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Conversations with the Inspiring Kate Fordham

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Fordham.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started Graceful Sage in the summer of 2016 as a way of putting love and kindness back into the world one note at a time. I’ve always been a creative and thoughtful person; coming up with ways to show other’s they’re loved and important makes my heart happy. What started as a bunch of notes that I had designed for any season of life, grew into so much more than that with my monthly subscription box. I still offer packs of my notes in my Etsy shop, but the direction I see things going with the box is so much bigger. I love helping others by providing the tools to use right now, to lift others up in their everyday lives. Kindness is such a powerful thing and I believe that kind of power can change the world, one person at a time.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road. I mean, designing and coming up with the words for new notes has always come easy to me, but the business side of things isn’t as natural. One part, in particular, that was really hard for me was when I first started my subscription box- it was different than it is now in that I was trying to find all the best products within my price range to make my subscribers happy. Curating each box became harder and harder, it was so overwhelming and I began to lose sight of my mission to the point that I almost gave up. My advice for anyone else struggling would be to believe in yourself and believe in the mission that your heart wanted to begin with. It doesn’t matter if you have 20 customers/clients or 500, each one matters and believes in what you’re doing! Don’t give up when things are hard because those struggles are just the boat carrying you to the magic on the other side of the lake.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Graceful Sage story. Tell us more about it.
I’ve always had a creative side and I’ve always loved art and design. The words for notes can come to me in the most random times throughout my day or night, so I’ll just write them down in my notebook so that I can design it when I am able, and that way I don’t lose them. I’ve got a background in customer service and a variety of other admin jobs- so I’m pretty good at making sure my customers are happy, no matter what it takes. I pride myself and my brand on being able to empathize with others and really listen to their stories when they come to me with a request for something special. It’s one of my favorite things to be able to help pick out the perfect note or curate the best gift for the occasion, ie: grief, celebration, milestone, inspiration, and more. What sets me apart is my ability to connect with others, people come to me to lift others up, but I like to make sure to lift them up in the process, being intentionally thoughtful for everyone involved, every step of the way.

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
I follow several women who I recognize qualities in that I admire or strive to be more like. They say to surround yourself with people who are smarter than you so you’re always learning and growing and I try to do that. I stumbled upon my mentor at random and she’s been incredibly helpful to me in the last several months (I want to mention too that she’s ten years younger than me and brilliant)! She also has a subscription box and is doing very well so I reached out and asked some questions, turns out she was looking to consult with a few women in business and I was one that made the cut. Her business knowledge and willingness to help me and walk me through things has been invaluable and I make sure to tell her often how much I appreciate her. Networking and engaging in groups or on social media is valuable when you’re in the frame of mind that empowered women truly do empower women. If we could use a little more compassion and a little less comparison or competition, we’d realize quickly just how powerful we could all be in supporting each other.

Pricing:

  • Graceful Sage | A Monthly Subscription Box Of Love & Kindness
  • $19.99 (includes shipping)

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Some photos from Silver Sparrow Photography

Getting in touch: VoyageDenver is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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