Meet Michelle Bingham | Designer & Maker

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

Hi Michelle, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started my business after the birth of my son. I wanted to keep doing design work and nurture my creative side while also helping my family financially, and being available to my son when he was little. Working from home has allowed me freedom and flexibility to take care of my family and to work when I have the time. As a teen I worked at a Hallmark store for years and had always enjoyed making cards, so I decided I would return to that medium. My dislike of mushy cards and my wonderful humor inspired the honest and to the point wording on most of my creations.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Even as a child I enjoyed making cards, but it wasn’t until a few years ago I figured out I could actually do it as a job! Sappy or mushy cards were never really my style and I love making people laugh so I decided to do cards a bit differently. I like to think you can’t get cards like mine at Target, Hallmark or any other store because mine featured “bad” words. In doing research for my card messages I found that cursing actually helps people with pain and that “good vibes only” cards just disregard a person’s feelings and makes them feel even more so misunderstood and alone. Honestly I had no idea if people would buy them especially after a failed Etsy shop with resin jewelry, I was a bit pessimistic. Being familiar with the Etsy platform made putting the store together fairly easy and ideas came from people around me, but figuring out costs, packaging and all the business stuff I had to learn as I went. I messed up, multiple times. But each mistake taught me something and helped me be better at running my business, and I am still learning things today. The biggest thing with my cards is that everyone deserves a card for whatever they are going through, and that card should validate their feelings and hopefully make them laugh just a little.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Boulder is a fantastic place to visit with so many hikes, breweries and restaurants to go to! I live near Mt. Sanitas so I would definitely hit one of the many hiking trails there and check out the views from the top. Avery Brewing, Ska Brewstillery, Rayback, Mountain Sun and Twisted Pine would definitely get visited. And I cannot leave out Post, who has the best fried chicken sandwich, and our local favorite Cilantro’s, for some delicious mexican food or order carry-out from Kathmandu II, for great Indian cuisine. No visit to Boulder is complete without checking out Pearl Street mall and the tea house.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I must give a shoutout to my encouraging husband who first bought me a paper cutting machine and encouraged me to figure out what I love and to make a business of it. And I also want to thank a fellow entrepreneur Jen Moncada who gave me a chance and encouraged me, and honestly every woman she met, to start a business.

Website: LouiseLauret.com

Instagram: louise.lauret

Linkedin: Michelle Bingham

Twitter: LouiseLauret