Today we’d like to introduce you to Jande Laulu
Hi Jande, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my business over 15 years ago with a simple goal: to create art that made people feel good and helped support my family. At the time, I was a mom trying to balance life with my son, Cipher, who is autistic. I wanted to build something that allowed me to stay home, focus on my art, and have the flexibility to be there for him every day.
I began selling my illustrations on Etsy, and it took off from there. As I improved my craft, I expanded to platforms like Jane.com, MakerPlace by Michaels, my own website on shopify, and print-on-demand site. About six years ago, I started offering custom birth flower prints, and that really opened new opportunities and sales for me.
What’s kept me going all these years is the connection I feel with my customers. Reading 5-star reviews and receiving messages from people who appreciate my work is what truly fuels me. Of course, the journey hasn’t always been easy—I’ve had months where I’ve had 100’s of orders coming in daily other days where I didn’t have even one sale and quickly turned into months I was barely getting by and relying on my savings.
But staying true to my passion, constantly looking for ways to connect with my customers, and finding gaps in the market has kept me moving forward. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it to create art that people love and that supports my family.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There were times when supply costs unexpectedly spiked—materials, printing, everything seemed to rise all at once. It was a real challenge to keep my products affordable while trying to stay on top of pricing. It’s tough when you pour so much energy into creating and marketing your art, only to see little return. On top of that, selling through various marketplaces had its own set of ups and downs. Some of them shut down overnight, leaving me a month of unpaid for products I’d already shipped. That hit me hard, both financially and emotionally.
But despite these setbacks, I’ve learned to adapt, pivot when necessary, and always stay focused on my long-term vision. Each challenge taught me something valuable and helped me grow stronger and more resilient in my business. It wasn’t easy, but it’s all been part of the journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in creating personalized, meaningful art that connects with people. I’m best known for my custom birth flower prints, which celebrate individual milestones with a personal touch. Along with these, I also create greeting cards, coloring pages, and journals that combine creativity with self-care, giving people a chance to relax, reflect, and engage in mindfulness.
What sets me apart is my focus on personalization and creating pieces that truly resonate with my customers. Whether it’s a custom birth flower print, an uplifting quote, or a calming coloring page, my goal is to offer art that feels meaningful and personal. My work goes beyond just decorating spaces—it’s about creating connections and moments of joy for those who appreciate art that speaks to their story.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
Luck has definitely played a role in my life and business, though I believe it’s a mix of good and bad luck that has shaped where I am today. On the good side, I’ve had moments where things seemed to fall into place—like when my birth flower prints really took off and opened up new opportunities. There have also been lucky breaks with customers who truly connected with my work and shared it with others, helping my business grow.
But bad luck has shown up too, in the form of unexpected setbacks—shipping delays, supply cost hikes, and even marketplaces shutting down overnight. Those moments felt like huge obstacles, but they taught me valuable lessons in resilience and adaptability.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.jandesummer.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/jandesummer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jandesummer9
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/jandel
