Finalist Q&A: Fairy Tale Memories

This finalist makes cards and mails them out automatically on dates specified. The service is great for those that are deployed in the Military; all they need to do is pick out cards they want mailed, give Fairy Tale Memories the addresses and dates for them to be sent and the company will mail them to the people they want.

How did you come up with the idea for your business, and what were your influences and sources of motivation?

A Fairy Tale Memories greeting card.

Angela Doescher: Fairy Tale Memories originally started with making wedding invitations, while I still do that, I wanted a more personal aspect from the business. I was looking to have "friends" for customers, repeat business so that I could work personally with customers over and over. I knew that with the wedding invitations I would not have those same customers coming back every month; or at least that's the hope for their marriage. I came up with an idea to mail out cards (all handmade and made to order) on the customers’ terms - like a personal card assistant: just the right card at just the right time. I wondered who could use the service the most: Deployed Servicemen/women. I met a young lady whose husband was deployed and she loved the idea! A lot of the service people get cards to mail and often get them from their loved ones, but do not always have the time, nor the energy, to mail them out to the people they love throughout the year. This young lady even said that although she got a nice call from her husband, a card would have been great too; for she missed him so much and wanted something personal to keep.

The business is a great idea, and those that use the service now, come back every month, sometimes even weekly. The issue I have now is spreading the word so that those that could benefit from it the most get to use it.

What do you consider to be a unique feature of your business?

One of the most unique things is that every card is handmade. If you want a card for your sister and she loves the color pink and loves Dogs, she will get a pink card with dogs-all handmade with detail, buttons, ribbons or whatever she likes. Another unique thing about it is that I will send that card out to your sister so that she gets it by her birthday; you don't have to remember to mail that card later in the year. Just choose the people/address you want cards sent to, choose any details you want on the cards (some people have no idea, or to be honest, don't really care and that’s fine too), the date you want it to be mailed and we will mail it with whatever return address you choose. You also have the option of mailing personal notes, letters or anything for that matter, by fax, email or snail mail to me and I will add it to your card. The whole idea is to make it easy for you, our customers and especially for those that want the personalization, but just don't have the time.

Another thing that Fairy Tale Memories does is makes framed “scrapbook pages” for the military personnel that just got back home. Everything is done with their information in the design and personalized with as much information as supplied to me. These are donated as I hear about the homecoming in the area.

What are your thoughts on the future of small businesses in a slowing economy and their importance to the vitality of the local community?

If you play your "cards" right (sorry for the pun) then the slowing economy can be a great time to start or build a small business; as long as the business is not in need of loans, there is no better time. I have found that when you have a great business, people will back you up no matter the circumstances. This is not the time for people to back down because times are hard, this is the time to step up and show people what you have. Support your economy, help get it back up. Without small businesses, the economy will not bounce back, which is all of our hopes. There are some cities in the US that are thriving and I fully believe it is because the small businesses are there, helping their local communities-it is vital to do what you can to help and not be scared of what might happen. Remember to shoot for the moon because even if you miss, you will still a land among the stars--(Les Brown)

Why should the Idea Cafe regulars vote for you?

I know there is a need for our service men and women for Fairy Tale Memories. Now, we just have to tell them about it. The grant money will help to advertise in the places that our military personnel look and also help to alleviate some of the cost for the frames that are donated to the service men/women.