Welcome back to another episode of Pochi Bubble Tea’s “Spill The Tea” Podcast! On today’s episode, hosts Ralph, Malyn, and Arthur are joined by local artist Emily Chan, also known as Brightspot Designs! If you’ve been to our Kirkland location, you are definitely familiar with Emily’s “punny” food art adorning the walls and counters of the store! From greeting cards and stickers, to pins and placecards, Emily sits down with us to share her journey of artistry as she navigates through the world of retail and business and how she was able to get her start in the industry. As Brightspot Designs has flourished in multiple retail locations in the PNW region, our hosts are excited to learn more about Emily’s path to gaining exposure for her art and the potential next steps of her career.

From Corporate to (Greeting) Cards

Coming from a background of graphic design, Emily shares with our hosts her transition from the corporate world to becoming a self-made business woman. After taking a short hiatus from her work in order to raise her kids as a stay-at-home mom, Emily eventually realizes that the corporate world was NOT something she wanted to return to! By using her skills of graphic design and overall creativity, Brightspot Designs was born! As she remembers her first job working retail at Hallmark, Emily shares with our hosts the full-circle moment of her creating and sharing her own cards with the community, and how stepping away from the corporate world allowed for her to create a brand that is authentic to herself. She also shares with us how her business has been able to represent AAPI cultures (especially through the food on her designs) and incorporate products that are authentic to the communities around her.

A “Bright” Beginning

As Emily ventures into the world of retail, Emily shares with our hosts the unexpected generosity of other businesses and how willing they have been to collaborate with her on putting out new products. From selling at retailers such as Uwajimaya, Lady Yum, and of course, Pochi Bubble Tea Cafe, Emily emphasizes the importance of finding solutions to common problems and making retail pitches as seamless as possible. From establishing a simple ordering process, having catalogs of products ready, to making displays accessible and preconstructed, she’s discovered that sellers are more inclined to collaborate when there is a smooth, established plan of action. Emily also notes that the support from her family has also played a huge role in making sure her business is successful, and how she would not be able to have accomplished as much without her husband, kids, and mother by her side.

Challenges and Next Steps

When starting a new business, it’s inevitable that there will be bumps in the road and moments of self-doubt. As Emily shares with us this episode, she’s found herself questioning her abilities and saying, “Is this the way I should be going?” Although there have been challenges, Emily says that the support of her husband and family are truly what has helped her through hard times, and has made sure to provide support and understanding even when she didn’t believe in herself. As for the next steps for her company, Emily hopes to branch outside of Washington state and explore even bigger retail stores to potentially have her products in. When asked about what advice she would give to other entrepreneurs trying to pursue their business interests, Emily stresses the importance of having trust in your community and making use of resource sharing from other businesses that may have similar experiences.