Meet Samantha Squalls of Paper Decor More

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Squalls.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve been scrapbooking since I was 16. Traveling all around Los Angeles in search for the perfect paper, embellishments, and tools. I would research paper manipulating techniques then go home and master them. This was before the YouTube and Facebook videos so I’d have to venture all around to find exactly what I was looking for.

Then in 2008 as I was searching for baby shower invitations in anticipation of my daughters birth, I couldn’t find what I was looking for to fit the theme “A Star is Born,” so I decided to make my own invitations. This was the first time I spread my creativity for others to see.

Has it been a smooth road?
Yes and no. Smooth is dependent on how you look at life. I believe all the ups and downs have helped me create the vision I have for my business today. Everything goes through cycles and the difference is seen when you push through the rough patches. The biggest struggle for me being a young, single mother was capital. It has been challenging maintaining a full-time job in the banking industry then coming home to craft, but I love every moment!

Other struggles included client retention. Now we understand that it’s best to hold on to your customers especially in my industry because they’ll need paper products for all of life’s milestones. Clients want perks and incentives to make them want to continue using your company in addition to a unique product.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
PaperDecorMore (PDM) is an all-encompassing paper designer company creating handmade greeting cards, custom designed invitations, decorated dessert tables in addition to teaching artistic crafting classes. We are known for our commitment to exceed our client’s expectations. We believe each paper product that is shipped out of our workspace should WOW our customers, so we pay attention to the details and add all the components to take it to the next level.

We use our “layering” technique to transform to the blank slate of a plain greeting card to an adorned, eye-catching item. We love having our customers join in on the creative process as to ensure they’re getting the design of their dreams. All of our designs are one of a kind which helps our business stand apart from other “cookie cutter” stationary companies. We believe each paper has a story to tell and shouldn’t be held to specific standards!

We’ve created over 10,000 Greeting Cards, 5,000 custom invitations for weddings to baby showers, 150 Dessert tables for office buildings and the BET awards and taught 30 craft workshops in schools and museums. We currently have a staff of 4 employees and designers who assist with events and production. We’re so thankful for our team because there was one point when this was a one-man show and oh boy was that challenging. So glad for the growth and development of PDM.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, Los Angeles is a great city to start a business like mine. You’ll have a lot of completion but you will also be able to connect with a wide variety of people. And people talk! The best marketing is word of mouth marketing that what makes Yelp so popular. Plus LA has so many niches within the county so you’ll always be able to find “your” customer.

Pricing:

• Handmade Greeting Cards start at $5
• Custom Designed Invitations start at $2.50/each
• Decorated Dessert Tables start at $325

Contact Info:

• Website: www.paperdecormore.com
• Phone: 3238723779
• Email: samantha@paperdecormore.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paperdecormore/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/PaperDecorMore/

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.