Planner-preneur - Linda Tong Planners
We are so excited to share our next “Planner-preneur” with you! In this ongoing series, we share an inside look at people from our community that have poured all their creativity and inspiration into a “planner-related” entrepreneurial venture. This time, we are talking to Linda Tong from @lindatongplanners.
We chatted with Linda all about her journey as a small business owner and what’s coming next for her brand.
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Interview with Linda Tong
Linda began her planner journey as a freshman in college after falling in love with the bullet journal style of planning. She ordered her first bullet journal from Amazon and began using it to keep track of her life by adding in creative spreads and her own artwork throughout. Shortly after, her co-workers asked her to create the same planner for them and her small business began. Throughout her college years, Linda spent many hours (10 hrs/planner) hand drawing personalized planners in between work and school. But after discovering the planner community through Facebook groups, it all clicked. She quickly knew that she needed a better way to get her illustrated planners into more hands.
Linda enrolled in an entrepreneurship class, did a ton of manufacturing research and created a business plan. Then with the funds from a business accelerator grant she received, she was able to start production on her first run of planners. She took the leap and purchased 500 bookbound planners which immediately sold out before even arriving to her after a Tik Tok she created went viral - Linda Tong Planners was born!
Currently, it is about a six month process from design to final product. She regularly polls her audience on social media for inspiration and design preferences. Although the planners are mass produced now, Linda wanted to keep that personal and customized touch, so she implemented stamping and stickers which can be requested with your order to make the planner unique to your needs. Linda also was recognized as a finalist of the Erin Condren Small Business Grant (along with other small businesses), presented at the Go Wild Conference in Anaheim, CA this past March.
THE PLANNERS
Linda Tong Planners are a bujo lovers dream come true. They offer the creative bullet journal aesthetic with flexible spreads, customization and hand-drawn illustrations without all the work of creating it yourself. Each month has a specific design theme that carries throughout followed by weekly layouts that are all unique. One week could be vertical, the next horizontal and so on. This approach really allows planners to tap into their creativity and inspires them to go beyond their regular style.
The planners all have 120 gsm dot grid paper and are available in either spiral or bookbound. The latest collection of academic planners (2022 -2023) are available now on her website. There also is a digital version available now featuring hyperlink pages and more.
OTHER PRODUCTS
Linda is working on expanding her brand into a full stationery business. In addition to planners, Linda also has spiral notebooks, a variety of notepads, illustrated bookmarks and undated daily planner booklets available on the website. She hopes to add more items like calendars and maybe greeting cards in the future. The new Simplified Collection will be launching soon.
Linda now works her planner business full time. She spends her time creating designs, running her business, speaking at entrepreneurship classes/events, vending at pop up markets, engaging with her audience on social media, attending planner events and more.