Today we’d like to introduce you to Sara Hoestje.
Hi Sara, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The best time to recover is the first time! I said that to several patients recovering from procedures and thought it would be a perfect subject for a greeting card. I also realized I send really good encouraging messages to my friends, and wanted to help others easily and fiercely support their friends too. Thankfully, I have two artistic daughters who were also interested in this venture and let me couple their artwork with my sentiments.
Secondly, I figured things that prevent me from sending cards myself may also be a shared experience. We all have good intentions, but not having time to go to a store, or having time only when stores are closed, or not knowing what to write on the inside of a blank card, or not getting around to learning how to print at home on cardstock or having to construct my own envelope has kept me from sending cards. So I started with thinking how to make the process so easy so that it’s more likely to get done then not get done. This birthed my idea to be able to print out a card on regular copy paper, fold it into thirds, and send in a standard business envelope with standard postage. It won’t be fancy, it may not even be pretty, but it will be straight from the heart. And the best card is one that is actually mailed to a loved one, and not the one still sitting on my desk or still waiting in the store.
And as my 13 year old quipped, “ We are just a family with a dream we would like to be the new Hallmark, but just the GenZ version.”
However I find it fun to mix my Generation X viewpoint with their modern perspectives! My 13 year old is passionate about making art and sharing it with others. My 9 year old is so good at drawing with attitude and personality. If anything I am the rate limiting process at composing those perfect words, but I do it so you don’t have to!!!!
Also, the name for the company Half Brilliant Greetings came about after expressing to a friend that some days are more brilliant than others! Where you alternate between being amazed at your own intellect and then doing something completely scatterbrained, or taking part in something beautiful and elegant, followed by something mundane and in the grind.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We are in our infancy. I just joined TikTok this week to start marketing our creations. Did I create the company LLC two years ago? Yes I did. Did I do a lot of planning and talking about doing last year? Yes I did. It wasn’t until two months ago that I finally got several cards created and available on Etsy. Do I still need to create even a happy birthday card? Yes I do!
I recognize that it takes a lot of energy, time, focus, and sacrifice for any dream, and I don’t think we were ready to start the journey until now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I think we specialize in whimsy, heartfelt sentiments, spreading joy and positivity, and being willing to be proud of our imperfections so other people can embrace theirs as well. My kids and possibly myself will make the art, making it original and unique. I love to invoke merriment or inspire others with my words. I have joked that I will have inscribed on my tombstone someday, “she died living a life with good intentions. “ so I definitely embrace where we are versus where we wish to be, and celebrate the humanity in this life!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
That’s difficult, there are so many small but meaningful moments. I love the imagination and creativity and time of childhood, how long the days seemed to last! endless afternoons spent in the backyard swinging!!
Pricing:
- I want people to send their love and support, so the cards right now run from a dollar to three dollars, but with that download, you can print it out as many times as you want to send to as many people as you want.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.halfbrilliantgreetings.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halfbrilliantgreetings
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@halfbrilliantgreetings
Image Credits
Amber Nixon Photography for the picture of the 3 of us outside in dresses.
