Meet Tami from TamTam Design Studios, Review by Sarah of Chic Gems

Click here to visit Tam Tam Design Online



I recently had the pleasure of meeting Tami Rasmussen of Tam Tam Designs.
She is an amazing woman and I wanted to share her Entrepreneurial Story:
From Hallmark Cards Designer to Entrepreneur

-From the Desk of TamTam-

Background information/How TamTam Started:

I grew up in Chicago and knew I wanted to be a greeting card designer in elementary school.
I set my sights high on landing my dream job at Hallmark Cards while in school and moved to Kansas City 3 months after my college graduation. I designed Boxed Christmas Cards at Hallmark - which was so perfect since it's still my most favorite occasion to design for!

Eventually I got the itch and the never-stop-moving-and-growing side of me was begging for a new adventure. So what's a girl to do? This one picked up and moved to Dallas, Texas. I spent the next year in Texas and I can honestly say that after just 4 short months of being there I knew I wanted to: A. Move back to Chicago and B. Start my own greeting card company. TamTam Design Studio opened shop on Sept. 27th, 2008. I moved back to Chicago on May 14th, 2008. TamTam came home with me and the rest is history. I sure miss my Margarita's and 80 degree January's - but there really is no place like home! I have never been happier.

Why you started your biz/ About TamTam:

A greeting card to me represents one of the smallest, simplest pleasures in life. How exciting is it to open up the mailbox and find a cute little colored envelope inside with your name on it! That's what TamTam is all about! What's interesting to me is that when you send a card it's both an expression of feelings - to who you are sending it to - and it's also an expression of self- what have you decided to send? I wanted to create a line of cards that would help today's style conscious consumer not only their personal thoughts- but also be able to share their exceptional taste with one another, as well. My hope is that TamTam Greeting Cards always offer creative and imaginative solutions that do both!

Of course the real reason I started my own business is so that I could do everything my way! Haha, I'm only kidding. But what I did want to do was contribute to the American economy by producing and assembling only here in the States and to manufacture only the highest quality products utilizing only environmentally friendly materials and processes. Because of this - our papers are always at least 30% post-consumer recycled, we print using only soy-based inks - all in the U.S. of A! That is something that I am extremely proud of!

Challenges Faced:

I can honestly say that I have never worked so hard in my life! But again - I have also never been happier. That's not to shabby of a bad trade-off, in my opinion. Even if the hours don't get to me though, the business side of business for an artist - is umm... challenging to say the very least. I'm learning something new everyday though - somedays its about accounting, somedays it's about myself. I also struggle with living up to the expectation that I am creative 24/7.

I'm not! Shhhh.....

Overcoming those challenges:

One of my new secret passions is buying motivational posters! Self-help wall art- I suppose! Haha. My current favorites say "Home is Where the Art is" and "Keep Calm and Carry On." When I'm fried- I can just glance up and refocus. Other things I love to read: Sark, Desiderata, and Domino. Seriously, the combo is a killer motivational cocktail.

Another way to combat the "new business blues" is to surround yourself with those that share your passion and network, network, network. Your setting yourself up for success both financially and mentally if you can achieve these two things. The work/life balance is a little different when it's your own business - but remember your in charge and it's up to you to make it happen. The reward and satisfaction of that should far outweigh the obstacles you face. Even challenges are rewarding when you remember that you are doing what you want to do!

Final notes from Tami:

P.S. Please stop by our website at TamTamDesign and sign up for our mailing list in the top right corner of the home page, as well as check out the latest and greatest happening at TamTam on Our Studio Blog.

Now is the perfect time to stop by and check out our great Christmas and Holiday Designs - we sell them in set's of six that come in a cute ribbon tied wallet! What's more is that we are also available for all of your custom invitation design needs, babies, weddings, holiday soiree's - you name it! Feel free to email Tami directly, click here to email with any comment or needs!

We would love to hear from you!

P.S.S. A special thanks to Sarah and Chic Gems - for your support, kindness, and

encouragement since TamTam began!

xoxo, tam

All the very best!

Sarah Radford

Designer

Chic Gems, etc.

Designer Jewelry for Professional Women