Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandi Horan.
Hi Sandi, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
It all started with a Halloween card. For about ten years, Terrence illustrated a card every October, an illustrated story that followed three kids on Halloween night. It became a yearly tradition we shared with friends and family, and looking back, it was the spark that led to the first version of Spooky Cat Press on Etsy.
Sadly, the first shop barely generated any sales outside of support from friends. At the time, Sandi was working as a brand and design consultant for another small business launch, and from that experience, we learned a lot, ultimately pivoting to Shopify and starting fresh with a clearer business vision.
From there, things grew faster than we ever expected. Since our last interview in 2021, we’ve expanded from working out of our home studio to running Spooky Cat Press from a dedicated office and fulfillment space. Everything still begins with hand-drawn art, and we’re proud to remain 100% artist-owned and operated. What started with one Halloween card has turned into a full-time spooky business, and we’re still navigating the ever-changing waters of e-commerce!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not a smooth road, but a meaningful one. Like most small businesses, we’ve faced our share of constant challenges. Sometimes, it feels like every time we figure something out, it gives way to a new set of problems to solve.
As we grew quickly, we struggled with inventory. Going from not having enough and, at other times, completely overstocking. We’re still learning how to adapt, both mentally and operationally, and learning how to grow sustainably. We initially assumed that growth would bring immediate ease, as we would have the help of employees; however, the truth is that the workload only increases because there are suddenly more jobs to do.
That said, we’ve been fortunate to find some wonderful employees who’ve become a real part of our spooky little family. As they’ve stepped more comfortably and grown in their roles, we’re finally getting time back to focus on the art again. The last couple of years have been about learning how to run the business and trying not to sink it. Now, we’re in a space where we can reconnect with why we started in the first place and make time for our primary passion: creating art.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Spooky Cat Press?
Spooky Cat Press is an artist-owned and operated gift and stationery brand that specializes in beautifully designed, spooky-all-year products featuring our original art. We create greeting cards, vinyl stickers, gift wrap, socks, clothing, and other seasonal goods. Basically, everything you need to bring a little Halloween to every holiday and every day.
While there are many artists in this space, what sets us apart is our distinctive illustrative style and focus on visual merchandising. Sandi comes from a branding and product design background, and Terrence is a classically trained illustrator and sculptor. Our combined experience in graphic design, branding, and visual storytelling helps bring our ideas to life with a polished, cohesive look.
We’re mostly very stressed out all the time, but stepping back, we’re proud of what we’ve created and built. It’s sometimes mind-blowing to see the hundreds of products and designs we’ve put out there and the community we’ve connected with. We’re incredibly grateful to be in business every single day and honestly have the most amazing customer base we could ask for. Because of this business, we have made friends with people who enjoy the very niche things we love!
Any big plans?
Since we’ve only just reached a point in the business where we have time to focus on creating, designing, and making art again, we’re pulling back from trying to scale up. The phrase “grow slow” really resonates with us and is meaningful both with our business and with our children. We want to slow down and enjoy everything more. We were burning out and needed to find this balance after a whirlwind of growth since 2020, during which we spent the past few years constantly chasing and catching up.
We’re keeping it simple: we have our trusted employees handling fulfillment and product assembly & crafting. We vend at our favorite markets and conventions to see friends and meet customers in person; we’re in a good place right now, and with all the economic uncertainty, it feels prudent to secure rather than gamble.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://spookycatpress.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spookycatpress/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spookycatpress
Image Credits
Images Copyright ©Spooky Cat Press
