Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Sardarian-Peterson.
Erica, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve always had a love for cards ever since I was a little girl. My mom would leave me sweet little notes wishing me luck on a test or letting me know how much she loved me in a card she hand picked especially for me. Like my mom, I began buying cards and writing sweet notes ‘just because.’
Sweet Little Nothings xo was always a dream. How it all started was very serendipitous. I was working as a producer at a digital company and walked over to a card shop next door during lunch one day. I was in a long-distance relationship at the time and wasn’t able to find the perfect card to send my then boyfriend who lived across the country. Who knew long-distance relationship cards were hard to come by and not finding the right one really inspired me to create my own.
I had no idea how to make a greeting card, but I was determined to create something unique to send. I went to a coffee shop in my neighborhood and decided to spend the day writing down ideas. I finally found a place to sit and as the gentleman before me was leaving the table, I sat down and noticed there was a heart in his latte. The heart was initially something I wanted to tie into the card. That was my sign from the universe. I drew a bunch of ideas and met with a designer friend of mine and we created the first card with a map of the United States and two cans on a string with an “I miss you” text caption below it (now our best-seller!). The feeling I felt when I first saw the card printed was pure magic. It took me back to that time as a little girl reading my mom’s handwritten notes. I knew there was something more there. The relationship didn’t last and I never sent the card, but I knew I had to keep going and more importantly, follow my heart.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t been an easy road, but I’m grateful for this path and all the lessons along the way. This industry was completely unfamiliar to me. I’ve spent my entire career working in the entertainment industry.
How would I even start? What steps would I need to take? What process would I need to follow? There was no roadmap. No straight path. It was a challenge finding the right paper, the right printing company, and figuring out how to sell our products when there’s so much competition in the marketplace. My brother gave me the best advice which was “never look left to right. always look straight ahead.” And that’s what I did. I surrendered and allowed myself to let go of all the self-judgment and expectations of what I thought this business should look like, which ultimately helped me move forward without fear.
If you’re passionate about something and feel fulfilled doing it, anything is possible. You just figure it out. Believe in yourself. Take the risk even if it means starting over. Be vulnerable. Allow yourself to make mistakes. Trust the process.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Sweet Little Nothings xo – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Sweet Little Nothings xo is a stationery company specializing in sweet notes and custom cards.
Handcrafted and made locally in los angeles, our mission is to make hearts happy with a thoughtful, handwritten note. I was very intentional about the look and feel of the brand at its inception. I knew I wanted to create something simple and understated but also unique. So, working with incredibly talented designers really helped bring that vision to life. Our paper is textured and of a higher, more premium quality, which is something I haven’t really seen in the market. In addition to the greeting cards, we have a line of postcards and note cards with our logo in the back in place of the stamp. We’ve hosted pop-up shops at West Elm (our dream!) and have sold as a local vendor in their California stores. We recently collaborated with our friends at Get The Flour Outta Here on recipe cards and are excited to expand our line into notebooks, journals, and wrapping paper.
For me, it’s that moment you unseal the envelope, open the card, and read that handwritten note. It’s so special. It’s a simple way of communicating your thoughts and feelings, that you may not be able to in other ways. Creating something that can ignite emotion and have someone feel loved and valued in return is what inspires me. I am most proud of the authenticity of our work and the thought, effort, and energy we put into each and every card we create.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love Los Angeles. I grew up here. I am a first-generation American born and raised in an Armenian household. My parents migrated to Los Angeles from Iran in 1979 during the revolution. They came to this country with very little money and hopes of creating a better life for themselves. I’ve lived in New York and Washington, DC, but Los Angeles has always been home to me.
The diversity, food, culture, and energy in this city is indescribable. I’m grateful that I can travel an hour and be in the mountains or by the beach, and even go to wine country. LA is unique and exciting in that way. I love the life I’ve built here with my husband and my pup and I can’t imagine living anywhere else.
What do I like least about our city? The traffic! But I do love that it allows me the time to listen to my favorite podcasts. It’s all about perspective, right? 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sweetlittlenothingsxo.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetlittlenothingsxo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sweetlittlenothingsxo-314265185684186/
Image Credit:
the second image for the custom wedding invitations with the flowers was taken by Arielle Gallione
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