Meet Hailey Johnson | Owner and Designer of Paper and Dust- custom wedding stationery and signage

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

Hi Hailey, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
A lot of people say this. but that is because it is correct. Failure. Failure is a hard lesson, but an important lesson everyone who owns a company has learned and is still learning. I failed this week in fact. It sucks when you do fail, but from that you learned what to do right next time, how to fix it, and how to not do it again, and you grow from it. I have taken on clients that I was in over my head on. I had no idea how to make it happen, but I made it happen and I failed in the process but I came out better from it and now know how to accomplish those tasks. There have been some weeks where I failed so many times I wanted to give up and questioned if I was good enough to even have my company. But with those weeks came great weeks where my clients fall in love with what I created for them and rave over it. Without failing previously, I would not have been able to create what I did for those clients.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I originally went to college back in Wisconsin for graphic design. When graduating I completed a internship for a wonderful small family owned company that specialized in custom stationery. I originally wanted to work for a marketing firm when going to school, but this internship made me fall in love with the stationery end of the wedding industry and made me want to make it on my own. My mom owns a successful massage therapy company and thus inspired me to go this route. When going to art school everyone developed their style so easily, and knows how to direct their projects. I always struggled because I liked everything and didn’t have a “style”. I’ve realized I can use this to my advantage cause all my clients are different and everyones story is different that I can warp to their vision. I could be designing a clean, formal, modern, minimalist wedding suite while at the same time working with another client that has a very casual, bohemian, and colorful suite. I’ve overcome this by branding my company to be eclectic and diverse so my clients know I can cater to any vision and dream they have.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Being originally from Wisconsin my best friends and family have already came out to visit for a week! When my favorite people visit I always take them a day down town to the dairy block, art district, shopping, eating. My favorite restaurant is the Happy Camper so I always take them there as well as Denver biscuit company. I usually like to do a day in the mountains depending on the season we either go skiing or hiking. I’d love one of these times to take them to Estes Park and go hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park. My boy friend is a big brewery guy so we usually go brewery hopping in the middle, and always end the night by the campfire relaxing in our backyard!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Shaochen from Monstera Gold Caligraphy was a great friend and mentor. She would always give me advice here and there that helped me know my value and skill as well as setting boundaries between my work life and personal life.

Website: www.paperanddust.com

Instagram: @paper_and_dust_co

Facebook: www.facebook.com/paperanddustco

Image Credits
@saraporter