As part of our Create & Cultivate x Vistaprint Brand Campus, we’re sharing all the ways that Vistaprint can help you grow, adapt, and evolve your business. Explore ‘Real Stories’ from Vistaprint Alums, and learn how entrepreneurs use Vistaprint as a one-stop-shop for all of their small business marketing solutions.

Whether you’re sourcing a physical product, seeking digital design services, or simply looking for inspiration, Vistaprint is the marketing partner that enables small business owners to elevate their brands – at every stage of their journey. Read on to discover how real business owners use Vistaprint's design capabilities and wide product selection to help their businesses grow organically—and how you can too.

Jaclyn Johnson, CEO and Founder, Create & Cultivate

What do you love most about having your own brand/ business?

The ability to make decisions quickly – especially in 2020 when things changed overnight. We were able to pivot quickly and decisively, which in turn saved our business and grew our brand exponentially.

Have you always been entrepreneurial? What led you to take that first step and establish your own brand/business?

No! Despite the fact that I grew up with an entrepreneurial family, I found myself in the corporate rat race early on. I was laid off from my corporate gig and left to figure out what I wanted out of my next career move, and accidentally fell into starting my first company – it worked out for the best.

What challenges have you faced in launching your brand / business? How did you overcome them?

We are a completely self funded entity with high growth, and scaling has always been a challenge. From knowing when to hire to when to invest in technology, it’s always a game of chance. For us, a major shift in our business happened when we brought on our COO, who really helped create systems and processes that gave us the runway to grow productively.

How has Vistaprint helped you grow, evolve, or adapt your business? What are some of the tools and services you have used and how did they help you?

Vistaprint makes it easy to create and customize marketing with easy-to-use digital tools and design-templates! We have been wanting to design Create & Cultivate merch for awhile, and it felt like an arduous process with large minimums and high costs. Vistaprint, made it easy to test drive different products – from totes to hoodies – to see what our audience liked most!

How do visual elements play a role in your branding? How are they important to your overall marketing strategy?

BRANDING is so important when you are building a BRAND! The visual representation is part of your brand’s DNA from day one. Create & Cultivate’s signature pink/beige color has been our guiding principle throughout our design and in many stages of the business over time. It has become a signature of the brand, to the point where people will say “that’s so C&C!”

What tips would you give to other aspiring female entrepreneurs to help them launch or scale their businesses?

Create your own momentum. Don’t pay attention to what everyone else is doing. Focus on your brand mission, and keep on creating from there.

What would you like to see change for the next generation of female entrepreneurs?

I would love to see more women having access to capital, whether its venture capital or angel investing. Women need money to see their ideas through, and need to be in the rooms where deals are being made.