Today we’d like to introduce you to Pim Timsuwan.
Hi Pim, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story starts as a child of Thai immigrants coming to the US in pursuit of a better life. I wouldn’t say that it was an easy road to where we are today but I wouldn’t change anything about my past because it leads me directly to who I am today.
I learned about work ethics early on from both my parents, who worked six days a week. We cherished our Sunday afternoons window shopping through the once-bustling malls. I honestly think that’s where my passion, some may say addiction, comes from. There was no surprise that once I was old enough, I got a job at the mall and started my retail career. A career that fuel my ‘passion’ of shopping even more with an associate discount, I realized then what my lifelong dream would be, owning my own business that creates a smile with every order, big or small.
Over the years, I continue to create personalized gifts. Birthdays and Christmas were my favorite holidays. I find that getting someone, the perfect gift speaks volumes about how much you care and know about them. Soon, that passion continued along with my creative side with party planning, creating memories that lasted longer than the gifts itself.
In 2018, I became a fashion brand manager, which had been a short-term career dream of mine, a step closer to gain experience to open my own shop one day. I got to travel, held seminars, met so many walks of life and learned from their experiences. I loved what I did, which was extremely devastating when COVID happened and my company eliminated my position along with the rest of my counterparts. By then, I was engaged and a mother of two wide-eyes beautiful albeit crazy girls. I was devastated. I had worked 15 years to get to where I was in my career and it seems, at the time, that I had lost it all overnight.
Then one day, I sat at my desk staring a Cricut machine that I impulsively bought on prime day two years ago. I used it once a year prior when I attempted to make a gift, which turned out to be a disaster so of course it sat and collected dust til then. I decided to make something because I had been home for three months, wondering when the world will open up again and if I will ever get my career back on track.
“Just a distraction,” I thought to myself as I make a wine tumbler decal based off a Bravo TV show that we all feel guilty for watching but can’t turn away. I added a little twist by changing the city to my neighborhood name and a touch of personalization of my name on the backside.
I don’t know how to explain it but I’m sure everyone knows how it feels, whether it’d be nailing a dinner recipe you’ve never cooked before or simply fixing something by just following a YouTube video. I felt a passion sparkled again and remembering what my life-long dream was. So I told myself, “I could sit here for another three months (or more) before doing something for myself or I can start now” So I did. I started out small, making sample items for my family, friends and neighbors. I tried different techniques; some worked, while some I never tried again.
So The Sweet Pea Shoppe was born. I can tell you that naming your business is probably the hardest thing I’ve done so far. I wanted something that speaks to not only the product, the shop but also myself and my family. Remember the two wide-eyes crazy little girls of mine? Their initials are E and A, combining the two with my own and I came up with PEA, sweet pea, one of the little names I call my kiddos. It was perfect.
Soon after, I had a ledger, an order form, signed up for a business ID and it felt like a dream come true. I know COVID was a hard year for everyone but I was thankful it pushed me to believe in myself again and take a risk, jump in with both feet and eyes opened to the unknown. To this day, I am forever thankful for those that had encouraged and supported me in their own way from the moment that machine turned on, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have this business without them.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It wouldn’t be a path worth taking if it wasn’t full of obstacles! There were many bumps in the road for me, aside for the biggest, which was COVID, the world was still closed and I wasn’t able to rely on customer-facing environment I was used. I had to learn how to be creative in ways I wasn’t before via social media and you wouldn’t believe how old I felt in those moments.
Another big challenge for me was juggling a new role as a stay-at-home mom and finding time to nurture my baby business. Soon my living room was cluttered with unfinished projects and materials until I was banished to the loft and I had to learn to balance the work and the family in ways I never had to before.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The SPS is happily making custom orders for all events, such as birthday, graduation, family vacations, housewarmings, along with home decor items such as welcome mats, coasters, glasswares and welcome signs. My favorite things to do are custom parties which includes balloon installations, banners, party supplies, matching t-shirts and favors!
The shoppe’s other visions are to work directly with other small business owners and giving back to the community. The shoppe has a year-long discount program of 10% with donation of school supplies that gets donated monthly to teachers in the community. I am on a hiatus from attending markets and pop-up shops right now but the SPS will resume in-person events again in September just in time for a holiday preview!
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
The thing that surprises a lot of people about my sweet little shoppe is that I have a market-exclusive collection, Vulgar collection, that is a little twist on the shoppe’s name! Our daily orders are sweet, meaningful gifts so naturally, I had to let out some edge and that’s where the Vulgar collection comes in! The collection remains a market-only items so make sure to come out and see me in the markets this fall!
Contact Info:
- Email: thesweetpeashoppellc@gmail.com
- Website: www.thesweetpeashoppe.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesweetpeashoppe/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSweetPeaShoppeLLC/
