Russellville native Jennifer Norris Hunt has seen her business, Dixie Design Collective, grow each year since she started it in 2015. And Hunt's recent participation in an elite national program should help her take her company to the next level.
Hunt, who lives in Birmingham with her husband Buddy and two sons, is the daughter of Lanny and Donna Norris of Russellville. She was one of 50 women from across the United States selected to participate in the Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program earlier this month in New York City.
Hunt participated in the four-day workshop, received a $5,000 business education grant, and a one-year fellowship including access to the foundation's peer-to-peer network. She was selected from among thousands of applications.
Dixie Design Collective sells semi-custom stationery and wedding paper, hand-designed by 35 artists and graphic designers with a taste for luxurious, artfully-driven paper without the lengthy design time or high price point.
Hunt's experience of having difficulty finding Christmas cards served as the inspiration for her to found Dixie Design.
“As most stories go, I couldn't find what I was looking for,” Hunt said. “I wanted a holiday card that looked like I had hired an artist to create the artwork and skillfully designed my card layout, but I also wanted the capability of customizing my card and reviewing a proof on the spot then receiving the cards quickly.
“I also wanted the paper to be luxurious and the price point to be affordable...I decided to start a company that offered everything I wanted. What began with holiday cards has evolved into everyday invitations, stationery, wedding suites, wrapping paper and wholesale items,” she added.
According to its website, the Tory Burch Foundation is about helping to empower women to help themselves.
“By providing resources and tools, we can level the playing field for women entrepreneurs, and helping them to grow their businesses benefits their families, their communities and, in turn, all of us,” Burch said.
The Tory Burch collection was launched in 2004 and includes ready-to-wear, shoes, handbags, accessories, watches and home and beauty.
Dixie Design Collective is a departure from Hunt's previous careers as a Certified Public Accountant and an art gallery owner, although her experience in an art gallery helped her develop an eye for spotting talent and a skill for curating, according to the company's website.
The company is named after Hunt's childhood dog, a Boston terrier named Dixie.
Artists are selected who are committed to producing quality products through their talents in calligraphy, painting, illustrating and other hand-lettering techniques.
Hunt's top three goals for Dixie Design Collective are to continue company growth, diversify the product line and become the worldwide go-to online paper product company. She hopes to introduce more product lines for Dixie Design, including the possibility of Dixie Design home products.
She said the workshop not only exposed her to some strategies for business growth, but it also presented a wonderful networking opportunity.
“It was pretty crazy. I told them about some new products we want to launch and when I put it out in front of the group, I had contacts in each area within two hours,” Hunt said. “Anything you can imagine as a business owner, they put it in front of us. I wasn't sure what I was getting into, but I'd sure glad I had the opportunity to be part of it.”
For more information on the company, or to see the wide selection of products available for custom design, log onto www.dixie-design.com.
