Sighh Studio - Givemas Day Three

Welcome to Givemas Day Three! Today, we have an interview with Polly Vadasz, the creator of Sighh Studio. A UK-based boutique of gorgeous stationery and homely products, Sighh's mission is to provide products with purpose. In our interview with Polly, we talk about her journey as a young entrepreneur, the importance of nesting, and what's coming up for Sighh in 2022.

Hi Polly! Big fan of you and your work - thanks so much for chatting to KOS Magazine about your wonderful range of products! Sighh started as the passion project you worked on whilst studying at college. Did you imagine that it would ever have the audience and popularity it has today?

I originally started selling my work for fun, and then for experience, in order to get into university, but then I realised the potential and have hoped for Sighh’s current trajectory ever since! It has grown really organically, so I’ve been ready for every step. It feels good, and looking back is the crazy part!

Over the years, you’ve seen your company Sighh grow from producing key rings, diaries and desk pads, to unique tote bags, ‘Mountras’, decals and now even earrings! You’ve got quite the range of wonderful homely products—what do you try to keep at the heart of each new thing you create? 

Polly Vadasz of Sighh Studio

I originally started with phone cases and hand drawn notebooks, and gradually built up collections of whatever I thought would be a fun project to work on! We now primarily make pretty & practical stationery.

With everything I do, I try to communicate humour, and relate to the customer in sweet ways, like I know just who they are. Making them think “that’s so me/my friend!” or “I’ve always needed that!” with a particularly helpful bit of stationery or pocketed tote bag.

What makes Sighh special is our tone of voice, our brand personality, and genuinely useful products.

Some of your products like your ‘Mountras’ and mirror decals, have a real, affirming message to them about creating a space that reflects positivity and kindness back at you. As someone who lives alone, do you feel creating a loving, welcoming space for yourself is important?

I am a NESTER. I nest. I love to create truly comfortable, inspiring spaces for myself, because someone needs to! And then I feel ready to take on the day and my workload.

I love looking around and seeing inspiring words surrounding me, and having guests comment on nicknacks and artwork too. It’s lovely to be lovely to yourself, surround yourself with kindness and humour.

Here in Australia, many people are still experiencing the isolating aspects of previous lockdowns and have struggled to feel comforted in their own homes with the changing restrictions. You have such a warm inviting home that you’ve managed to make your own. What words of advice do you have to those with small or difficult spaces who are struggling to find comfort?

It might help that the climate of the UK requires a cosy space, but think NEST. Think surrounding yourself with comfortable textures, nice smells, and a colour palette that makes you happy.

I have multiple areas to sit in so I can change up my environment slightly every few hours or days. So a beanbag nook next to a stack of books, the sofa, dining table, and armchair. I can travel to each depending on my mood or need for comfort/a proper desk!

Sighh Studio’s ‘You are exactly where you need to be’ Mountra

Since moving your studio out of your beautiful home, your team at Sighh Studio has grown from your own solo-run small business, to a team of three with an expanded network of collaborators. Amongst all that, you’ve kept positivity and empowerment at the centre of your work. In what ways did the isolation of the pandemic impact the way you approached running your business?

The isolation of the pandemic meant my main focus was to work, to keep myself occupied and productive—, that was my coping mechanism. It meant the business grew a big deal, along with the boom in online business over the last year and a half.

However, since restrictions have eased, I’ve prioritised getting the balance back, as I completely burned out around Q1 of 2021, and it only got better this summer, once I was able to relax and take time off work with friends again.

One of the most appealing aspects of Sighh is how personable you are with your audience and customers on your social channels. Do you feel being honest and open is an important aspect of being a small business owner?

It may not be important to being a small business owner, but I think it’s a nice way to conduct yourself online, as comparison is so toxic. It takes courage and vulnerability, which not everyone wants to do, and may not always be healthy either!

People love seeing the behind the scenes, love following a story, so if you can give that, your community will connect in a genuine way.

Have you found it difficult to strike a balance between that personal and professional online presence as your business has developed from those early days?

I don’t particularly feel I need to be “professional”, however as I’ve gotten older, there are some things I’ve phazed out of what I share online, because it felt less comfortable. I think I can be authentic while holding some personal details back.

However, what I’ve learned to do is not share the most stressful things in real time, but explain them after I’ve processed and sorted it out. So if a disaster happens at work, I don’t want to talk about it real time, but once it’s over I can express what happened and how we got through it.

It serves the purpose of authenticity, behind the scenes content and doesn’t add stress to the situation as it unfolds!

Sighh was built from the ground up through your hard work, passion, curiosity, and a sense of playfulness in your design style. What do you hope is next for Sighh Studio?

I would like to work on transitioning to meet our customer base where they’re at more in 2022, as we all grow up!

I love making stationery for students, but would prefer to focus on young professionals and people starting their families now, as that’s where my audience is heading. I design what I want to see and use, so Sighh will likely follow me through each stage of life!

On your personal Instagram account pollyvdsz, you regularly discuss life living alone, the ups and downs of running a business, as well as your love life and friendships. How do you feel being a young woman in 2021, building a brand but also building a life for yourself and navigating your twenties in such strange times?

Never work so hard building a career that you forget to build a life! I learned very early on, when I was working 7 days a week on my gap year pre-uni, that there was no point in earning a lot of money if I had no one to enjoy spending it with.

My friends had moved to uni or were in other education, and I was working, so quite isolated. It allowed me to build a business which lasted through university and beyond, but also taught me that balance is crucial, or what’s the point!

Running a business puts you under a lot of pressure, having so much responsibility from such a young age. It’s important to have fun and cherish your personal time accordingly.

Finally to finish us off—what words of advice would you give to other young people out there wanting to step into the ‘adult’ world as small business owners? What have been some key lessons you’ve learnt and advice you wish you had back then?

What makes your business special? What do you want to see in the world? I think the most important thing is to create a business out of something you want to spend huge amounts of time and energy on. It needs to fuel you back, so make sure you love and are inspired by it!

Don’t copy something that’s popular, make it your own, and it’ll be so much easier to connect with and be excited by. And another tip is… holding back for perfection will cripple you! Sometimes done is good enough *gasp!*.

WORDS: POLLY VADASZ & NATALIE WILLIAMS
PHOTOGRAPHY: SIGHH STUDIO