Tanea Smith, Founder and Owner, She's Got Papers

Ms. Tanea Smith, Owner, She’s Got Papers,LLC, P.O. Box 1603, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163. Website: She's Got Papers; Phone: (718) 690-3712.

Tanea's Publicist: Melissa Cassera, Cassera Communications, casseracommunications@gmail.com. Phone: (856) 816-3413.

She’s Got Papers offers a catalog of stationery bursting at the seams with inspiration. There are three, beautifully hand-drawn and water-colored collections that are specifically designed for baby girls, teen girls, and women. The collections run the gamut from whimsical to edgy; to chic and enlightening.

Launched in July 2008, the Brooklyn, New York-based company is quickly garnering the attention of moms, women’s groups, and celebrity organizations that love the message that She’s Got Papers delivers. In January 2009, an article about Tanea and She's Got Papers appeared in "Pink" magazine.

Tanea has always been a lover of words. An avid journaler since the age of 11, she loved to write as a child. In grade school she wrote several plays that were performed by her young peers and she would frequently enter spelling bees and storytelling contests. Ever the expressionist, Tanea would later entertain thoughts of becoming an actress until an unplanned pregnancy at the age of 19 would move her in a totally different direction.

Despite life's twists and turns, Tanea never acted like a victim and rose about her challenges to go on to create her own successes. Her words now inspire others to do the same.

After the birth of her first child, Brandon, Tanea took steps to master skills that could help her support herself and her new baby. As Brandon napped each afternoon, she taught herself to type on a manual typewriter on loan from her sister’s new job and within a few months she also taught herself word processing.

Armed with a new skill set and the determination to make a better life for Brandon and herself, Tanea stepped out into the corporate world. Nothing could match the pride of being self sufficient, yet she still felt like there was something missing from her professional life.

Twelve years after beginning her career in the corporate sector, Tanea, now engaged and a mother of two, found herself longing for an outlet for her artistic abilities. She began to rethink an idea she had back in 2002 to launch a stationery collection of her own.

While on maternity leave in 2007 after the birth of her daughter, Jada, Tanea had an epiphany; now was the time to launch that line! Inspired by a combination of journal entries from her years as a teenage mother and reflecting on how much she had personally grown, Tanea said the designs literally poured from her heart.

Tanea’s sister, Chermia, came up with the name “She’s Got Papers,” the title of a popular song in the 1980’s that her mom played around the house when the girls were growing up. Tanea felt it could not be more fitting.

Tanea worked with Denise Biondo, whom she calls “one of the most talented graphic designers to grace the planet,” to design her logo (a scroll on parchment paper, with a calligraphy pen and gloved hand with a pearl bracelet). The pearls reminded Tanea of her grandmother and it set the tone for the identity of the brand; whimsical but classy and a "ladies only affair."

In May 2007, Tanea began the process of making She’s Got Papers a legal entity. After getting referrals from trusted friends and reading every business book she could in her spare time, she hired a business attorney and a trademark attorney. She decided to structure She’s Got Papers as an LLC (she owns the trademark and copyright to the name She’s Got Papers as well as to her logo). It was of paramount importance to Tanea that she had total control of her company and everything attached to it; something she feels that every entrepreneur should have.

Tanea faced many challenges in balancing motherhood with a new business while also maintaining a full-time corporate job. She started with the basics of setting up a home office and enlisted the help of James, her fiancé, and mom, dad, sister, and even her son to help get the business up and running. She knew that once the website was launched and business kicked into high gear, she would need all hands on deck.

From the start, James was her greatest supporter and would keep the kids occupied while Tanea worked tirelessly to make her new business a success.

On Tanea’s 33rd birthday the website for She’s Got Papers was launched and the response was overwhelming! It was immediately clear from the heartfelt emails that poured in her message was resonating with other women. It was her "A-Ha" moment! Tanea, who once whispered to her son each night while putting him to sleep that she was going to make sure they weren’t a statistic, had kept her promise.

Word spread quickly as friends told friends who told sisters who shared with colleagues. Soon, pieces from her collection were featured in gift bags for events hosted by The United Negro College Fund and Divas Simply Singing.

The inspiration for She’s Got Papers comes from Tanea’s life experiences and her children. For example, one piece in the collection called “Learner’s Permit” was created specifically with her teenage son Brandon in mind, and her messages urge children to use education as a means of empowerment. The "Baby Business Card" was an idea that came to her after witnessing an exchange between two moms in her daughter’s pediatrician’s office.

Many of the pieces in the ladies collection were designed after conversations with friends, photos from pieces in magazines, observations in subway cars, and even from an afternoon session on the treadmill. As long as there are challenges in life, Tanea says that she will find victory and fresh ideas for She’s Got Papers.

This Far By Faith:

Tanea's work is a huge source of strength and encouragement for her and for her customers. Her collection tackles issues such as body image and self love and taking pride in oneself. Tanea continues to design every day and she is now working on her second collection, aptly titled, “Ascenscion.”

Tanea holds onto her faith in good things to come and fosters the belief that she will soon be able to pursue her passion full time. Despite the many sacrifices, she considers She’s Got Papers as the blessing that was there all the time. She has learned that to turn a dream into a reality you must tap the power from within - something Tanea has clearly done!

Tanea’s Advice to Other Women:

Webster’s Dictionary defines "passion" as “boundless enthusiasm." That is what you’ve got to have to be an entrepreneur. You’ve got to love what you’re doing more than anything else. Get a good lawyer and own everything associated with your brand. A good accountant is also imperative.

Read as much as you possibly can; stories of other women entrepreneurs kept me rooted in the reality that my dream was possible. Make sure that you have a support system in place before embarking on this journey and expect that there will be times that make you want to burst into tears. You will need someone there to talk you down off the ledge and you’ll also want those same people there when the time is right to break out the champagne.

Lastly, have a ball! We’ve all got such limited time on this earth to do something worthwhile. Have fun with it!