BossWoman: Q&A with Pink Toast Ink’s Carrie Barker
It’s no secret that Charlotte is booming with some seriously awesome small businesses. Leading the way are some amazing women with vision.
I recently caught up with Carrie Barker, owner of graphic design company Pink Toast Ink. It was inspiring to find out what drives her and how she’s found her niche in the Queen City.
When did you realize it was time to pursue your own business and what gave you the confidence to branch out on your own with Pink Toast Ink?
It happened very organically. I was a designer for an architecture firm for six years when the recession hit. To make myself indispensable, I took on various tasks from printer maintenance to graphics to marketing. Through this, I found I had an intense love for graphic design.
In 2011, I started with small freelance jobs and, after a bit, I realized I should brand myself (enter Pink Toast) …
My husband was a HUGE supporter, and for much of the year encouraged me to go full-time with Pink Toast, so I died my hair pink and did a little dance.
In 2014 I brought on a team of interns to see how a team dynamic would work and now, in 2015, I’m in an office with a team of three gals!
@iamfoxes there is a company called @Pink_Toast_Ink look how cute there logo is!!!! pic.twitter.com/jhmP3MVG7T
— Matthew (@matthewstco) March 8, 2015
How do you think being a female business owner influences your relationships with employees?
I would say I’m very intuitive and empathetic. Using those tools, I’m able to read my employees well and can delegate properly while motivating them to be their best.
My philosophy is that I’m completely understanding of life events and daily occurrences. As long as you get the work done and work hard, you can take the time you need.
As a female business owner in the Queen City, where do you draw inspiration and support from in such a large, thriving community of entrepreneurs?
We deal with a lot of entrepreneurs, whether vendors or clients, due to the nature of our business, and I can honestly say each and every one fires me up! I get so impassioned when talking with them, as we all connect on some level.
They understand the trials and tribulations of running a business, as well as the reward. … Specific entrepreneurs (who) inspire me are The Savage Way team, Amy with VTGCLT and Kathryn with Studio Cultivate.
A photo posted by Pink Toast Ink (@pink_toast_ink) on Feb 6, 2015 at 7:06am PST
What type of music keeps your creative juices flowing each day?
We enjoy (SiriusXM) 90s on 9, Pop2K and Soul Train. We like old school!
If you could design or brand for any person or business, who would it be?
This is a loaded question! I would say what gets us the most excited is probably a woman entrepreneur (sorry boys). I connect best with their stories, as I am one too.
For so long I thought I would get married and have kids, and that would be my story. And that’s a great story, but for me, I realized there is so much more, and I am capable of truly incredible things!
So through our work, I feel like I can help women have the same realization. Our work is collaborative, so I’d like to work with someone with a vision and ideas. I need restrictions and a set of tools to take to my sandbox, and then I jumble them all up and create something killer!
A photo posted by Pink Toast Ink (@pink_toast_ink) on Mar 8, 2015 at 3:57pm PDT
Photo by Lauren Rosenau Photography.
This story was originally published May 18, 2015 at 9:31 PM with the headline "BossWoman: Q&A with Pink Toast Ink’s Carrie Barker."