Today we’d like to introduce you to Betsy Goodman.
Hi Betsy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi there, I’m Betsy. I’m a designer by day and a wax seal & lettering artist by night. I’m also the owner of two subscription boxes: The Lettering Box and The Wax Seal Club.
I started lettering over six years ago. It started as a creative outlet to help me deal with postpartum anxiety. I quickly started lettering on everything. Labels, gift tags, party decor, cards, gift wrapping. I loved adding my lettering to things I was already making and using.
About a year after starting, I wanted to take lettering more seriously and started this Instagram account. My goal was to letter something every day and post it (no matter if I thought it was good or not). I knew if I wanted to get better at lettering I just needed to start doing it every day and Instagram was my way of being accountable.
I started taking workshops, and courses, and reading books to learn as much as I could about lettering. The more I did it, the more I loved it. I even started teaching my lettering workshops locally and realized I love teaching.
Fast forward another year and I had created an online brush lettering course. After going through the course with a group of amazing students, I started to think more about the process of learning lettering. Every workshop I attended started with practice sheets and ended with practice sheets. All I did at workshops was practice. And even in my course, the result was practice.
I got thinking back to how I learned lettering and how I fell in love with it. I loved it because I was creating something. I got to learn and improve my lettering WHILE creating something I could use. I wondered if other people would want to learn lettering that way too. So I decided to try a one-time Valentine’s Lettering Box. I made five boxes and tried to sell them. Two weeks later I had sold the five boxes.
I decided to make a spring box and this time I added in some wax seals and I sold 17 boxes. I knew I was into something and decided to launch The Lettering Box later that fall. A year and a half after starting The Lettering Box, I added a second subscription called The Wax Seal Club with a wax seal focus.
Years later and I still love lettering and wax seal making! And I love sharing and teaching them with others!!
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think one of the biggest struggles has just been believing in myself and what I’m doing.
It can be hard to put yourself and your ideas out there, at least for me. I think over time I’ve learned that I can run a business and that has given me a lot of confidence.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I think what I’m most known for is my wax seal making. I offer all the supplies to make wax seals in my online shop, but I also offer pre-made wax seals for people to purchase and add to invitations, cards, gifts, etc.
Wax seals are an old art form, but are having a comeback. I love using new techniques and ideas in this old art. My real pressed flower wax seals are what I love making most.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
One thing that I try to remind myself is that I’m learning. I make a lot of mistakes. Some can cost money to fix, some are embarrassing, and some feel like they waste time.
But all of the mistakes have helped me to learn and progress as a business owner. So instead of getting upset with myself when I make a mistake, I try to remind myself that I’m learning, it’s a journey and it will all work out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bgoodslettering.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bgoods.lettering/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bgoods.lettering/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bgoods.lettering
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@bgoods.lettering
