Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Holt.
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always enjoyed art and when it was time to pick my major for college, chose to get a BA of Fine Art in Studio Art. During my undergrad, I loved printmaking and focused mainly on Intaglio and Screen Printing. Some years after graduating my husband, Philip Holt, tattooer and owner of RedLetterOne, purchased an antique Chandler and Price 10 X 15 letterpress. We had no idea how to use it. After taking a few classes and a lot of experimentation, I began running small jobs for friends. Mostly business cards and stationery.
After several years I began to master the art of letterpress and improved my graphic design skills to offer custom logos, stationery, and wedding invitations. A decade later, my skills and love for letterpress have multiplied greatly. I have had the joy of designing and printing for dozens of brides and businesses.
My favorite part of any print job is taking clients along for the magic. I always share photos and videos of the process. I have a private print studio in Seminole Heights and an office for consultations located in the heart of South Tampa. It has been a beautiful journey to this point and I’m excited to see how Mon Petit continues to grow in the future.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Learning any new skill or craft brings many obstacles that must be overcome! I have spent a lot of this year reframing the concept of failure. You cannot grow if you don’t take risks. Sometimes risk means failure but smile because that always leads to growth, if you let it.
All small business owners know the responsibility of wearing multiple hats. While it is expected that I had to learn how to master my craft (operating an antique 1920s press), I have also grown in my ability to design (Adobe Illustrator), manage supply inventory, build websites, photograph flat lays, edit photos, manage projects, and much more.
I consider all of there joys but they don’t come without their sacrifice and challenge. Creative block is my least favored challenge because you never know when it will strike or how long it will stick around for before breakthrough.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
While many letterpress studios only offer print services, my skills in graphic design give me the ability to bring my clients specific visions to life, offering both design and printing. I pride myself on being able to tell peoples stories through the power of print.
In addition to having my degree in art, I also have a Master’s of Science in Marketing. I wanted to learn more about brand management and creative direction. So I also offer marketing services, in addition to digital and letterpress print services. I love working with brands as much as I do brides.
Many letterpress printers today focus on their style, but I have a different approach, where I ask clients to set the tone. They share their mood board or vision with me and from that I create something unique to them. I managed a custom tattoo studio for a decade and I that has had a huge impact on how I approach working with clients and creating custom designs.
What matters most to you?
I’m deeply committed to creating an incredible experience for each and every client. Making sure they are elated and informed through every step of the process is the most important thing to me. I am always so grateful that clients trust me with such deeply personal work and I don’t take it lightly. I am also a perfectionist, so every detail matters, sometimes too much but it’s always worth it in the end.
I strive to work collaboratively with clients. I want them to be as involved as they would like to be. Sharing the magic of letterpress along the way is something I cherish, especially in today’s digital world, sharing my craft feels like a very special privilege.
Pricing:
- Low End $1,000
- Average Booking $2,500
- High End $4,500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://monpetitpaperco.com
- Instagram: @monpetitpaperco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monpetitpaperco/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-elizabeth-holt
