Haley Del Plato: Interview Questions with No Pants Required
Today, Haley Del Plato; the creator of Peel and Heal Studio, joins us. I am so excited to get to interview her; she is so kind, creative and also gives functional planner stickers a new meaning. Her planner stickers are driven more towards mental, emotional, and physical health. From Therapy schedules to prescription pick up to motivational sayings – her stickers are made to help you to remember important things that most people tend to put off because they forget to do it with their busy lives. We are talking to her about herself, her work, and also maybe some tips on how to get started in a sticker shop. So, let’s get into it!
NPR: Hi Haley! Tell everyone a bit about yourself:
How old are you? 25 years old.
Where do you call home? An apartment in Morristown, New Jersey!
Hobbies? Planning (of course!), hand lettering, yoga, writing, Pinterest crafts, drinking wine.
Pets? Not currently. My only pet was a Beta fish named Sloopy…but I forgot to feed him all the time so he died… I’m obviously not ready for kids haha!!
Favorites Song? Currently, “Female” by Keith Urban – I love country music!
Book? Handle with Care by Jodi Picoult
Animal? PIGS! I looooove them!
Apple or PC? I currently use a PC at home. I was introduced recently to Apple computers at work, though, and I might be hooked…
Netflix or Hulu? Netflix! Though I don’t watch much TV honestly.
Dogs or Cats? I’m a dog lover!
Anything else? I am a firm believer that life is too short for boring socks! I don’t own any plain white or black socks!
NPR: Where did the idea come from to start your own shop?
HDP: I got into the planning community somewhat recently. For me, decorative planning is so calming – like a form of art therapy! One day, I was searching for stickers to mark my therapy sessions. I was frustrated because I couldn’t find any cute ones on Etsy that had a space to write in my appointment time. So I set out on a mission to create my own stickers! Soon after, I decided I wanted to share those creations with the world via Peel & Heal Studio!
NPR: How did you come up with the name for your shop?
HDP: Lots of people have asked me about the name of my shop. I suffer from severe anxiety and depression. Planning with stickers is so therapeutic for me, and has been a wonderful healthy coping skill. I knew I wanted to tie into my shop name that idea of recovery and healing, plus I wanted it to be a catchy name that people would remember! I thought of Peel & Heal Studio one night as I was falling asleep!
NPR: How did the concept of mental, emotional, and physical health come to be for your stickers?
HDP: This may be a bit of a long answer, so stick with me! In 2012, I finally entered treatment after years of suffering from a life-threatening eating disorder. My parents took me out of school (I was at Colgate University getting my degrees in Spanish and Educational Studies). Although I hated to even admit my behaviors were a problem at first, I ended up spending January through August in intensive treatment. Taking a medical leave from college was the best decision my parents could have made for me. It kick-started a much-needed focus on self-care in my own life. After treatment, I returned to college to study abroad in Spain. After a significant eating disorder relapse and consequent hospitalization, I finally got the rude awakening that this illness would KILL me if I didn’t start fighting back. My life began to revolve around treatment: therapy sessions, journaling, yoga, nutrition appointments, psychiatric care, etc. I slowly re-learned what “normal” eating meant. I learned (and am still figuring out some days) how to love myself, and what that truly means. It’s been a bumpy and tear-filled journey, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m now a HUGE advocate for mental health. Because I dealt with so many stigmas surrounding my eating disorder, depression, anxiety, and self-harm, I made it my mission to FIGHT those stigmas by normalizing conversations about mental health. I worked for several years with the National Eating Disorders Association as a volunteer fundraising walk coordinator. Peel & Heal is the next step in my venture to help people prioritize their mental and physical well-being!
NPR: What steps did you take to start your own shop?
HDP: I started with research—lots and lots of research. I read blogs and online articles, watched YouTube videos, and read books about starting up small businesses and running Etsy shops. I wanted to make sure that before I opened my virtual shop doors, I was well-versed in the industry terminology, norms, and what to expect. Next, I designed. For hours each evening, I doodled. Half of my sketches ended up in the garbage until I finally realized that I needed to ditch the perfectionistic mindset! I settled on my first design and then set out to find the quality materials I wanted to use (everything from sticker paper to packaging). I edited and revamped my logo several times, using feedback from family and friends. I also ordered LOTS of stickers from a variety of shops so that I could see what other shops were excelling in. I took note of packaging styles, shipping times, personal touches, and more to develop my own “brand”. The final step was marketing, which I primarily did on Instagram. Once I had a good following, I sent out samplers to a bunch of people to get feedback on my designs and quality. From there, I set an opening date and starting stocking my shop!
NPR: What would have you done differently if you could start over?
HDP: If I could do this whole thing over, I would set aside my perfectionism at the beginning. For a while, I was too caught up in comparing my designs and skills to those of other shop owners. It really hindered my creative process and made me second-guess my intentions in opening up this shop. Did I really have any business opening up a sticker shop with no professional art training? I slowly gained confidence in the mission of Peel & Heal Studio and saw myself as CAPABLE and TALENTED. Self-confidence is key!
NPR: How do you come up with designs and product ideas?
HDP: I try to think back to my days in treatment: I would have LOVED to have had cute stickers for my journal or planner that would make me smile and simultaneously help me make progress in recovery. So a lot of my inspiration comes from what would have been useful to me in those dark days. The other portion of my brainstorming comes from my wonderful Facebook group! It’s a wonderful space where I can hear customers’ suggestions, ideas, hopes, etc. It’s really interesting to see what OTHER people would find helpful…because at the end of the day, everyone’s mental health story and struggle are different. It’s important to me that I base my designs off of a wide variety of needs/ideas so that my stickers are relatable to a wide audience.
NPR: What is your typical creation process?
HDP: I start with pencil on paper. Eventually, those doodles make their way into Adobe Illustrator, where I can edit, add color, and fine-tune my designs. This is the longest part of the process because I’m still a newbie with Adobe! There are so many cool functions within that program…I’m sure I don’t even know half of them! So I’m constantly learning and improving my art. Once I’m happy with my design, I use a Silhouette machine and the corresponding software to set up, print, and cut my sticker sheets!
NPR: Do you think you will be sticking with Etsy for the long run or will you get a website
at some point?
HDP: It’s hard to say at this point. For now, Etsy completely meets my needs! Should Peel & Heal Studio continue to grow, though, it might be wise to branch into my own
website where I can totally customize things.
NPR: Is this your full-time career? Do you want to do this for many years to come?
HDP: I currently work fulltime at a translation company actually, as a Spanish translator and quality assurance proofreader. Peel & Heal Studio is totally for fun at this point, so I do that after work or on the weekends! I’d LOVE to see my shop succeed for years to come. I’ll do it as long as there’s a demand for my stickers because I truly do enjoy the whole process! As long as I’m not compromising my mental health in running this shop, I don’t see a reason that I would stop!
NPR: Have you thought about following the monthly/weekly kit trend?
HDP: I have considered it. My one “issue” with kits, though, is that they tend to somewhat limit my creativity. Maybe that’s just me! One of the ideas behind my Etsy shop is that a person can turn any ol’ planner into a functional wellness/health tracker. Because of that mindset, I like to provide stickers that can be integrated into ANY layout—without worrying about customers having to buy an expensive, top-of-the-line planner.
NPR: Have you thought about expanding to other products?
HDP: That’s definitely crossed my mind! I’m a huge fan of washi tape and sticky notes, so I think it would be awesome to branch into those eventually. For the time being, though, I want to focus on building up my “library” of sticker designs.
NPR: Anything new products or sales coming up?
HDP: I have a couple of new products in the works: monthly mood trackers where you can color in a section per day to track your mood over time (think bujo-style designs!) as well as 30-day challenges! The first set of challenge stickers will be “30 days of self-care”. These are being designed as we speak, and are aimed to help people create healthy habits that last over time. It’s a fun way to challenge yourself each month! We’ll also be having a “Holiday Healing” sale, which will last from December 24th through December 27th. There will be a different deal going on each day!
NPR: Is the holiday season a busy time for your shop?
HDP: This is the first holiday season that Peel & Heal Studio has been open, and I’m busier than I ever imagined! It’s so exciting!
NPR: Have you thought about starting a YouTube channel for your shop?
HDP: I think that would be awesome. I am, however, a little camera shy (I HATE the sound of my own voice on video!!!) so it would take some practice. I’m trying to put some occasional videos in my Instagram story, though! Baby steps!
NPR: Do you have a specified work area? Have you gotten to make it your own?
HDP: Ugh, I dream of a specified work area. Because I’m in an apartment, I don’t have a designated office quite yet. Luckily, my roommate is amazingly tolerant and doesn’t mind when my shop supplies are sprawled all over the living room!!
NPR: What type of music/videos/movies/tv shows do you watch/listen to while you are creating?
HDP: I love listening to classical music when I’m doodling and drawing. I played the clarinet in an orchestra all through college, so I have a definite soft spot for classical music. It inspires me. While I’m packaging up orders, though, I always end up listening to something upbeat... It keeps me moving and keeps me at a steady pace!
NPR: What types of drinks/snacks do you enjoy while you are creating?
HDP: Coffee, coffee, coffee. Or Diet Peach Snapple! As far as snacks, I’m a huuuge sucker for cheese doodles (my apologies in advance if there’s ever an orange smudge on your invoice) or popcorn.
NPR: Do you have any tips for others looking to break into their own sticker shop?
HDP: Don't get discouraged too easily!! There’s a definite learning curve to some of the software and Silhouette machines. I try to remind myself that the expert in anything was once a beginner. There’s no shame in asking questions, learning from others, and reaching out for help. The planner community is especially welcoming and supportive! Another thing to remember? One person’s beauty doesn’t detract from your own. That is to say, just because there are a million beautiful stickers out there doesn’t mean that you don’t have something to add to the planner sticker world! Believe in your unique abilities!
Thank you for joining us today, Haley! We look forward to more wonderful planner stickers and maybe other products from you in the future!
If you would like to check out her stickers, please go check her out on Etsy at Peel and Heal Studio
Check out her Facebook Group
And lastly her Instagram: @peelandheal_planning
