That's exactly what Jackie Patterson, a Santa Barbara, Ca. native, did four years ago when she started Oopsala, Inc. Leaving behind a successful career in the mortgage banking industry so she could spend more time with her children, Patterson, a single mother,
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 23, 2006
Contact: Jackie Patterson
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405.285.6331
Entrepreneur Designs Success with Her Hobby
OKLAHOMA CITY-- It’s a dream many women share: Finding a way to turn a hobby into a profitable business. To achieve this dream often means taking a huge leap of faith.
That’s exactly what Jackie Patterson, a Santa Barbara, Ca. native, did four years ago when she started Oopsala, Inc. Leaving behind a successful career in the mortgage banking industry so she could spend more time with her children, Patterson, a single mother, began designing home décor items that she made in her barn and sold to her friends at her home “trunk shows”. She decided to focus on one product she could mass produce and sell in order to create a viable income.
“The signs seemed to be popular and cost effective to manufacture” Patterson said, so she applied for a booth at the Dallas Gift Show, a wholesale market for retail buyers. The first show was so successful that she decided to try the Atlanta Gift Show next. “The first year was difficult; I learned everything about this business the hard way. I new absolutely nothing about manufacturing or shipping and I made all the mistakes.”
Oopsala signs have been used as set decoration for ABC television shows and are sold in wholesale showrooms in Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle, and Minneapolis. The company also attends the Atlanta and New York gift shows. Not bad for a company that began in the owner’s barn four years ago. The business has come along way since its beginning in 2002. All of the products are still hand made in Oklahoma, but Oopsala has since moved from the barn to a larger location to make room for the rapidly growing company.
The success of Oopsala has a lot to do with the uniqueness of the product. Patterson says “There are lots of companies who make signs, but none like ours.” The Oklahoma based company’s line includes, Italian, French and American phrases silk screened onto hand painted wood signs. Oopsala signs say everything from “Bon Appetit” to “Happily ever after”.
The products are for sale by several catalog companies and over 1000 gift stores nationwide. Oopsala’s products are also available on their retail website, www.oopsala.com.
For more information on Jackie Patterson or Oopsala signs please call 405-285-6331.
www.oopsala.com
Editors Note: Photos are attached. If you need something with a higher resolution or want sign samples please contact Jackie Patterson,
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or (405)285-6331.
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That's exactly what Jackie Patterson, a Santa Barbara, Ca. native, did four years ago when she started Oopsala, Inc. Leaving behind a successful career in the mortgage banking industry so she could spend more time with her children, Patterson, a single mother,
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