Cards link technology, tradition

191213bf8 Heather Vail 19 December 2013 Rotorua Daily Post Photograph by Ben Fraser DPM 26Dec13 - CREATIVE: Heather Vail surrounded by some of her Stor-E-Cards. PHOTO/BEN FRASER 191213BF8

Combining her two great passions to start a business; Heather Vail can now tick that off her bucket list.

The Waiariki Institute of Technology communications tutor, an avid photographer and creative writer, has just launched her first business Stor-E-Cards, greeting cards with a twist.

The cards feature photos taken by Ms Vail around Rotorua but also include a QR Code or link to a website whereby the recipient of the card can read the story that goes with the photo which is also written by Ms Vail.

"I enjoy taking photos and writing stories, so it seemed the perfect match," she said. "It's never been done before. It's innovative and new, slightly quirky."

She said starting a business was something that had been on her bucket list. "I always have ideas and this one I did".

Originally from California, Ms Vail has been in Rotorua six years. She loves the city, not least because of the photographic opportunities.

"It's good for photos, colours, people, light, forests, so many different environments," she said. "It all makes sense."

Her work is steeped in the use of social networks and the internet, which in a way led to the business idea.

"I post photos on Facebook and people really like them," she said. "Family and friends in the US liked them, [I thought] if they like the pictures maybe there's something to it."

With a busy life, Ms Vail scheduled herself 15 minutes a day to sit down with one of her photos and come up with a story idea.

"Amazingly I actually came up with some good ideas ... it forced me to be creative."

She has 33 cards (each with their own story) on her website, with plans to add more as the business grows.

She said it was a big leap for customers to buy the cards not knowing what the story was.

"Every one of them [stories] is positive and uplifting."

Having printed 100 of each card, locally of course, this is more than a hobby, she said.

"I want to have it run as a business, something I can apply myself to."

Ms Vail said there was still something special about receiving a card in the post.

"I appreciate the tradition of giving somebody a card. It's a big deal now if you get this in the mail. It brings happiness," she said. "I knew somebody would do it [the business] sooner or later so I thought I might as well."

See www.stor-e-cards.com.