Interview with: O'Riley Design

Meet the Mom Behind O'Riley Design!

Who is O'Riley Design?
O’Riley Design is a full service stationery studio offering unique custom made invitations/announcements. We also offer unique wedding favors and baby favors, gifts and printable invitations for all occasions.


Where are you located?
We are located in Dove Canyon, CA


How did you come up with your business name?
I wanted to name my company after my daughter then after doing some research I didn’t want to limit myself to just one thing, with naming my company O’Riley Design I opened it up to not just my designs but other designers as well.



When and why did you decide to start your own business?
O’Riley Design began with a passion for paper. Ever since I was a child I loved all kinds of paper. Whether it was cards, stationary, decorations, or even stickers, I just loved the different styles of paper. Whenever I found something new or saw a card with a decoration I had never seen before, I had to have it.

This passion never left me as I began to grow into adulthood. In fact, this passion was only increased when I became engaged to my husband. I was like a kid in a candy store when I went into the stationery and card shops. I spent hours pouring over every conceivable combination of announcement, invitation and thank you note until finding just the right one.


Then, six years ago, my daughter was born. This was such an unbelievably special time in my life and I wanted the birth announcement to be the most unique and special announcement anyone had ever seen. But when I started to look for that perfect announcement, I could only find the same old boring thing everywhere I went. I did find a couple of places that could create what I had in mind - if I was willing to spend more for the birth announcements than what my husband and I paid for our car!

So I took it upon myself to design and create my own custom birth announcement. Never have I had so much fun working so hard on something. I found just the right card stock. And the perfect ribbon in that perfect shade of pink. Everything was exactly what I had pictured in my mind. The feedback I received from friends and family was overwhelming. Everyone wanted to know where I got my cards from. When I told them I had made them myself I started getting requests to design custom cards and O’Riley Design was born. As I expanded from working off of referrals to doing business on the internet I was able to include many unique pre-made and do-it-yourself cards not found in your average card shop.


What motivates you to keep your business going?
My daughter and my clients. When I receive letters from my clients telling me how special their occasion was because of the invitations/announcements I made makes it worth all the hard work.

Do you have a particular product that's unique on your site?
The most unique product are those that are custom creation between me and the client.


How do you advertise your business? Which methods proved successful/effective?
I really don’t advertise my business too much for the fact that it is just too expensive for me at this time. Word of month has been the most and best effective advertising.
How do you juggle family and work at home?
Working from home is a blessing but at the same time it has been the most difficult thing to struggle especially when I am working on a deadline and my daughter is either sick or needs help with homework and all the activities. I do a lot of my work in the evening which helps a lot.

What advice would you give to moms seeking to become a WAHM?
My advice is do a lot of research and do what you love.


Visit O'Riley Design at: www.orileydesign.com


Current promotions/specials at O'Riley Design:
20% off all items and we offer free shipping $100.00 or more all the time. Promotion expires 04-15-08 Promotion code: WAHM