Famous Entrepreneurs Information

With only a small-business loan to help her, Joanna Alberti has taken her folder of doodles and quotable quotes and turned it into a successful greeting-card business revolving around a fictional woman named Sophie.

"She's a whimsical character who women can relate to," says Alberti, who left her full-time advertising job in October, 2004, to start the business.

She officially launched her company at the 2005 National Stationery Show in New York City, though she admits feeling intimidated by the likes of Hallmark and other greeting-card heavyweights.

Alberti says that, on a good day, she can churn out about 500 cards, which retail in area boutiques for $4.50 to $5.25.

Like most young entrepreneurs, Alberti has plans to expand her operations. She hopes to license Sophie's trademark designs for use in a variety of paper products.

Lesson learned:

"If something doesn't feel right, then I just shouldn't do it. I follow my gut."

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