LAWRENCE LADY BOSS

Jill Shephard

written by Amanda Gregory

The last couple of years have been extraordinary, to say the least. Our world and community shut down and nobody expected how the months that followed would change everything we once considered normal. Amidst the chaos, one local business found themselves flourishing as a result of the pandemic. Ruff House, a woman owned and ran brand of stationery and lifestyle goods that encapsulates both Ruff House Print Shop (the creative arm) and Ruff House Paperie (the retail arm), took the time to rebrand and grow despite the unnavigated roads of the pandemic. Their doors opened back up two months after shuttering and they came out the other side thriving, not just surviving.

Jill Shephard, the lady boss behind Ruff House, turned her “someday” dream into a reality in 2009. She bought an antique letterpress manufactured in 1915, quit her day job as a designer and opened Ruff House Print Shop. Five years later, she stepped up her solopreneur game from out of her basement print shop and into gorgeous downtown Lawrence when she opened up her stationery boutique store: Ruff House Paperie.

Today, there are fifteen women who make up the Ruff House team. They spend their days creating products, fulfilling orders, and chatting up local customers. “Each product we create expresses our love of adventure, the outdoors, community, and positivity,” says Jill.

Their best-selling line of gifts and stationery features hand-operated letterpress printed artwork created by them and has appeared in over 3,000 independent boutiques around the world, as well as select national retailers like Anthropologie and Paper Source. In addition to office stationery such as journals, planners, greeting cards and pencils, they also create home goods such as notepads, meal planners, recipe books, key chains and enamel pins. You truly never know what you will find within the walls of 729 Massachusetts Street (or online!).

How did the pandemic change you and your business?

“The first moments of the pandemic were full of stress and worry. Am I going to lose the business I have poured more than a decade of hard work into? What will happen to my staff? How will I pay my bills? As we closed our doors and business came to a halt, I spent the next two months rebranding and working hard to make sure I came out on the other side better than before. We restructured, splitting my wholesale business and my boutique business into two brands. We built two brand new e-commerce websites to support both brands, and then went full-steam ahead with both until we were able to open back up. It has been a wild ride since then. We went from 4 employees to 15. We took our wholesale accounts from 500 to over 3000. We expanded our local footprint by shifting the Print Shop into a warehouse to handle the manufacturing and fulfillment demands. All while continuing to navigate supply chain shortages; demanding creative solutions for material sourcing; increases in supply cost and operating costs, delays from vendors, and worker shortages. I am immensely grateful to still be standing after the last two years and even more thankful to be thriving.”

What is your favorite thing about being a lady boss in 2022?

“Being ‘the boss’ is the most stressful part of owning a business for me. When I began, I just wanted to make pretty paper things and sell enough to pay my bills. Then I got too busy to do it alone and went “Hey, do you want to come help make pretty paper things with me?” And I really feel like that’s how we ended up here today! We are definitely a big family who has figured it all out together. I love that something I created is now providing a space for 14 other women to grow, thrive, and create friendships together.”

Who or what inspires you?

“The products we make are inspired substantially by current trends and personal experiences, shaped by our community in a small and wonderful town. We love to create things that are positive, and inspired by the outdoors! As to what motivates my creations, I am motivated every day to provide a good example of determination to my daughters. It is important for me that they see the direct result of hard work, when you ‘stick with it’ through the challenges of entrepreneurship. As much as I want my little ones to learn from my example, my staff benefits from it directly, because it is no longer just me and this thing I am doing. We are now a big family, who all rely on the success of Ruff House to support our lives. Sheer grit and a daily mantra of ‘keep going’ has gotten me, and us, to where we are now.”

What piece of advice would you encourage others with?

“Always be a student. Absorb any and all information you can about your industry, business and marketing. Outside of that, my best advice is to stay flexible, be optimistic and realize that business is hard. No matter who you are and what industry you are in - it’s going to be hard. Be willing to consider all of the opportunities that come your way and not be too rigid with what you imagine your business to be some day. I never would have dreamed 13 years ago that this would be where I am sitting now.”

Lawrence Lady Boss Project was built to connect and network lady bosses in both Lawrence and the surrounding communities. Once a quarter we bring you Networking Night Out events featuring local businesses both big and small. Find us on Facebook at Lawrence Lady Boss Project for more information.