By Anna Bond
What first drew you to illustration? I always thought I would go to art school and major in painting, but, along the way, I discovered graphic design. I fell in love with the idea that I could not only illustrate and use hand-drawn elements, but also design and control how my illustrations were used. I definitely now consider myself a designer who illustrates. I love every aspect of what I do from painting to designing packaging, catalogs and marketing materials.
When and why did you decide to focus on stationery? Around 2008, I was doing a lot of poster designs for bands and shows around town. One of my favorite poster artists, Jay Ryan, did this amazing poster-style wedding invitation, and it made me realize how fun and creative wedding invitations could be. I had grown up collecting stamps and loving stationery. I had a pen pal in Japan, and she would write me on the most beautiful papers that I still have today. I hadn’t considered it as a career direction until a few friends asked me to design their wedding invitations. I immediately fell in love. It was the perfect mix of everything that I had been looking for: design and illustration in a feminine creative outlet. I started posting the invitations on Flickr and immediately got a positive response from brides around the country, and I haven’t looked back since.
What prepared you to launch your own business at such a young age? In many ways I wasn’t prepared at all. My husband Nathan and I had no idea what we were doing when we started, but what we did have was drive and passion. If anything had prepared me, it was probably my first professional job as an art director at a media company in 2006. That job taught me how to work hard. We had fast-paced deadlines, and as a 21-year-old fresh out of school, I was in over my head. I learned how to figure things out as I went, learn fast, put in extra time to get ahead and work under pressure.
Describe your typical day. I usually get up about 10 a.m. and arrive at the studio around noon. I work with my team, answer emails, attend meetings and juggle a lot of small tasks until 6 p.m. I then start my creative work—painting and designing new products—until I go home anywhere from midnight to 2 a.m.
How many staff members do you have, and what have you learned about hiring along the way? Rifle Paper Co. currently employs more than 175 people, 60 full-time in our Winter Park, Florida, office. Yes, that’s crazy! I never imagined we would get this big, but here we are. Being a boss is still new to me. We have incredible people, and I’ve learned that work ethic and positive attitude are traits I look for the most. I want my team to love what they do. More than 80 percent of our full-time staff was hired from our part-time assembly team, including two of my designers, so we definitely believe in promoting from within.
What's key to forming a productive collaboration when you work with your spouse? We’ve been married for more than six years now and have really worked together ever since we were dating, back when he was in a band, and I designed all their merch. We balance each other out really well, and I think that’s the key. He handles more of the business side, and I handle the creative, but we talk about everything with each other. I’m involved in every major business decision, and I always show him my designs to get his opinion. Communication is vital to making our working relationship work. I really couldn’t ask for a better business partner because we trust each other and have the same vision for Rifle Paper Co.
How does the atmosphere of Winter Park, Florida, fuel your work? Describe the design community there. Winter Park has been an amazing place to own a business. I grew up in a suburb of New York City, and I remember feeling like I was always at the center of the world. It was hard for me to imagine living anywhere else. But I actually love that I’m in my own little world here. I definitely get creative energy from my trips to New York, which happen at least every other month, but here I can cut out all the noise and just work hard at what I’m doing without all of the distractions. Our design community is very tight-knit and supportive of one another. Most of the creative businesses and artists know each other, and we try to work together whenever possible.
How often do you write letters to friends and family? I try to write as much as I can, but even I could write more often. I send cards for anything from a birthday to a simple hello. One of my favorites is to just write “Hey, I’m thinking about you and miss you. Let’s chat soon.” It’s fun to get a simple note in your mailbox.
What advice would you give to emerging design entrepreneurs? My advice is to find your own unique style and work incredibly hard. I used to say that our secret to success was how many hours we worked. I’m not sure there are many people who are willing to put in 80 hours a week for years to grow a brand from the ground up. It doesn’t always take that, but it always takes sacrifice to succeed and make something great.
When and why did you decide to focus on stationery? Around 2008, I was doing a lot of poster designs for bands and shows around town. One of my favorite poster artists, Jay Ryan, did this amazing poster-style wedding invitation, and it made me realize how fun and creative wedding invitations could be. I had grown up collecting stamps and loving stationery. I had a pen pal in Japan, and she would write me on the most beautiful papers that I still have today. I hadn’t considered it as a career direction until a few friends asked me to design their wedding invitations. I immediately fell in love. It was the perfect mix of everything that I had been looking for: design and illustration in a feminine creative outlet. I started posting the invitations on Flickr and immediately got a positive response from brides around the country, and I haven’t looked back since.
What prepared you to launch your own business at such a young age? In many ways I wasn’t prepared at all. My husband Nathan and I had no idea what we were doing when we started, but what we did have was drive and passion. If anything had prepared me, it was probably my first professional job as an art director at a media company in 2006. That job taught me how to work hard. We had fast-paced deadlines, and as a 21-year-old fresh out of school, I was in over my head. I learned how to figure things out as I went, learn fast, put in extra time to get ahead and work under pressure.
Describe your typical day. I usually get up about 10 a.m. and arrive at the studio around noon. I work with my team, answer emails, attend meetings and juggle a lot of small tasks until 6 p.m. I then start my creative work—painting and designing new products—until I go home anywhere from midnight to 2 a.m.
How many staff members do you have, and what have you learned about hiring along the way? Rifle Paper Co. currently employs more than 175 people, 60 full-time in our Winter Park, Florida, office. Yes, that’s crazy! I never imagined we would get this big, but here we are. Being a boss is still new to me. We have incredible people, and I’ve learned that work ethic and positive attitude are traits I look for the most. I want my team to love what they do. More than 80 percent of our full-time staff was hired from our part-time assembly team, including two of my designers, so we definitely believe in promoting from within.
What's key to forming a productive collaboration when you work with your spouse? We’ve been married for more than six years now and have really worked together ever since we were dating, back when he was in a band, and I designed all their merch. We balance each other out really well, and I think that’s the key. He handles more of the business side, and I handle the creative, but we talk about everything with each other. I’m involved in every major business decision, and I always show him my designs to get his opinion. Communication is vital to making our working relationship work. I really couldn’t ask for a better business partner because we trust each other and have the same vision for Rifle Paper Co.
How does the atmosphere of Winter Park, Florida, fuel your work? Describe the design community there. Winter Park has been an amazing place to own a business. I grew up in a suburb of New York City, and I remember feeling like I was always at the center of the world. It was hard for me to imagine living anywhere else. But I actually love that I’m in my own little world here. I definitely get creative energy from my trips to New York, which happen at least every other month, but here I can cut out all the noise and just work hard at what I’m doing without all of the distractions. Our design community is very tight-knit and supportive of one another. Most of the creative businesses and artists know each other, and we try to work together whenever possible.
How often do you write letters to friends and family? I try to write as much as I can, but even I could write more often. I send cards for anything from a birthday to a simple hello. One of my favorites is to just write “Hey, I’m thinking about you and miss you. Let’s chat soon.” It’s fun to get a simple note in your mailbox.
What advice would you give to emerging design entrepreneurs? My advice is to find your own unique style and work incredibly hard. I used to say that our secret to success was how many hours we worked. I’m not sure there are many people who are willing to put in 80 hours a week for years to grow a brand from the ground up. It doesn’t always take that, but it always takes sacrifice to succeed and make something great.
Anna Bond is co-founder and CCO at Rifle Paper Co., an international stationery and gift brand based in Winter Park, Florida. Originally from New Jersey, Anna moved to Florida in 2006 to become an art director and founded Rifle Paper Co. in 2009 with her husband Nathan—initially headquartered in their apartment. Anna oversees the creative direction of the brand and is the sole illustrator behind the Rifle Paper Co. collection. The company is now carried in nearly 5,000 stores, employs more than 150 people and was recently listed on the “2014 Inc. 5000” as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. Beyond Rifle Paper Co., Anna has illustrated for clients such as Mad Men, InStyle and the Wall Street Journal.
