Life & Work with Loly Orozco

Today we’d like to introduce you to Loly Orozco.

Hi Loly, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am the owner and founder of Little Postage House, a letterpress, design and curated postage company, where we tell our clients’ stories through postage and paper design. Prior to venturing into this creative world, I worked professionally in New York City as a financial restructuring attorney for a major “Big Law” firm and as a legal clerk for a United States District Court. I never really planned on leaving my legal career to start a creative business.

In fact, prior to 2016, I had never imagined doing anything with my life other than being a lawyer. I was the little girl who watched Law & Order and dreamed of one day walking up the courthouse steps to argue her case (which I ultimately did and I’m darn proud of it)! It was not until 2016 that my life started taking a different path. I was at the post office and saw a bride with beautiful invitations that had handwritten calligraphy and the finest details. I wondered what postage stamp she would choose and realized that none of the options complimented her invitations. It was at that moment that my creative journey began and Little Postage House was born.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Although I started my business in 2016, I didn’t dedicate myself full-time to the business until last year. Instead, I juggled being a full-time attorney and a business owner for four years and that was incredibly challenging for various reasons. As a lawyer, I had a really demanding schedule and usually didn’t get home until after 8 p.m. (on a good day) and that meant that I spent many sleepless nights cutting stamps, packaging orders, assembling invitations and answering emails. I also kept my business a secret from almost everyone that I knew. I was a female attorney working in a male-dominated profession. I was often the only woman at networking events or in the courtroom. I knew that my business would be seen as a sign that I was somehow less committed to my legal work. So I kept it a secret. I was a lawyer by day and a business owner, pursuing her newfound passion by night.

Although it was extremely challenging and exhausting to keep this for four years, I was able to power through by asking for help when I needed it (my husband and parents have been incredibly supportive), being efficient with my time, and being extremely organized. As both Little Postage House continued to grow and my legal career developed, I reached a point where I realized that I was at a crossroads in my life. I needed to either pursue my legal career fully, which would have involved pursuing partnership at the law firm and developing a book of business, or I needed to dedicate myself completely to my business. The decision to leave the law was difficult for many reasons. At the law firm, there was certainty. I knew where my future was heading and where I would be in five, ten and twenty years. The path of entrepreneurship was lonely and undefined. I was not sure (and still am not sure) where it will take me, but I know that I love it and am excited to continue walking down this unconventional path.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work on all paper things – wedding invitations, stationery, holiday cards, you name it! Mostly, my work revolves around curating vintage postage collections for special mailings (e.g., wedding invitations, holiday cards, etc.), designing and printing wedding invitation suites. Whether it’s a vintage postage collection or a full wedding invitation, I like to say that I am a storyteller. I use vintage postage stamps and different design elements to tell a story – whether it’s the couples’ unique journey together or the upcoming wedding event (what it will feel like, look like, be like). At the beginning of the design process, I try to learn as much as I can about my clients and their event – where they are from, what they love, their favorite places, hobbies and interests.

I will then focus my designs on the smallest details – whether it is incorporating the bride’s favorite flowers into the design work, curating vintage postage stamps for the outer envelopes that represent the couple journey together, or drawing a sketch of the couple’s goldendoodle and incorporating into an event map – the details are present throughout the entire invitation suite. I think that my focus on the details sets me apart. Over the years, my work has become known for its storytelling aspect and its ability to encapsulate an event or client’s story. I am incredibly proud of that and the relationships that I have built with my clients. Wedding invitations are the first tangible item that guests will see, touch, and experience. They are the first impression, so it is incredibly important to me that I create invitations that make lasting and meaningful first impressions.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Explore opportunities, even if they are unplanned, and go where life takes you. When I was in college, I had a professor that once shared with me the best advice and I follow it until this day. She told me to avoid tunnel vision and to be open to all opportunities, even if they didn’t perfectly fit my plans. I always have kept that advice in mind and it is the reason that I am here today, doing what I love. Owning a business (especially a creative one) wasn’t a part of my plan. I never in a million years thought that I would do this, but I am here today because I always kept an open mind and I decided to try something different.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: www.littlepostagehouse.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlepostagehouse/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Little-Postage-House-115241963668664/

Image Credits
Erin McCall Photography Anna Delores Photography I Heart My Groom