Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Digiacomo.
Hi Jennifer, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember, my family has strived to make every day a celebration! From Holiday traditions to unforgettable parties, I was raised in an environment that made the most of every moment! My family is also full of creatives and I followed suit, pursuing a career in Graphic Design.
After getting my B.F.A at Otis College of Art and Design, I began my career at BCBGMAXAZRIA® continuing on to Skechers USA® then finally wet n’ wild® cosmetics where I worked my way up to Art Director. Bringing people together with good food and decorations has always been my “happy thought” since such memories are the fondest of my childhood. Consequently, as a professional graphic designer, you would think that the idea to design party decorations would have occurred to me sooner. However, it wasn’t until I was planning my 30th birthday party that inspiration struck. I thought it would be fun to say goodbye to my 20s with a 1920s theme but was unable to find the decorative signs and party supplies I was looking for anywhere.
Consequently, I decided to design and print my own, which ended up being so much fun! The positive feedback I received and sheer joy I felt as a result were sure signs that I was onto something so I decided to open an online Etsy shop called “Pixels And Pop.” The name was inspired by the fusion of my digital graphic design background (“Pixels”) and fondness for celebratory occasions that call for popping champagne (“Pop.”) The more decorations I designed, the more my passion grew since this new venture seemed to blend seamlessly into my life. I was still working for wet n’ wild® cosmetics at the time but a year after opening my Etsy shop, I decided to take the leap into life as a full-time business owner.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
At larger companies, there are separate departments that manage every facet of the business but when you work for yourself, you become all of those departments. I spend most of my time trying to efficiently balance the various hats I am required to wear from designing new decorations, planning photoshoots, developing marketing campaigns, communicating with customers and vendors to managing my social media, website, blog and Etsy shop. Leaving a salary position to focus on my own business venture has been the scariest and best decision I have ever made. I have learned so much and there is still so much left to learn as the party industry is constantly growing and changing. Being a business owner definitely has its highs and lows but at the end of the day, it’s all worth it. Nothing makes me happier than sharing my love for entertaining with others through my printable party decorations, which make it easy and affordable to throw DIY celebrations at home.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Whether it’s time to pop the big question or time to party while popping bottles of champagne, I love helping my customers turn their celebratory visions into a reality. At Pixels And Pop, I specialize in customizing every detail of a celebration from the invitation to the decorations and “Thank You” cards. Branding has always been my design strength, which when applied to a celebration, makes everything feel very cohesive and extra special. As a fine artist, my finished designs often combine a variety of medias from watercolor and acrylic paint to pixel and vector graphics.
During the peek of the pandemic, when celebrations took a pause, I expanded the products I offer to include DIY gifts, the most popular of which being my Gift Bouquets. They include custom tags, flower toppers and leaf wraps that transform a variety of items such as gift cards, candy or meat sticks into a gift bouquet.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
The Rachel Hollis Podcast.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.pixelsandpop.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pixelsandpop/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PixelsAndPop/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/pixels_and_pop
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYX4YpyS1JsqNKM8aaRqjlQ
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pixels-and-pop-seal-beach-2
Image Credits:
Jennifer Digiacomo of “Pixels And Pop,” Lori of “Pop of Gold,” and Cynthia of “Pieces of Onye.”
