Meet LYNETTE MEYERS | Photography, Graphic Design, Printing

We had the good fortune of connecting with LYNETTE MEYERS and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi LYNETTE, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I worked for a large company following college. It was a great job, with great benefits, and I thought I would be there until retirement. Fast forward 15 years, and I had my first child. While I still loved my job, the hours and the travel did not feel the same when I had a baby at home. I decided I needed to find a way to make money while staying home with my daughter. Honestly – starting a business with a toddler and another on the way, may not have been the brightest idea, but in the end it worked out. My business was small for years, as I did what I could, in the spare time I had. When my kids started school I was able to increase my business and had steady work. At this point, I was designing a lot of invitations, party favors and other printed items. I had some great school accounts and was starting to have more and more weddings and large events. Most of my business was word of mouth, and developing relationships with my clients. Christmas Cards are a huge part of my sales each year. These started when a photographer asked me to create cards for her clients. My business increased steadily, and I was making a profit. I’ll never forget doing our taxes and my husband looked at me, shocked at my sales. I think he always considered this more of a hobby.
When the pandemic hit in 202o – my business took a huge, temporary hit. Schools were not in session and weddings and large events were not happening. I needed to re-evaluate my business plan. I could not longer rely just on word of mouth and local clients.
I started making more greeting cards, and some other items to sell retail. My cards started out in two local stores, and now, I am selling them on Faire Wholesale, and they are in stores across the country. I also started selling items on Jane.com, which was a lifesaver through the pandemic. I also started taken family photos, for some of my card clients. Photography had always been a dream, but it is now a piece of my business.
I now have multiple sales streams and am busier than I though possible.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Two things I have always loved are photography and nice paper. Part of my graphic design work is mass producing items to sell wholesale, but the part I love are some of the smaller jobs. My mind is actually more mathematical, I can look at something and figure out how to do it. I love when someone tells me their idea and I can make it happen. Creating new designs is the fun part of this job. I am constantly learning, I think if the learning ever stops, I would lose some of my love of what I do. I can get lost in photoshop for hours – it doesn’t feel like work. I think one thing that sets me apart from other designers, is that I really want to create the vision of my clients. I do not take it personally if they don’t like my first draft, we are different people, with different tastes. It’s their party, their wedding, their Christmas card. I honestly am concerned when a client tells me it is perfect right away – I am more confident that we “nailed it” when there are back and forth changes.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My best friend is visiting, there is so much to do, because we are in Southern California! Day 1: We would go to the beach, and relax on the first day. Swamis for breakfast, Raul’s Taquito Burrito for lunch and dinner at home.
Day 2: explore downtown San Diego, take the Ferry to Coronado, eat wherever we saw fit. Since we are downtown already – we would definitely head to the shout house for a late night of music and drinking.
Day 3; We would hike Torrey Pines Preserve, have brunch at L’Auberge. We would make our way back to Encinitas for dinner at East Village and a nightcap at Death By Tequila.
Day 4: Temecula Wine Country – full day bus tour of the wineries.
Day 5: We would head up to Hollywood and Beverly Hills. We would fill the day with touristy things, shop at the Grove, ride the Ferris wheel on Santa Monica Pier. Lunch at Urth and dinner at The Catch.
Day 6: Del Mar Races – assuming it is racing season – dinner at Il Fornaio after the races.
Day 7: Breakfast at Claires on Cedros, a walk on the beach, and sadly, time to say goodbye.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Cathy Hall, Sweet Spot Toffee deserves a shout out. Cathy is a friend, our kids went to school together. When we were in lockdown, we started walking together. During these walks, we would share ideas, pod casts that interested us and talked about how we could keep our businesses going during those crazy days. These talks are when I decided to find other ways to sell my items. Cathy also organized my office at one point. She is very positive and was a big part of how I stayed motivated and believed that I could take Cyndi and Sofi Designs to the next level. She also grew her toffee company immensely during this time.

Khara Serrato, of Khara Collective, also deserves a shoutout. She has supported my business in any way she can. I can’t count the number local small businesses that she supports, and uses their products in her own business.

Final shoutout is my dad – he gave me Photoshop Software when I was about 20 – he told me to learn it, because someday it would help me. I took about 15 years, but, I don’t know if he realizes how right he truly was.

Website: www.cyndiandsofi.com

Instagram: @cyndiandsofi

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynette-meyers-69532034/

Twitter: @lyneag12

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CyndiAndSofiDesigns