourself.
"I wouldn’t change a thing though. I love being my own boss!
"The little victories are all the more exciting because you’re starting from scratch. Every time an order comes in, I still get a little rush."
She envisions it as a leader in the worldwide sentimental gift market, a go-to place that competes with companies like Not On The High Street and Shutterfly.
She'd also like to help people see poetry in a new light.
"There’s a stigma around poetry that it’s inaccessible and sometimes boring. We want to show people that poetry is accessible and current as well as extremely touching and sentimental."
Lisa says that her story is proof that writing is not only a worthwhile but also a profitable pursuit.
"People often think that a career in creative writing is restrictive. Our company is testament to the fact that you can build a successful business around your passion.
"Who cares if people think you’re crazy?! If you have a vision and you want to try, don’t let anyone else stop you!"
Images via JustHappyTears.com
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