The Ground Floor: A Cedar Rapids business by design

CEDAR RAPIDS — Ann Prowell Reihmann's advice to other young entrepreneurs is that you don't need a ton of experience in life to start your own business as long as you are confident in your decision and stay focused on why you are doing it.

In August, the Cedar Rapids woman left the security of a full-time job to start her own home-based design business, Highover Press.

'Taking the leap was terrifying,' she said. 'But I've learned more about myself in the past six months than I ever knew before.'

Reihmann graduated from Iowa State University in 2013 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic design. After graduation, her 'grand plans for life in the big city' took her to Kansas City — but her love for her home state soon called her back to Iowa.

In January 2015, she went to work as a creative strategist for a local not-for-profit while doing freelance design on the side.

'Last fall I said, 'I'm going to give this a shot full time,' and I took that leap,' she said. 'It's been my passion, and now I'm trying to make it my business.'

Highover Press is a letterpress and design studio that specializes in paper goods such as wedding and other event invitations, birth and moving announcements, and note cards and stationery. Reihmann also provides calligraphy services for wedding invitations.

Reihmann maintains an online store to sell some of her paper goods, but much of her work involves the creation of custom invitations and announcements for clients through a collaborative design process.

'I start with a consultation with the client,' she said. 'Sometimes they already have a theme or idea in mind, or I'll talk through with them what they envision the event to be.'

Reihmann then works up two or three options from which the client can choose. Once the design is finalized, the client has the option to take the file to a print shop or to have Reihmann handle the printing herself.

Reihmann said one thing she has learned over the past several months at Highover Press is how to wear all of the different hats of a business owner while at the same time working to build her portfolio, inventory and brand.

'My background is in design, so the business piece has been hard,' she admitted.

Reihmann's plans for the business include partnering with wedding planners and other wedding-based businesses to grow the calligraphy side of her business and to sell her paper goods at local stores and farmers markets.

[naviga:h3 style="padding-left: 30px;"]AT A GLANCE

Owner: Ann Prowell Reihmann

Business: Highover Press

Email: highoverpress@gmail.com

Telephone: (319) 531-0757

Website: www.highoverpress.com

Know a start-up small business, in operation for less than a year, that we might want to feature in 'The Ground Floor'? Contact michaelchevy.castranova@thegazette.com