Today we’d like to introduce you to Paula Frederick.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Paula. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Growing up in a small town, population 2,000, there was no art in school after fifth grade. But at home my mom encouraged appreciation of art and classical music. Fast forward to college. I went to an opening of student work at the art gallery and a light bulb went off: “Art degrees exist!” One artist pointed me towards advertising as a way to make a living in a creative field. But after I transferred colleges and moved into the dorm I learned it HAD no advertising program. That’s how clueless I was. But by then the University of Michigan had accepted me into their art school (the SCHOOL! of ART!) so who cared? Now I am a graphic designer. It has been a great fit.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Looking back, it was smooth. Because the unknowns are now known. The big surprise is that nobody knows what they’re doing! Nobody. We’re all doing the best we can. I think finding your path is 100% finding out what interests you, what lights up your brain and heart, and that interest sort of carries you farther along the road. YOUR road. Sometimes it feels like you aren’t doing anything and ideas and information and people come your way. That’s the best. And after a while of this you look back, surprised to find that you’re in a much happier place.
Nelsons / Nelson Bach USA – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am the Art Director at Nelsons. The U.S. office is in the picturesque town of North Andover, MA. Nelsons has been making natural healthcare products for over 150 years. It’s mostly homeopathy: Nelsons is the only authorized maker of Dr. Bach’s flower remedies. Our most recognized brands are Bach® Original Flower Remedies and Rescue Remedy®, the one in the bright yellow box.
On a day-to-day basis I do a lot of the design. You can find me designing packaging, presentations, digital and online content, information graphics, you name it. There is always something different. Although I’m the only “me” here, I do not work alone. I work with a group of smart people—from Marketing and Branding to Regulatory, Sales, Finance, and Customer Service—who inform every project. One of the bigger projects last year was redesigning Bach’s U.S. line of 38 remedies, and again for Canada recently. The U.S. bottles are appearing on store shelves now. I worked in digital for years but there’s something magical about holding the actual final result in your hand.
Growing up, homeopathy was a secret my parents and grandparents felt they had to hide. None of my friends knew. And now, amazingly, I’m employed by Nelsons. It’s wonderful that today there is more choice and availability in caring for health. It’s a nice feeling to have at work.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I’d define success as how happy you are, how much personal satisfaction you have. How good you feel, how interested in life you are, even if it’s a few seconds here and there in a day. Making the decision to feel better is important, even if you don’t know the next step to take to feel it. There’s something important about deciding.
What’s your favorite memory from childhood? Swimming in the lakes is a good one. And walking down my grandparents’ dirt road, overgrown with every kind of flowering weed and wild rose.
Contact Info:
- Address: 21 High Street, Suite 302, North Andover, MA 01845
- Website: RescueRemedy.com and BachRemedies.com
- Phone: 978-988-3833
- Email: USACustomerService@nelsons.net
- Instagram: instagram.com/RescueRemedyUSA and instagram.com/BachOriginalUSA
- Facebook: facebook.com/RescueRemedy and facebook.com/RescueRemedyPet and Facebook.com/BachOriginal
- Twitter: twitter.com/BachRescue
- Other: Nelsons.net
Image Credit:
Bradley W. Baker
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