Today we’d like to introduce you to Nancy Truong.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Growing up, I was always creative but never really explored any careers in the creative field mainly because it wasn’t the standard career path. It always seems like success was defined going to college and getting a stable, well-paying job with benefits. So, after college, I got a corporate job doing human resources a.k.a. “HR” and stayed on that path for over 10 years. In 2015, I started Cat Eyes and Candy (www.cateyesandcandy.com, IG: @cateyesandcandy), a fashion/style and beauty blog, while working my corporate day job. Working on Cat Eyes and Candy made me realize how much I have always loved creating things as well as how much I yearned to do more of it so in 2017, I started Prints A La Mode, a boutique printing company where I get to create beautiful things for others. We offer custom printed 1-off canvas and fashion products with no minimums.
It’s definitely a change to go from the corporate world of sitting in front of a computer typing all day to working with your hands. There is just something really gratifying about making something with your hands and knowing that your customers will be holding it in their hands as well as displaying it in their homes. It truly is an honor to be able to help adorn the homes and spaces of our customers! During the holiday season, we joke that it’s like Santa’s workshop in our office because we handcraft every gallery wrapped canvas print and ship them out to be put under trees & given out as gifts.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I wish! But they say that struggle builds character, right? All of our canvas prints are handcrafted in-house, packaged, and shipped from our offices. With any manufacturing or production, issues are bound to arise. Early on in the journey, there were times when it seemed like the number of issues and problems to fix were never ending but instead of taking it as a negative thing and getting discouraged, it was important that we think of the things that came up as learning opportunities. With that mindset, we put in place fixes & processes to help avoid having the same issue again. With more complex issues, we had to dig into the root cause & troubleshoot from there. Some other struggles were related to staffing, employee relations, customer service, etc. but my previous corporate HR experience definitely helped with all that.
My advice for other women starting their journey is to be ready to solve a lot of problems and fix a lot of issues but most importantly to stay positive, have a good support system, network, and make time to do the things you enjoy & maintain the balance in your life in order to continue to move forward and make progress with your business without burning out.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Prints A La Mode – what should we know?
Prints A La Mode is a female-owned boutique printing company based out of Pacific Beach. We offer a variety of custom printed products such as canvas (rolled or gallery wrapped), matte paper, lighters, jar labels, shirts, handbags, etc. We do custom 1-off with no minimums.
One of our core products is our handcrafted custom canvas prints. What sets us apart is our higher quality standards (don’t be fooled by cheap canvas companies with paper-thin canvas). We use HD inks & new printing equipment which when printed translate to vivid, detailed prints, even on black & white images!
We hand-stretch our canvas onto kiln-dried stretcher bars that have a beveled edge so less of the wood frame touches the front face of the canvas so you don’t see the shadow of the frame under it when it is in the light.
We have multiple quality checks to ensure customer satisfaction. We do a lot of photo canvases and are turning our customers’ memories into a work of art to be displayed and enjoyed for years, so it’s important that we do a quality job.
As a creative, it was important that we support the creative community so we set out to work with artists, photographers, brands, and influencers on collaboration designs. We also offer the community exclusive discounts and a means to resell their work on our website, their own website, & if they don’t have a website, we also help them get a website with exclusive discounts via Rocket Ivy (www.rocketivy.com IG: @rocketivy), a web services company we work closely with.
Prints A La Mode believes that all children should have access to the creative process and the arts which is why we donate our unused canvas to the New Children’s Museum to be used for their youth programs, children’s art studio and art workshops. It is important that we give back to the local community and support the arts & creativity, especially among our youth; they are our future after all.
Which women have inspired you in your life?
I draw inspiration from a lot of women but my mom (www.yentruongnails.com) has inspired me the most in life. To this day, she is one of the hardest working people I know. When she was pregnant with my brother, she worked until the day her water broke and was back to work shortly thereafter; no maternity leave, nothing. For decades she worked 5-6 days/week without going on vacation & continues to work to this day and does it all with a smile on her face and a grateful attitude.
Barely in her teens, she along with her uncle and grandparents fled their communist homeland during the Vietnam war in search of a better life. Their boat broke down en route to the refugee camp and she got so sick that they thought she was going to die. They certainly didn’t think she was going to be able to make the journey to the refugee camp & were planning to send her back to Vietnam. Miraculously, the day before the boat repairs finished & everyone else was to set sail, she got better & got to continue on her journey and that was just the beginning! I can’t even begin to imagine the amount of strength, courage, and will it must’ve taken to leave behind everything that is familiar (your home, your parents, your siblings, etc.) to go across the world to a land full of unknowns. It makes any obstacles or challenges I have to face pale in comparison & inspires and motivates me to do more and to do better every single day.
Pricing:
- 20% off Canvas Coupon Code: sdvoyager
Contact Info:
- Website: https://printsalamode.com/
- Email: nancy@printsalamode.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprintsalamode/
- Other: https://alamodegroup.com/
Image Credit:
Personal photo by @radiantlifesd
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
