Meet the Maker: AJ Pangilinan
Muted colors, the smell of coffee, a newly opened book - these are just a few things that come to mind when we think of this month's maker:
Meet AJ Pangilinan, the girl behind Sunday Paper Co.
As much as we associate her with the minimalist look, she's a girl that does it all! AJ is packed with so many ideas and juggles a variety of work. Her love of paper brought Sunday Paper Co to life and she also works as a brand strategist - helping dreamers make their ideas into a reality - aligning their vision, goals, and stories.
What’s your favorite maker’s tool?
Pen and paper!
What inspired you to have a business?
I came from a family of entrepreneurs so having your own business was highly encouraged! But personally, I was inspired by the ability to create something of my own wherein I'm completely responsible on how it will turn out and progress. Working as a strategist, a lot of my projects are client owned. It's nice to have something that I could play around with and at the same time be profitable.
How do we determine the right brand for a new business?
Look into what you want to achieve. Nail down your big goals - in life, in career etc. before diving into creating a brand or a business. Gather inspiration and do your research. Lastly, edit! If you can't determine if by yourself, talk to someone and consult.
What is the first thing an entrep needs to do if he or she wants to launch a business with a strong brand identity?
Research online and offline! Your brand's identity has to come from something truthful. Are you serving a need? The motivation shouldn't begin with likes & mileage.
What do you think will be the best strategy to reach more “bulk” orders?
Cold email! When I first started, I would email a lot of people & stores and ask them if they were interested in carrying my brand. I would walk into stores and introduce myself and ask if they have an opening for consignment. And even after 5 years of Sunday Paper, I'm still doing this strategy! Even if they reject you the first time, you'll definitely be on their radar. I've had situations wherein they would order in bulk after years of my initial introduction.
How do we measure the success of a brand?
Relevancy and longevity.
Stay true to your community and create for them. In an age wherein it's so easy to build a brand via opening an Instagram account - it takes a LOT to keep on soldiering on and continuing on!
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AJ also walked us through a day in her life and shared snippets of what's it like to be in her shoes: her story is up on our IG highlights!
Check out more of AJ's works in angelipangilinan.com and her brand at sundaypaperco.com.
A new mystery kit is now up in the webshop! Get your hands on AJ's top picks from Common Room.
This kit comes in limited quantities and is exclusive for the month of November.
Make sure to subscribe to avail of our monthly discounts and promos!
Also, Christmas is just around the corner and we know you're all prepping for your holiday shopping - so are we! We're dropping more surprises very soon so follow us on Instagram to get first dibs on the news!
Your friends,
Common Room Team