Planner Junkie August, 2016 | Page 4

Portrait of a Unicorn

If you haven't already discovered Unicorn Planner, you need to go there. It is one of my absolute favorite places to buy planner supplies. Recently I was lucky enough to be able to interview Jade Bouthot, creater and owner of the shop at UnicornPlanner.com.

Interview by Lara Johnson

PJ: Before we start talking about Unicorn Planner, why don't you start by telling our readers a little about yourself.

JB: I'm Jade Boutot. I'm a stay­-at­-home mama of two little children and I'm married to a wonderful man. In addition to owning Unicorn Planner, we own a technology company in our city. I spend my days working and also homeschooling our littles.

Needless to say, we are always busy. But I'm super lucky to be able to work from home.

PJ: How old were you when you first started using planners? Have you always used them, or are they a newer interest?

JB: I started using planners in middle school. I would basically use mine as journals. I'd write down

things that happened at school or what my friends and I did that day. I'm sure my old planners would be hilarious to read now.

PJ: What did you like about using a planner as a kid?

JB: I liked how I was able to write down memories and make plans.

PJ: How did using a planner make a difference in your life?

JB: Back then? I wrote down things that would have gotten lost in my memories banks forever. So now I can go back and read them.

Now, planners are what keep my whole life together.

When did you start Unicorn Planner?

I started Unicorn Planner this past February.

What prompted you to go from planner user to business owner?

I got back into using a planner last summer. I started homeschooling our then five­year­old and

needed something to create lesson plans in. I started searching for one and found the Erin

Condren Teacher Planner. I bought that and fell in love with it. So, of course, I needed the Erin

Condren Life Planner. After I got that in, I started falling down the planner rabbit hole. I needed

washi, cute pens, tons of stickers, etc. After months of planning, I decided I just needed to open a

business that catered to something I loved. And that's how Unicorn Planner happened.

What is your own personal favorite product in your shop?

Oh! That's a hard one. Even though my husband doesn't agree with me, I always keep one of

everything so I can use it. I make sure I love the product before I sell it. Right now my favorite item

would have to be the macaron pouch. I think they are adorable and mine goes with me

everywhere I go.

What is your top seller?

My top seller would have to be our washi wallets. I can't keep me in stock!

Do you have any upcoming products or plans you’d like to share with our readers?

I just started making my own downloadable inserts! I have a daily to do list that is available right

now in the store. I will be adding more inserts in the future for sure!

Anything you’d like to mention that I haven’t asked about?

I wanted to talk a little about the meaning behind the name of my store, Unicorn Planner. When I

got into the planning craze, the planner I wanted more than anything was the lilac with gold

diamonds from Kikki K. I literally dreamed about that thing. I searched high and low and finally

found one. It was basically my unicorn, meaning it was something that was magical and hard to

find. That's what I wanted my store to be. I want to offer magical office supplies that you can't find

everywhere else.

4 Planner Junkie / August, 2016