Another Year of Paper Heart Design

One year ago, I stepped into this little business with a head full of ideas, a lot of love for what it stood for, and absolutely no idea how much I was about to learn.

It has been a big year. A really big year.

And sitting here reflecting on it, I'm genuinely proud of what this past twelve months has looked like, even on the days it didn't feel that way.

What this year looked like

When I took over Paper Heart Design, the range was already beautiful and well loved. But I had ideas. Things I wanted to add, refine, and grow into.

This year we expanded the product range significantly. The school stage books, covering primary, intermediate, and high school separately, came from listening to families who wanted something focused on one chapter of their child's school journey rather than the whole thirteen years at once. The printable download versions across the range came from customers who wanted a faster, more affordable option they could print themselves.

We moved to new local suppliers, refined our production process, and launched a completely new website that I'm genuinely proud of. We started The Paper Heart Journal, our blog, as a space to share tips, stories, and the kind of content that feels useful rather than just promotional.

We got featured in The Natural Parent Magazine, which was a moment I'm not sure I've fully processed yet.

The hard parts

I want to be honest without dwelling on it.

This year has not been easy. The New Zealand economic climate has been tough for small businesses across the board. There have been moments of self doubt, stretches of uncertainty, and nights where the to-do list felt longer than the hours available.

Running a small business while raising a family is a constant balancing act. Some days I get it right. Other days I'm packing orders at midnight wondering if I've taken on too much.

But here's the thing. Every time I've wobbled, something has brought me back.

What has kept me going

You.

The customers who order and come back again. The new-found friends who like every social media post. The reviews that remind me why these products matter. The messages from parents saying their child loves their school book, or that a gift made someone cry happy tears, or that they wish they had found us sooner.

Those moments are everything.

One review in particular this year said something that has stayed with me. A customer described being able to support another mum while having something to keep forever as an added bonus. That is exactly what I'm trying to build here. Something that supports families while also supporting my own.

What's coming next

I'm heading into my first ever market next month, which I'm equal parts nervous and excited about. Getting to meet customers in person, to put the books in people's hands and watch their faces when they feel the quality, is something I've been looking forward to for a long time.

There are new products in the pipeline. New ideas that have been sitting in my notebook waiting for the right moment. And a blog that's only just getting started.

Paper Heart Design has always been about capturing the moments that pass too quickly. The ones you don't want to forget. The ones that deserve to be held onto.

After this year, I believe in that more than ever.

Thank you

To everyone who has ordered, reviewed, shared, or simply followed along. You are the reason this exists and the reason I keep going.

Here's to another year of helping New Zealand families hold onto what matters most.

Rachel x

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