Meet Mallory Koebel | Graphic Designer & Print-Media Marketing Specialist

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

Hi Mallory, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was basically raised in a printshop. My parents started their printing business over 25 years ago in Ontario, CA, and I am sure any child of small business owners can probably relate to the hours spent at their family shop. I liked to play with color wheels and keys, memorized names of prominent font families, flipped through coffee table books about the history of advertising and marketing. Among many other values, this taught me to appreciate the subtle nuances of graphic design, especially when it comes to print media – which, I’ve since learned, encompasses a lot more than just a business card or a flier. I worked there throughout college, until I made the decision to be a stay at home mom.

Flash forward two-and-a-half decades. We’re in the midst of a global pandemic. I looked around and realized how many of my friends and family were starting their own side hustles. These were full-time nurses, caretakers, educators that had passions outside of their day jobs, and finally took the leap during the chaos of COVID-times to actualize their dreams. A great number of them were women.

While I had always dabbled in graphic design and print work over the years – decking out a cookie booth for my daughters’ Girl Scout troop, laying out a program for a school play, or making doorhangers to canvass our neighborhood during a canned food drive – I finally realized I could do this for a living: graphically design business logos and print media, then provide the print services via the network of local vendors I had known for years. It all came together so organically, I have no idea what took so long for me to realize it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I had a lot of anxiety about re-entering the workforce in any way. Being a stay-at-home mom from a young age, I have a resume gap of about 12 years! While I would never trade away the time I spent raising my daughters, there was definitely the looming panic of being outpaced, outdated, in the workplace. I knew I wanted a career, but was unsure of the footing. Alas, I had nothing to fear – I was able to pave my own way by starting my own business and playing to my strengths.

But my time as a stay-at-home parent actually embued me with skills that any career path could benefit from. I have always been very organized, especially in digital formats – the Google drive on my personal account is full of documents like spreadsheets for the school council I sit on, logistics for the giant party I planned for my teenager, a particularly large folder with a collection of kitchen recipes (categorized by meal, then protein, then alphabetically). I am mindful of outlying circumstances. I can react, but I strive to be proactive. I look out for the little guy. I am honest.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For this area, I think one of the more interesting places to visit would be Claremont Village. It’s quaint, there are a number of cute little shops, bakeries, and some quite good dining for all budget levels. The most delicious meal you’ll eat outside of your own kitchen will be at Uno Tre Otto, where the environment is almost as seductive as the food – it is literally a hidden gem. I feel like I am transported into a little church in the Tuscan countryside every time I eat there. At least, it feels like a holy experience. Expensive, but worth every penny.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents are a huge piece to the puzzle of my success. They built a successful and respected print shop in the community from scratch, and have always been there with advice or support – professionally or personally – when I ask for it.

Website: http://honeybeedesignprint.com

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