Entrepreneurship Case Study

Entrepreneurship taught me everything: how to design, market, sell, and scale. I took ideas from concept to reality—and learned how to make brands thrive.

Overview

My journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t something I planned. Originally, I was in nursing school, but after a serious head injury, I couldn’t move forward on that path. Instead of giving up, I leaned into my creativity, teaching myself design, coding, and UX.

That led me to my first project: an iOS social photo sharing app called Pics or It Didn’t Happen, which made it to the App Store.Through that experience, I discovered my love for design. I wanted to keep going. So, I took an idea from a list of inventions I’d been saving and turned it into a business. That’s how Charmfril was born. Later, I launched PopnPrints, diving even deeper into branding, e-commerce, and digital marketing.

These weren’t just side projects—they were immersive, hands-on experiences that shaped my approach to branding, marketing, and product design today.

Key Stats

350+ sales on Charmfril's Etsy shop

Secured a provisional patent for Charmfril

Charmfril was featured in Girls’ Life Magazine and invited to WWDMAGIC trade show

Designed 50+ digital products and hit 100+ Etsy sales for PopnPrints

Challenge

With Charmfril, I had zero experience in manufacturing, no funding, and absolutely no clue how to get a product made—just a vision I couldn’t shake. I had to figure out everything from scratch: how to prototype, how to find suppliers, and how to turn an idea into something real people could actually buy. The hardest part? Creating a brand that people felt connected to—not just a cute product, but something that meant something.

With PopnPrints, the challenge was the opposite. I was pivoting from physical products to a fully digital model. That meant learning how to build an e-commerce funnel, optimize for SEO, and design products that could sell on autopilot. I wanted it to run without me constantly being in the weeds, but still feel creative and personal.

Solution

For Charmfril, I dove in headfirst. I hand-made the first prototypes with my dad (one of my favorite parts of the process), taught myself how to navigate manufacturing overseas, and even filed a provisional patent. I launched a Kickstarter to build buzz and used Pinterest and Instagram to grow a small but mighty audience. I didn’t just make a product—I built a brand from the ground up.

With PopnPrints, I leaned into everything digital. I set up a Shopify and Etsy store, designed downloadable prints, and created systems to sell them passively. I built lead magnets, email funnels, and a smooth customer journey that worked behind the scenes—so I could focus more on creating and less on constant upkeep.

Charmfril: From Prototype to Product Launch

Charmfril started with a simple but powerful idea—interchangeable charms for phone cases. But it quickly became more: a full ecosystem of customizable accessories inspired by creativity, self-expression, and trends.

I led the full product design process—hand-making the first prototypes with my dad (some of my favorite memories) and experimenting with everything from stick-on charms and picture frames to sunglass charms and slime-inspired designs. I wasn’t just building a product—I was testing an entire category.

To support the launch, I built the brand identity, website, blog, and marketing materials. I took a marketing course, created a 17-page product brochure and press kit, and reached out to press and influencers—personally shipping every order and sending samples to celebrities along the way.

💡 Impact:
• Featured in Girls’ Life Magazine
• Invited to WWDMAGIC (Las Vegas fashion trade show)
• Built and grew an engaged audience through Pinterest & Instagram marketing

PopnPrints: Building a Scalable Digital Business

With PopnPrints, I transitioned from physical product design to digital-first e-commerce. I launched both an Etsy shop and a Shopify store, offering downloadable prints and templates that customers could purchase and access instantly—without any manual fulfillment.

To build a scalable and sustainable business model, I designed every product to be hands-off. I partnered with a dropshipping company to handle physical print orders automatically, and I created optimized Etsy listings that were SEO-friendly and properly sized for instant delivery.

Behind the scenes, I set up an email automation funnel and designed a digital planner as a lead magnet to grow the subscriber base—laying the groundwork for long-term growth and passive income.

💡 Impact:
• Launched a digital-first brand with scalable, hands-off fulfillment
• Created optimized product listings for instant download via Etsy
• Built foundational email automation and lead gen systems
• Designed with long-term SEO and conversion growth in mind

Behind the scenes, I set up an email automation funnel and designed a digital planner as a lead magnet to grow the subscriber base—laying the groundwork for long-term growth and passive income.

The Takeaway: Entrepreneurship as a Launchpad

These ventures weren’t just businesses—they were my training ground. Through Charmfril and PopnPrints, I learned how to build and scale brands from scratch, how to navigate product design, marketing, and e-commerce, and how to create a compelling brand story that resonates with customers.

Most importantly, I learned that great design isn’t just about visuals—it’s about strategy. Whether designing a product, building a marketing campaign, or creating a brand experience, the goal is always to connect, engage, and convert.

💡 Impact: I built, marketed, and scaled two brands—learning firsthand how to turn ideas into reality. These experiences shaped my ability to think strategically, execute creatively, and adapt quickly—skills that continue to drive my success today.

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