Meet Anastasia Stanhope | Founder / Creative Director of Be the Light Lettering

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anastasia Stanhope and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anastasia, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
In 2018, I received my first iPad and Apple Pencil. I had the intention to use it to practice my hand lettering. As I taught myself to draw through tutorials and practice, I realized that I could use my art to encourage others. I wanted to turn my art into a business so that I could share it with the world. I decided to start with greeting cards because cards are often used to show appreciation or celebrate someone. Through different designs of greeting cards, I have created cards for many occasions so that people can celebrate and encourage their family or friends. I love being able to create something that makes a difference in other people’s lives.

I wanted to focus my brand on the idea of encouragement and spreading light throughout the world. I chose the name Be the Light Lettering because I wanted to create my brand around the reminder of bringing light into the world. Through having encouraging things posted to my social media platforms, people can come to my brand to feel encouraged and then spread that encouragement to their friends and family. There is a need for encouragement in the world and I wanted to create something around that.

My brand evolved over time and I have continued to come up with new ideas of what I want my business to be. It started with a desire to sell my work and became a brand that focuses on encouraging others. As I continue to learn and become influenced with new ideas what I want for my brand becomes clearer.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Be the Light Lettering is a brand dedicated to bringing light into your life through encouraging products and uplifting merchandise. Through all, Be the Light Lettering’s goal is to cultivate a community of encouragement. The thing that sets our business apart from others is the unique designs and the emphasis on encouragement. Every artist has a different style and that shows on the products that we have. Be the Light Lettering is also about more than just the product but has a deeper meaning and goal behind it. That is to spread encouragement and bring light into the world. Be the Light Lettering is more than just selling cards, it is creating a community that seeks to encourage those around them.

The one thing that I am excited about my business is seeing how it grows. Not only that but seeing the opportunities and people I am able to meet through my business. I have had many unique opportunities to learn because of my business and this learning has helped me grow as a person as well. As I continue to add new products and designs to my store, I am excited to see what I learn from the process.

It has not been easy to start and run my own business because it can be hard to remain consistent. As a college student, it is hard to balance running a business, doing homework, and leaving time for recreational activities. However, through this challenge I am learning to manage my time and take little steps to grow my business. Another lesson that I learned is that you have to get out of your comfort zone to grow. By taking the step to talk with my entrepreneurship professor Dr. Kary Oberbrunner, I had the opportunity to have a table at an event on campus. This helped me get my name out and share my business with fellow students. While running a business is hard it has been worth it. I have learned a lot of things that I can carry with me for the rest of my life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my favorite things to do in the Columbus area is to experience different local coffee shops. I always feel productive in a coffee shop, so I love going to get stuff done or to meet with a friend. I love visiting local coffee shops because each one is unique with different aesthetics. I also love being able to support other small business owners. My favorite coffee shops in my area are The Coffee Vault, Village Coffee of Sunbury, Ethos & Co. Café, and Coffeeology. I have enjoyed exploring my city by visiting different local coffee shops.

Another place that I love to go to is Bridge Park in Dublin, Ohio and the area surrounding. At the park there is a bridge across the Scioto River that connects the new part of this area with the old Dublin. There are lots of restaurants, fitness places, and shops. During summer weekends there is a beautiful farmers’ market along one of the streets. This farmers market has more than produce and includes craft businesses, small bakeries, clothing, flowers, and so much more. I would love to be able to have a booth at this market eventually. One of my favorite restaurants, Kitchen Social, has a location there. My favorite dish that I have tried at Kitchen Social is the Tempura Shrimp Bowl. Bridge Park is a beautiful place to walk around and explore.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to thank my entrepreneurship professor at Cedarville University, Dr. Kary Oberbrunner, for encouraging me to grow my business. Dr. Oberbrunner has encouraged me to keep going with my business and has opened opportunities for me to provide exposure for my brand. He has given me ideas to consider when deciding the direction of my business and connected me with other entrepreneurs. Building a network of other entrepreneurs has been super important as it can be hard to find inspiration when building a business. There are times when I seem to have limited ideas for next steps. Interacting with fellow entrepreneurs sometimes stimulates ideas. Dr. Oberbrunner has fostered a community of entrepreneurship at my university and has encouraged me to never give up by believing in my business.

I would also like to thank my dance studio Leap of Faith Dance Company (LOFDC) that has encouraged me in my art. I have had the opportunity to use my hand lettering skill for signs at their different events. They also have a chalk wall that I have had the opportunity to create different lettering designs. These lettering opportunities have allowed me to grow in my art skills and I am very thankful for LOFDC.

Website: https://bethelightlettering1.etsy.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethelightlettering1/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555268901151

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/bethelightlettering1/

Image Credits
Personal Photo: Carrie Webb