Today we’d like to introduce you to Trisha Zemp
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Years ago my sister Michelle and I went Mother’s Day shopping together to find the perfect gift for our mom. Her kids were growing up and leaving home, and her life was looking a lot different than it had when there were 7 kids at home. She previously had a giant color coded wall calendar. But, with her schedule simplifying, we thought a planner would be a great solution. While looking for the perfect planner, we couldn’t agree on what the perfect planner would be for her. We realized the way for her to have a perfect planner, would be to make it herself. We looked everywhere, searching for a brand that sold custom planners. But, nothing like that existed.
We had grown up in an entrepreneurial family, and thought we could create a business that served the needs of people looking for a custom planning solution. We reached out to hundreds of print companies of all sizes. We got a lot of no’s, and, if by some miracle we did get a response, the quote to create a single planner was too high to be viable. So, for years we kept searching for a print partner. The technology to do what we wanted just didn’t exist yet. But with some time the technology emerged to make custom printing and more viable option, we found a print partner. After a lot of web development and prototyping Golden Coil was born! We have now been in business for 7 years!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Our biggest challenge was finding a printer that could print our product on demand at a price that was achievable. In 2016, this wasn’t something that was commonly done. In fact, the first quote that we received was for over $200/planner. We contacted hundreds of printers, and most laughed us out of the room, refusing to quote us because the price would be too high. Others who did quote us, proved the other printers right – the price was too high. So, we kept looking, and we kept waiting. Thankfully, technology advanced, and a year later we connected with a printer who could fulfill our dream.
We’ve been impressed with Golden Coil, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Golden Coil, we create customizable planners. We believe that everyone needs something a little different to be their most productive self, and we felt like we could fill that need. Our product allows customers to build a planner that works the way they do – beginning with choosing their cover, uploading their contacts, choosing their planner’s start and end dates, uploading their digital calendars to be printed inside, picking a layout, adding planning pages suited to their specific lifestyle or niche, and adding in quotes to motivate or inspire. Each book is printed on demand, fulfilled, and shipped by our print facility. We love helping people live intentionally through purposeful planning.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
From Michelle, “Early on in our business, Trisha and I did have the 24/7 mentality. We were in the trenches of answering every social media comment and customer service email. At the time, we did allow ourselves to be run by our business instead of the other way around. Until, one day, we just sort of realized that there were no life and death situations when it came to planners. It seems so obvious now, but we finally realized that an email could wait until the next day, and a comment could be resolved after bedtime. It gave us so much freedom in our business to remember that we had a say in how and when we needed to be available. Now, this is how we run things. Family always comes first, and everything else can wait if it needs to. Luckily, our business has grown, and we’ve been able to outsource so much of the day to day work that it’s not much of a concern anymore.”
Pricing:
- Custom Planner Starting at $70
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Goldencoil.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/golden.coil
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@goldencoil2290
Image Credits
Anna Killian
