Conversations with Donna Mack

Today we’d like to introduce you to Donna Mack.

Hi Donna, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, you could tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve scrapbooked since my kids were little, but I only started making cards once I received a handmade card from my best friend in 2009. I remember how special it felt to get a card with colors and elements explicitly crafted with me in mind. It was what inspired the desire to do that for others also. So as my friend taught me the basics and I began to peruse Pinterest, I started to create cards. During that time, I began to meet other scrapbookers and papercrafters that enjoyed gathering to papercraft for the weekend. We call this a crop. However, my favorite crafting moments have and always will be with my best friend. It was during one of those times with her that I had a very meaningful moment. That experience was what  launched the name of my blog that I was trying to start, and eventually the name of this business. I shared with her that I was having a difficult season. I began to cry and as I wiped tears from my face, I noticed some purple paint in the shape of a heart on my pinky. It was then that I knew God was telling me that He pinky promised me everything would be ok. When I shared that with my friend, she told me that is what I should name my blog! The blog name eventually became the name of my business. From those types moments, I knew that I wanted to organize groups of people to gather together in the common passion of cardmaking or scrapbooking and sharing life together. And because I knew how special it was to receive a handmade card, I also wanted to teach others to pass on that gift of cardmaking and handwritten messages as well.  It took a little while before I took the steps to start a business, because I was a little unsure about how it would come together. So I decided to try direct sales to gain some business experience without a lot of risk. After 4 years of direct sales in the paper crafting industry, I took the plunge to start my own business during the pandemic. It all started in the basement of my home. I launched my website in January 2021 and then moved into a quaint downtown Platte City storefront in September 2022. I teach card making, handmade decor, and scrapbooking classes. We also host crops on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month.

It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Challenges are growth opportunities. Of course, starting a business during the pandemic was full of challenges. I was supposed to open the storefront business in July of 2022, but that got delayed because of supply chain shortages. It wasn’t easy; I realized that getting frustrated about it didn’t change a thing. I had to believe this business would start when it was meant to. The fear of opening a storefront in a small town with such a narrow market was incredibly scary, but the rearview mirror shows me that fear is a liar and that you don’t know until you try. Failure is a launching point for subsequent success. I am so pleased with how this business has progressed in just a year. One day I was setting up a little display at the front of the store for new product arrivals. I had a reflective moment that gave me goosebumps. That little display was my first product display in the basement of our home. I looked around and saw how much this business had grown in two years! It was such an inspirational moment. It reminded me never to despise small beginnings and to count each step toward growth as a blessing.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a cardmaker and a scrapbooker. I teach cardmaking and scrapbooking classes to the community. My greatest joy is teaching others to create and spread the joy of cardmaking and handwritten messages in those cards. The beauty of passing on beautiful memories in the form of a scrapbook is also something I treasure. It is a gift that will continue throughout many generations to come!

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Doing business creatively fits the needs of not only the business owner but also the customers. Our community loves to gather, so COVID-19 was rough. A website is vital for a business, and staying connected through social media is important for the customer.

Pricing:

• During classes and crops everything is 10% off!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://[email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purple_pinky_promises
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purplepinkypromises
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCJNqEJl_HefEMWhcSFmeMOQ