Introducing: Paper Pear

Three years ago while still living in South Africa, Sam Jaffray dreamed of moving to New Zealand and starting her own business.

Part of that dream came true when she emigrated in 2013 and last month, she realised the second part when she opened her online business, Paper Pear.

“I have always been creative, from painting and drawing to sculpting and crafts,” she says. “I am the type of person who is always doodling. My best subjects in school were my art subjects so I decided that was where I should put my energy in terms of business.”

Married with two children and with the youngest Joe, about to start school, Sam knew it was time to start working on her business plan and create her dream business.

“Social media has been pivotal in helping me build my business because I was able to use my ideas as case studies to see what people wanted,” she says. “I now have a range of products from bags, gift cards and art, all designed on my kitchen table.”

Sam’s designs are influenced by her South African heritage but also reflect her new home in New Zealand.

“Everything around me inspires me to be creative. I take a lot of inspiration from the bush and fauna, and I love Maori designs. Art is all about experimentation. There are days that things don’t work, but then there are days when magic happens.”

Sam’s unique style of typography and doodle art has drawn a lot of attention from local businesses ordering products online. The Paper Pear website has been up for less than a month but she is getting orders for customised Christmas cards and stationery.

“You can dream about it for so long but eventually you have to take the leap; you can’t wait until you have the perfect conditions.

“It is a challenge to merge a creative interest into a living, but I have been inspired by the Kiwi ‘can do’ attitude.”