How Little Words Project Inspired My Journey as a Small Business Owner
You’ve probably seen those beautiful affirmation bracelets from Little Words Project — maybe at Target, Indigo, or at Maman café. And if you’re a Taylor Swift fan, you might even recognize them from the friendship-bracelet craze that’s swept her concerts.
Image Credit: Courtesy of Little Words Project (left), Courtesy of Cat Empire (right)
At first, I thought of them as just cute bracelets. But I had no idea how much meaning was behind them — until one small twist of timing changed everything.
A Book That Found Me at the Right Time
The day before a Good Ole Girls Club Shopify Shop & Pitch event in SoHo, I wandered into Chapters Indigo and saw a book about Little Words Project. Out of curiosity, I picked it up. Within 30 minutes, I’d finished the whole thing.
It wasn’t just about the product. It was about kindness, connection, and building a business rooted in community (yay, nice nation). I found myself falling in love with the brand — not for its products, but for its mission.
Front cover_The Power of Little Words
Meeting Adriana Carrig at Shopify
The next day, I walked into Shopify with that very book in my bag. And there she was: Adriana Carrig, the founder of Little Words Project, one of the event’s panelists.
I introduced myself, shared what I was building with Jolivia Kim, and braced myself for what I assumed would be a quick, polite exchange. Instead, Adriana was warm and generous. She listened. She offered advice. She even gave me her personal contact and told me to reach out anytime.
And when I did, she replied.
Adriana on the left and myself on the right — total girl-crush moment!
That moment floored me. Here was someone leading a hugely successful brand, taking the time to encourage a small business owner she had just met. It reminded me that community matters more than competition — and that asking for help doesn’t make us small; it makes us stronger.
A Bracelet That Became a Reminder
Months later, Jolivia Kim had the privilege to pitch at another Good Ole Girls Club Shop & Pitch event — and it felt like a full-circle moment. Being back in the same place where I first met Adriana, now pitching my own business, was surreal. And when I opened the goodie bag and found a Little Words Project bracelet inside, I couldn’t believe it.
Not because it’s pretty (though it is). Not because it’s durable (though it is). But because it reminds me of what their founder stands for — and what I want to stand for too.
Even my daughter was drawn in. She devoured the book on her own, loved every page, and it gave her a spark of hope for what Jolivia Kim could one day grow into.
Olivia and I before the pitch (left), my current stack (right).
Why This Story Matters to Me (and Maybe to You Too)
Here’s the truth: I don’t admire Little Words Project just because they make something beautiful. I admire them because they live their values. The bracelets are simply the vessel for something much bigger — community, kindness, and empowerment.
That’s what I want for Jolivia Kim too. Our charm-cases may look like accessories, but to me, they’re also reminders: that
you are priceless
that functional fashion can be joyful, and it's a brand that stand behind the dreamer you once were and the dreamer she's becoming.
Closing Thoughts
If you’re searching for a thoughtful but affordable gift, or simply looking for a story to remind you that small businesses matter, I hope this one speaks to you.
Because whether it’s a bracelet, a charm-case, or any other small but meaningful purchase — you’re not just buying a product. You’re helping someone’s dream grow.
Olivia, in awe of the handwritten note Adrianna left inside the book.
Tell me - what’s a small item in your life that carries a big meaning? Share it in the comments, I’d love to hear.