Hi friends & happy Wednesday!
Today I am doing something a bit different than my normal posts – I am sharing with you an interview from an amazing local entrepreneur that I have been following for a couple of years now: Jillian from The Anastasia Co.!
Isn’t she just the cutest?! She has the best style & eye for design!
One thing that I love is learning about and supporting local businesses + entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneur myself, I just always find it fascinating how others have made their own stamp in the world of entrepreneurship. That’s why I decided to reach out to Jillian and ask if she would be interested in sharing some of her story in starting her own blog & paper goods shop: The Anastasia Co.
Absolutely in love with everything she creates!
In her own online haven she talks about all things entertaining, DIY, recipes, interiors, and more! And guys…..HER SHOP! You have to go see all of the gorgeous wall art, notebooks, and cards that she makes! PS. you can either shop from her blog or shop all of the same products on Etsy! And at the end of the interview, I’ll have a super fun giveaway for you guys with The Anastasia Co.!
1) Give me a little bit of back story just about yourself – where you grew up, went to school, college, favorites, hobbies, family, etc.!
- Hi! I’m Jillian, and I’m from Omaha, Nebraska – born and raised.
- Graduated college from University of Nebraska at Omaha
- I have a pet Chihuahua named Fiesta
- I love tacos, plants, being outside, traveling + staying home!
2) Did you always have an entrepreneurial spirit?
YES! When I was young, I loved to play store. A toy cash register was my favorite Christmas gift! In sixth grade I started Jillian’s Jewels; where I pressured my family to buy bracelets and keychains from me for fifty cents!
3) What did you do before The Anastasia Co.?
I worked in corporate marketing for six years as a Marketing Specialist at Hayneedle and Brand Manager for Flagship Restaurant Group. I absolutely loved both of these companies. Corporate marketing is where I learned the e-commerce world and project management skills.
4) How did you come up with the idea to start The Anastasia Co.?
When my corporate jobs revealed the world of blogging, I fell in love. I felt an irresistible pull to create my own online haven. What started as a way to simply practice writing, photography, graphic design, and web development quickly turned into something much larger. It turned into something I now find true purpose in every day, a small business.
5) What’s the story behind your business?
See the answer in this magazine article that Jillian, The Anastasia Co., got featured in!
6) What’s your motivation as an entrepreneur?
I love sharing meaningful messages and pointing people towards God’s word; I feel it’s the most important thing you can do for someone!
7) When & how were you able to go full time business owner? How long did it take you? Was it a hard transition?
I made the leap after about four years. Between my day job and side hustle, I was essentially working two full time jobs, and I needed to make a change. I decided to take the risk, and it was the scariest thing I’ve ever done. It’s not so scary any more, it was the best thing I’ve ever done!
8) What’s the hardest thing about running your own business?
Constantly feeling like you’re not doing enough — the work is never finished! I combat this by setting daily, monthly, and yearly goals.
9) What are your dreams for The Anastasia Co.?
I would love to start working with non-profits and donate a percentage of sales to help those in need.
10) What has been the number #1 reason for your success?
I give all of the credit to the Lord! He has provided me with the drive, skills, opportunities, and support needed to follow this dream. He’s running the show here 🙂
11) What advice would you give yourself 5 years ago in terms of becoming a business owner? Any other tips you’d like to share with fellow or future entrepreneurs?
Invest in a good camera and learn how to take beautiful photos! Also: learn SEO inside and out. SEO is how people will find you online, and once they find you, they need to like what they see! These two are the most important skills to have – they go hand-in-hand.
Jillian’s story is simply amazing & I love how the Lord orchestrated all of it! It’s kind of funny how He works sometimes 😉 If you’re interested in being an entrepreneur & creating your own business, Jillian added some perfect tips within the interview! It really is as simple as believing in yourself & trusting the God will guide you through! Thank you so much, Jillian, for taking the time to answer my questions and sharing your story with myself and my readers!
just a few of my favorite items in Jillian’s shop:
GIVEAWAY TIME
Head over to my Instagram page to see all of the details on how you could win Jillian’s ‘Grace Upon Grace’ Print & ‘wake, pray, slay the day’ journal!!!
