Today we’d like to introduce you to Priscila Wilson.
Can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I had been a stay-at-home mom for 13 years when my youngest son was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer on June 2nd, 2018. He was only 3 years old. It was a really scary time for our family. At the time, there were so many unknowns, and cancer treatment was really hard on him and our family. In December 2019, after 18 months of treatment and spending most of the time in the hospital, my son finished his treatment.
I needed to do something to help my family financially, but I wanted something that I could do from home so I could still be with my kids and set my own schedules. I also wanted something that was worth my time and meaningful for people. Because of the experience with my son, I learned how important it is to create special memories. And so, I started my business to inspire and remind people to celebrate life and create memories.
My hope is that through the products I create, people will feel motivated to celebrate not just the big events but the little things in life as well because life is so unpredictable and tomorrow is never promised. With the support and encouragement of my family, in July 2020 I signed up for an online course on how to start an e-commerce business. By November 2020, I debuted my website and since then I have been making and shipping all of my products from home and working my own schedule.
I also sometimes participate in local markets as time permits.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. There have been frustrations, tears, sleepless nights, and a lot of learning. More than anything, I have learned to be patient with myself through the process of being a business owner and to not give up when things are hard or I have to learn new things.
Some of the struggles have been having too little time while having so many things to learn and do. There really is so much to do when starting and running a business, from setting up the business to creating a website, learning how to take pictures, sourcing products, marketing, pricing, shipping, and the list goes on.
Everything has been a learning experience, for sure. Sometimes it gets very overwhelming, but I try to remember the why of my business and that really keeps me going. Besides all the struggles, I love learning, implementing, and seeing things work, all of which have been part of a beautiful process to witness.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Your Blue Donut?
I should probably make it clear that as much as the business name is “Your Blue Donut,” we do not offer donuts. There is a story behind the name that I would like to share, but first, let me tell you what I do. I make garlands, banners, and, our latest addition, car tassels. Our beautiful garlands and banners are a great addition to any home décor.
You can layer them or display them individually. They are great accents for birthday celebrations, bedroom decoration, a baby nursery room, bridal showers, wedding receptions, and holiday décor. They are great for dressing up any fireplace mantel and even as a backdrop for pictures. There are so many possibilities to use them. Every product comes gently placed in an organza bag, which is perfect for gifting it.
The bags also help to store the item after using it so you can enjoy it for many, many more years. I also do custom orders. I love helping customers create their dream garland for whatever the occasion might be. We are starting to offer individual felt balls as well so people can make their own creations.
And now the origin of my business’s name: As I mentioned above, my son went through treatment for his cancer. After 3 months of chemotherapy treatment, he lost his appetite. He wasn’t eating much, but one day, when we were staying with him in the hospital, we were talking about donuts and he said that he wanted one, but not just any donut, he wanted a light-blue one.
It turns out that finding a donut with that color wasn’t an easy task, but after calling many donut shops we got one of them to make it for him. It made my son so happy and the rest of the family super excited to see him eat and smile.
When I was thinking about why I wanted to start a business and what kind of products I wanted to offer, the name “Your Blue Donut” stood out to me because I wanted to bring a smile to other people and help them celebrate life – just as that light-blue donut made my son and our family so happy.
So, at Your Blue Donut, I want to help people celebrate life and its different seasons and stages. And I hope to put a smile on their face whether they buy something for themselves or for someone they love. Though we weren’t sure what the outcome would be for our son, going through this trial has taught me how important it is to celebrate not just the big events, but also all of life’s little moments.
One of my hopes and dreams is that as my business grows, I can help other families who have to go through the hard road of cancer treatment with their children. I’d love to bring some relief so that they can create memories with their families. As a family, we have been the recipient of so much generous help and we want to pay it forward.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
People who know me, here in the US or back home in Argentina, know that I love to talk. But what they might not know is that I don’t like public speaking. In fact, I dislike it very much because I get very nervous and my mind goes blank. This happens no matter if I’m speaking English or Spanish.
Pricing:
- Wood Happy Birthday Banner – $19.99
- Standard 6′ felt ball garlands (Felt balls together) – $27.99
- Standard 6′ felt ball garlands (Spaced between felt balls) – $16.99
- Car tassels – Starting at $10.99
- Custom order prices vary according to length, shapes, sizes, etc
Contact Info:
- Email: customerservice@yourbluedonut.com
- Website: www.yourbluedonut.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourbluedonut/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourbluedonut/
