Without further ado…  I am happy to post the first entry to Blog Grand Rapids.  We are starting with a truly awesome business in 2peas1pod.  It is a fitting first because, I aim to operate Blog Grand Rapids and David Chandler Photography at a similar standard.  It is a level that is not easily attained OR maintained.  Think I’m going a little heavy?  Keep reading and contact Stephanie and you will find-out for yourself.

Reading | Writing | Photography That is how we do it.  Enjoy and let me know what you think.

Stephanie Socie

• What’s your story?  When and how did you get started?
I started 2peas1pod.com in 2002, after our second son was born. We created this huge square orange birth announcement for Luke. After a dozen people told us that we could sell them, the idea finally dawned on me. I had been a stay at home mom for 3 years already, and was itching to do something more professional. But I insisted on working from home, so the e-commerce site was born in January 2003. It has worked out perfectly - allowing me to stay home with the boys and work in any spare moments I could find.

• My thoughts on good business. / How I stay competitive.
The goal from the very beginning has been for 2peas to offer not just good service, excellent service. Better service than anyone else. There are plenty of card companies out there, and many of them are completely automated. This means that the customers have limited options for customizing, and certainly no human to talk to should they need assistance. In order to stand out from the rest, I have always made sure that people know I will do everything I can to make the design process easy and enjoyable. When I opened the business, I was hesitant to tell people that there was only one employee, or that I was working from home. But I soon learned that this was actually a good way to connect with my customers. In fact, over the years, I have developed a close relationship with many loyal customers. I think that this is because we have so much in common. In this age of big box, off the shelf products, it’s been a wonderful experience to offer an old-fashioned small business alternative.

• Anything you would like to mention that is going on with your business now?
I’m working on a couple of new ideas that are very different from anything I’ve done before. The first is a Featured Artist Program, wherein I collaborate with other artists to create cards based on their designs. I’m working with a local artist and friend, Holly Goulet, to create blank folded notecards with her paintings printed on the front. And later this summer, I’ll be working with my brother-in-law, Steve Socie, to create hand-stamped holiday cards using his carved linoleum block artwork. Also, this year I’ll beginning selling through an affiliate network so I can reach more people but still provide all the service myself.

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Personal attention and high standards

Locally owned and operated

Blog Grand Rapids is proudly part of the affiliate program at 2peas1pod.  Certainly not a requirement to be posted here but it works nicely.