Split Greeting Cards
Sometimes relationships suck. Have you been cheated on you with your best friend? Has your significant other skipped your sister’s wedding to watch a basketball game they could DVR and watch later?
Are you in a situation where you are uninspired by your partner, have grown out of love, feeling under-valued or you just don’t feel like your relationship is worth the effort to anymore?
If you’re in any of these situations and you are thinking of ending your relationship then yes, it’s definitely time to SPLIT, and SPLIT Greeting Cards is here to help you say what you should have said a long time ago.
SPLIT Greeting Cards’ primary purpose is to empower – specifically, those that feel stuck in their relationship(s). SPLIT Greeting Cards aims to give you permission – permission to put yourself first and permission to no longer settles for less than you deserve. We welcome you to your breakup card destination and more… Let’s SPLIT.
Lanice Wilson your business and story is very new for us! Can you tell us what inspired you to come up with SPLIT Greeting Cards?
I’ve always loved greeting cards – I could spend hours reading them (often times not finding a card that said what I wanted, or really needed it to say). I always danced around the idea of having my own greeting card company, but I didn’t want to be 1 of 1 trillion online greeting card companies.
It wasn’t until I was going through a very difficult time in my life – a time where a transition was not only necessary, it was critical to my being. That’s when I decided to start SPLIT Greeting Cards. I was at a crossroads professionally and personally as both my job and my romantic relationships were coming to an end. It was through the death of these two things that SPLIT was born.
What was going through your mind on that day?
A million things! Trying to launch a business, particularly a greeting card business while nursing a broken heart was difficult, however, these experiences gave me tons of material to work with. I think I wrote close to 300 cards in the first few weeks, which helped me cope with my situation.
Many people would say splitting via a greeting card would be very impersonal, because it would be same as breaking up via text, what can you say about this?
I guess I would have to disagree with many people. Nowadays, you can pretty much text in your sleep – no energy necessary. A greeting card – now that takes thought. It also takes effort, time, money and more. It’s very personal. And to send a SPLIT Greeting Card – it’s extremely personal.
What investment did you need to start SPLIT Greeting Cards?
Initially, what I needed was what I always had – sweat equity, passion, resourcefulness, a clear vision, and a savvy business sense.
With regards to financial investment – I started SPLIT Greeting Cards with bare bones. I built my site myself through trial and error. My daughter’s husband created my logo (for free), I tapped into other relationships for favors, my family and close friends were my focus groups and my husband purchased my first card. It just evolved from there.
When would be the ideal moment for someone to send a SPLIT Greeting Card to an ex?
The ideal time would be right before he/she is your ex. You have to remember; all breakups aren’t forever. Sometimes, you must give a wakeup call; a final warning if you will. However, I do know that this is not always an option.
I have had customers send SPLIT cards months after their breakups. I had one guy ask me to send a card to his ex-wife that cheated on him and left him for the man she cheated with 1 year after their divorce. I have also had customers send SPLIT cards (or have me send SPLIT cards) as gag gifts. It all depends on the situation.
How do you make sure anyone can find SPLIT Greeting Cards?
Social media has been great to drive traffic to SplitGreetingCards.life. Also, I recently opened an online shop on Etsy, which has been really good for SPLIT. I do vendor events every chance I get, and word of mouth has been a blessing.
Is SPLIT Greeting Cards your full-time job too?
SPLIT is definitely a full-time job, but no, it is not my primary source of income currently. Trust me, I can’t wait for the day SPLIT can be my one and only “job”. However, that time hasn’t come yet. I have another full-time job, additionally, I am a wife, mother, grandmother and so much more – I’m a busy lady, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!
Do you focus only on breakups?
I am starting to expand into more traditional cards, however, breakups were my entry point into the greeting card industry. It was important to differentiate myself, and I think I was successful in doing so. With that said, I will always write about breakups. I believe I have a unique perspective and a unique style and delivery.
Who are your customers, can you describe them?
My customers are male and female, Gen Xers and millennials. Some of my customers are total badasses and feel like I am speaking their language, while others feel I am saying all of things they want to say, but do not have the courage to say. It brings me great joy to be their voice and speak on their behalf.
Tell us about a time when someone didn’t like SPLIT Greeting Cards, what did you do about it?
I’ve had a few people tell me SPLIT Greeting Cards were negative and they would never need a card because they’ve been with their significant others for X amount of years. My answer is and will always be the same: everything is not for everybody, and I pray you never need one of my cards.
I think there is this perception that greeting cards are supposed to be about rainbows and happy birthday wishes, but the fact of the matter is SPLIT Greeting Cards expresses the feelings that many people feel with their (romantic and professional) relationships are coming to an end. I am not here to celebrate the pain that one experiences during and after a breakup, I am here to celebrate the fact that there is life after a breakup. That it’s ok to be sick and tired of being sick and tired. That we all deserve to be in a relationship with someone that loves, respects, and appreciates us. If this is missing in your relationship, then perhaps it’s time to SPLIT.
What popular entrepreneurial advice do you agree/ disagree with?
When people show you who they are, believe them THE FIRST TIME! Maya Angelou said this to Oprah and in my mind, Oprah said it to me (a few times)!
Why?
This is huge!! I don’t know how many times I thought I could change a man, or a friend, or a family member. I was all about their potential, instead of being all about them – exactly as they were. I looked past all of the red flags which said to me: he’s a liar, he doesn’t respect you, you can’t trust her, they are not nice people, etc. I bought into a story that I so desperately wanted to believe, one that I told myself to make me feel better about engaging with people that were not good to me. Had I stayed with the facts, which was only the truth, I would have believed who they were when they showed me the first time and I would have spared myself the pain and disappointment.
What is your favorite aspect of being a writer?
Writing is freedom to me. It’s unapologetic. I am not conscious of tone or worried about offending anyone – it’s just me and I am free to bare it all.
What is your next step, do you plan to write more cards or start another business?
I recently started an apparel line — Wear It Out Loud. It’s a fun collection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies that have sassy and clever graphics on them. However, my love is and always will be greeting cards. I love writing them, it’s my passion, it’s my freedom.
How would you describe your work style while running your business?
I do not work to a schedule. I do not write a card, because I need more cards. I do not post to social because I should be posting at a specific frequency. I work my business by way of inspiration. When I’m inspired to write or post, that’s when I do it, organically. I do not want to do anything that feels forced – my spirit wouldn’t allow it and my customers wouldn’t believe it.
![From Music to Perfume: How did your background as a music teacher influence your transition into perfumery, and how do you incorporate your musical sensibilities into creating fragrances? I’ve always thought in terms of metaphors, and music has many that can be related to perfumery! Beyond just thinking in terms of top, middle and base notes [soprano/alto/tenor in choir], I approach each fragrant idea as a composition. When documenting my ideas, song structures often come to mind. As the scent brief is visited, I meditate on what the fragrance should convey - do I want to create an accord or a “chord” of fragrance note combinations? Do I want an a capella soloist (a particular ingredient to stand out more than others?) Many of my thoughts regarding song composition transfers to my scent formulation process, with me treating each note as an intentional soliloquy at some point.
Brand Origin: What inspired you to start Pink MahogHany in 2005, and how has your vision for the brand evolved since its inception?
An avid lover of all things pleasantly scented (with slight modesty), looking back in retrospect, it’s no huge surprise that I’ve created an indie perfume house with just an idea to provide unique options for those who may be sensitive to unnecessary pungency. Initially, I just wanted to evaluate various blends to note their aroma profiles when “played” together…it wasn’t until I had friends and family asking if I knew of brands that catered to those who may be on the more olfactory sensitive side, that I really began to take my research more seriously. In the almost 20 years that Pink MahogHany has been in existence, our micro visions for the brand have evolved to larger territory. Where Pink MahogHany used to only be a personal brand, we are now also a bespoke formulation service provider to other indie brands seeking unique fragrance offerings for their products. These products range from (but are not limited to) perfumes, candles, body butters and lip balms. Ingredient Transparency: You emphasize transparency and the use of desirable ingredients in your products. How do you select your ingredients, and what challenges have you faced in maintaining this standard?
Being an indie brand often comes with a set of assumptions and misconceptions - one of them being more negative than positive as it relates to ingredients used. There is a lot of “fluff” in the industry with labeling falsification. Because fragrance formulas are a trade secret, not every molecular breakdown of a material has to be noted on the ingredient label (it would be incredibly long), but we at Pink MahogHany™️ adhere strongly to the IFRA [International Fragrance Regulatory Association] regulations that state for common and potential allergens to be listed on our ingredient label. We’ve taken this a step further to also include these ingredients listed on our website to promote further transparency, all while protecting our intellectual property. Unfortunately, we’ve had companies to unethically sell lesser expensive “dupes” of our artisan perfumes, so as a way to create a better authenticity stamp, we make it our duty to be honest about our claims. If our perfume says “Rose Bulgaria”, it is in fact just that and not a component of rose being passed off as the source material. Collaborations and Custom Scents: Can you share more about your work with private label clients? What excites you most about creating custom scent solutions for other indie brands? I could easily sum this up in one word and say “Funding.” True, there is money out there, but I’m always thinking outside the box. Having a program that has an “Each One Fund One” mentality doesn’t exist (that I’ve been made aware of). Bootstrapping can be quite the challenge, even when you’ve reached the 6-figure mark annually. Competition to be seen and set apart is extremely high, so having quality packaging and branding is a must. There are lots of factors to consider, though when desiring to make upgrades. If there were a unique, tier-geared funding operation available, it would help perfume brands offset packaging and bulk material costs in the beginning stages.
Industry Challenges: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as an independent fragrance house, and how have you overcome them to grow your brand? As the brand continues on the path of organic growth, I would like to expand our reach into schools, offering perfumery as an arts elective for middle and high school. I’d love to partner with botanists, farmers and horticulturists directly to grow and source raw materials for the students to work with in the creation of tinctures. My passion is getting back to nature as best as possible, as nature was my first “scent experience” as a child. We would also love to witness our fragrance creations being used to scent model homes, our focus diffuser blends being used in automobile dealerships as well as partner with Air Bnb and boutique hotels that specialize in highlighting minority, indie brands. Personal Journey: How has your personal experience, particularly as a divorced mother and someone who has experienced the loss of a child, shaped your approach to life and your work in perfumery?
Because I homeschool my twin sons, we are together a lot more than most, so one thing we all do is have moments of sharing where a neutral “floor” is laid to converse about anything. Though they are quite communicative by nature, I realize that sometimes I can be in work mode so much that it spills over into what should be our quality time. My sons see the authentic me and learn how to communicate through seeing authenticity. I’ve learned not to feel as if I have to be the epitome of perfection but allow them to see my imperfections vulnerably but with discernment. Having had two traumatic experiences pretty close together has taught me how to truly slow down and enjoy the simplicities of life - igniting a spiritual aspect that I’ve always carried but never fully explored…until Kenji’s sudden passing (2018.) Grief has a way of catapulting us into a quest for more meaningfulness in both life and business. After Kenji’s passing and my processing through the initial stages of grief, I was able to incorporate our spiritual bond into Pink MahogHany by way of essential oil diffuser blends for both focus and sleep and most recently aromatic perfume elixirs. It’s been quite the process channeling the void of his physical presence, but I also have peace knowing he can be honored in a great way through scent. I noticed once I began to be more open and receptive to spiritual signs, synchs and “winks”, more ideas began to flow. It’s been this way since his transition. Emotional Expression: Fragrance is often tied to memories and emotions. How does your personal life influence the fragrances you create, and do you have a particular scent that holds special meaning to you? My creative process is much more alchemic now, and I include Kenji by talking out loud to him, believe it or not. I’m a firm believer that when our loved ones transition from the physical plane, they are still present - just in another form. I choose to keep his memory alive by not pretending he never existed (even if for a brief period of time). I am working (slowly) on a book and accompanying fragrance, but I know it will require me to revisit some memories I’m not quite ready for, so until then, his big brothers will launch their debut fragrance, The Peaceful Tiger (they chose the name.) I’ve learned that even in what we consider “small things”, our transitioned loved ones want to be recognized and acknowledged. When the twins and I designed their fragrance label (with a designer out of the country that didn’t know anything about me personally), we had issues with the graphic - so much so that the designer asked if they could rework the design. When they sent the proof for approval, the Tiger was not only younger but sleeping, with an uncanny, angelic resemblance to baby Kenji! Becoming more aware and being more sensitive to my intention for launching a fragrance has definitely made room for more divine situations like these to occur. Healing Through Scent: In what ways has creating fragrances been a form of healing or expression for you, especially after the loss of your son, Kenji Mwamba? I know my sons may not necessarily want to be perfumers, but they definitely have an entrepreneurial heart. My desire is that whatever they decide to pursue (acting, script-writing, music or architecture), they know that anything is possible with the right amount of determination, grit, belief and immersion. One reason I chose to homeschool is so they could enjoy learning without restraint and have ample time to devote to their own separate passions and it still be fun. They know Pink MahogHany is theirs if they want it (many, many years from now - lol), and we are already discussing business structures for whatever they choose their role to be once I retire. Work-Life Balance: How do you find balance between your professional responsibilities and personal well-being, and what self-care practices do you prioritize? I’m not just a perfumer; I’m also a consumer, and self-care is huge for me. I often take salt baths to reset my energy and clear my mind after being around large groups of people or free a long day. I’m a habitual perfume sampler, and I have so many to choose from to wear as my “nightcap.” Even if just for 10-15 minutes, I cherish each moment I’m able to have some “me-time.” When time and co-parenting schedules permit, I’m definitely on a flight somewhere to indulge in some delicious food and mouth-watering mocktails!](https://www.womenontopp.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_3812-1200x720.jpeg)
I am so proud of you daughter.