Life & Work with Pamyla Floyd of Jonesboro

Today we’d like to introduce you to Pamyla Floyd.

Hi Pamyla, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always wanted to have my own business and had a couple of websites, took classes, created business cards and kept renewing my business license every year. In 2020, I decided to legitimize my business and wanted to see if I had what it took to run one. I opened a gift shop in a Discount Mail in Jonesboro, GA. I initially started out working parttime in the mornings before I went to my regular job, and had three ladies who worked part time with me. Although we had retail items, I also created bejeweled ink pens, fan pulls, stick pens, note cards, stickers, inspirational photos as well as greeting cards among other things.

Pretty soon other gift shops were coming in and we were being pushed to the way side. We went through a shut down for about 6 weeks during Covid and faced a lot of struggles. I, myself, ended up with Covid in December of that year and had to be oxygenated for 6 months. When I came back in 2021, I found it hard to keep up with my regular full time job, (Covid aggravated some issues, and brought forward new ones). I finally had to quit and began working alone full time in my store, where I have been working alone ever since. I have done radio, and advertised online, but my business has mostly been word of mouth. In the summer of 2021 I decided to take my business in another direction. I didn’t want to close, so I researched again an area that I had always been interested in which was a small business hub. In 2022, we got new management for the building that I’m in and we began closing on Mondays in addition to Tuesdays. This voided my contract with Fed Ex.

I continued doing fingerprinting, notary, copies, prints, business cards, car magnets and the like. I wasn’t able to pay myself, but things were coming along, I was finally seeing a turn around and able to pay the monthly bills. However, in the 4th quarter of 2024, things took another turn, and my robust fingerprinting business was becoming non existent and along with that my virtual mailbox customers were falling by the wayside. Now, in the most difficult year since I’ve been in business, I’m struggling to pay the monthly rent and associated bills. I still however do not intend to quit, give up or cave in.

There are a couple of nearby businesses that were able to grab customers that I now missed on closed days. Also, they have the ability to open earlier during the week, I am pivoting again, I learned drug testing and became certified, but that has to be on hold for right now, because the community that I serve is over saturated. I am working on promoting my ink fingerprinting part of my business, and I plan to implement tax services as well. I have been created three SaaS products. (Software as a Service) and I have two available at this time. One is ready for testing. (Rhinestone Template Designer). The Sign In Kiosk, and a Desktop Wellness Diary which includes captures for meals, calories, exercises, body measurements, weight, bp and more! I have smaller memory apps for the youngest to the oldest to help test and strengthen their memory senses. I also have a few simple game apps that I’m also working on as well as other utility apps that include automatic phone and text reminders for doctors, dentists and other providers to contact patients and customers of upcoming appointments.

I have truly had to work by the sweat of my brow along the way, its been hard, at times discouraging, and on the days when I didn’t want to get out of bed, I still showed up. You never know when your breakthrough will come, and when mine does, I’ll be standing flat footed and ready to meet it, square on!

I’ve lost a lot along the way, but I’ve come too far to quit now, If others knew the true costs of what I’ve had to endure, they would have counted me out a long time ago. But God is my real strength. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
We faced Covid closures, loss of business. We have issues with the postal service that has been an ongoing battle, and they have changed my address a few months ago, which causes issues of its own. Although we are in a physical location, the change makes it look like we are renting a mailbox. This makes it hard to do business with some entities.
We’ve been without, but we’ve become more resilient because of the challenges, learning how to prepare for and face obstacles head on.
People may look at you and see what they want to see, when they assume. But when they take the time to count the costs, they may think differently. Being a business owner is not for the faint of heart. If it’s something that you want to pursue, you have to be committed to not giving up when things get tough.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am very personable and enjoy the interaction of meeting new people. I draw, dabble with 3D content, create stickers, greeting cards, apps. I do have one that is finished SaaS product that barbers, hairstylists, or any business that needs for their customer to sign in, they can do so digitally. The business owner captures their name, email, cell phone and choose from the dropdown the service that they are getting, plus it gives them a chance to scan the QR code and give a Google Review while there, which helps tremendously. I like to listen to and help create something that the customer will be pleased with. These are other digital downloads along with the gifts shop can be found at www.papered.co

I don’t try to change a person’s mind about what they want or give them something that I think they should have. I’m after their business, not their money. If they enjoy doing business with me, I will get repeat orders, word of mouth customers and new connections to grow from because they enjoyed the experience. When I’m doing fingerprinting or any type of work where the person may feel uncomfortable, I tell them what is going to happen next so they won’t be surprised.

Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I don’t believe in luck, I believe that everything happens for a reason, and no matter what that is, good or bad, there are lessons to be learned. Mostly through its through the latter that we gain the most valuable lessons.
Customer Service has and will always be number one with me. If a person remembers how you made them feel, they will never forget you. I want to make each interaction a good one. Good customer service is hard to find these days, and I want people to know that they are valued, and appreciated .

We all know what it’s like to receive poor customer service, When I can visibly see someone relax and let their guard down and have a polite and productive conversation, I know that I am doing 80% of my job. I give my email, cell number for text messages and the store’s phone number to customers.

Thank you,
Pamyla Floyd
email: support@paperedpaknship.com
websites: www.papered.co & www.paperedpaknship.com
text: (678) 680-8485

Pricing:

• $15 mo flat fee + set up, street address, 6 & 12 month, no packages
• $45 Ink Fingerprinting (2 cards)
• $9.99 mo Sign In Kiosk App (starter)
• $9.99 Wellness Diary (PC)
• $75 for 1000 Business cards

Contact Info:

• Website: www.papered.co and www.paperedpaknship.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/papered.co
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@paperedpaknship7697

Image Credits
Pamyla Floyd