When Michele Bates, our NJ Mompreneur of the Week, signed up for a calligraphy class at Haddonfield Adult School, she didn’t know what she knows now—that a passion for her art would turn into a lucrative side hustle. Today, East Coast Calligraphy is a curated calligraphy boutique in Collingswood that specializes in everything calligraphy, from services to classes to high-quality inks, instruments, and other supplies. Michelle still has a full-time job, but her business is a family affair, with both of her daughters pitching in and collaborating on projects and day-to-day operations. We caught up with this busy mom of 4 to discover how she juggles her busy schedule, her adventurous hobby that feels so liberating, and the art space in Collingswood where she always finds something special.
Our NJ Mompreneur of the Week Michele Bates (center) with daughters Taren, left, and GiaVonni, right, who play an integral part in East Coast Calligraphy.
Please share a bit about your family. I’m a native of Camden and the daughter of two educators. After graduating from Hofstra, I lived in Brooklyn for a while and loved it—it’s where my daughter, GiaVonni, was born, but we moved to Burlington Township when my husband, Richard, and I started dating. It’s perfect for us because it gives us a nice suburban lifestyle, but it’s centrally located between New York City and Philly, with easy highway access. Richard and I have been best friends since we were kids. His grandmother lived next door to my parents, and he visited there often. Now, we share our blended family–my oldest is GiaVonni, 32, followed by Justin, 25, and Jaleesa, 22. Taren, 30, our “daughter in love,” is married to GiaVonni.
Tell us about East Coast Calligraphy. We’re a curated calligraphy boutique specializing in selling things related to the art of calligraphy. We also offer custom-designed invitations and other calligraphic services for weddings and events. I also teach classes for calligraphers in the shop. My kids collaborate with me business-wise, too. GiaVonni is a graphic designer, brand manager, and artist, and Taren is a floral designer with a very strong creative side. I enjoy collaborating with them to bring someone’s ideas to life. And I love doing things together as a family and encouraging my kids’ entrepreneurial spirit.
Why calligraphy? My mom has always been very artistic, encouraging my sister and me to explore our artistic talents. She taught penmanship, and I was always enamored with her beautiful handwriting, which inspired me to try to emulate it. It’s not surprising that calligraphy is the art form that’s always spoken to me. The idea for the business started in 2014 when I was taking calligraphy classes. My teacher introduced us to products you couldn’t get locally or in big box art stores, and I wanted to start an online shop selling some of these products to help others who loved calligraphy the way I did. After discovering that certain distributors wouldn’t give me the products at wholesale prices unless I was a brick-and-mortar, I knew what I had to do. I’d been working as a realtor on the side and soon found a spot in Collingswood, and by 2016, I was up and running. In addition to the business, I’m the President of the Philadelphia Calligraphers’ Society, a non-profit that promotes the study and practice of calligraphy and allied arts and the exchange of ideas among members of the art community.
With a full-time job, how do you find the time to run your business? I’ve been working for the federal government for over 37 years, and I love my job, which is analytical, but doing calligraphy keeps me balanced because it’s creative, and I find it so relaxing. I can get things done in the evenings and on the weekends since my daughters help run the business. 
Michele Bates’ calligraphy is a work of art, but she’s also been called upon to do more than address envelopes for special events. Major brands have hired her to hand-engrave perfume and alcohol bottles, calligraphy on tote bags, and more.
What do you wish you had known before launching East Coast Calligraphy? With a brick-and-mortar business, understanding your overhead and everything that goes along is crucial to doing business. I would have looked into the administrative side and educated myself more about e-commerce, which is very important for many companies now. Luckily, I have help in that area, thanks to my daughter.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I don’t have much spare time. I’m a mom and wife, plus I help my sister take care of our elderly mom. I have a full-time day job and mainly focus on this business in the evenings and weekends. But, when I find some free time, I like to make the most of it. I like to spend quality time with my family, just cooking out in the backyard and being together. My other hobby is riding a motorcycle, a lifelong dream I had but only started when I moved back to NJ about 12 years ago. My husband and I both love to ride because we feel so free and find it so liberating. We enjoy heading to different short points like Belmar, Wildwoods, and Cape May.
Please share some of your favorite NJ businesses and spots you frequent. A favorite is The Cultural Collective Café & BrickNKulture Event Space, a coffee shop and event space in Woodbury. Sadia, the owner, creates an engaging space for entrepreneurs to stop in, whether to work remotely, meet up with a friend for coffee and pastry, or attend one of the many special events they hold there. Another business I love is Galerie Marie, an artisan-forward spot in Collingswood that fosters a real sense of community around art. You’ll also find original sculptures, paintings, dolls, jewelry, and more, along with special events. I’m a big reader and go to Ida’s Book Shop often because being there makes me so happy. And sometimes my family and I like to go to Atlantic City and gamble at The Hard Rock where we like to play roulette.
What’s your best practical advice for a mompreneur just starting? Understand your why! It’s something my daughter says to us all the time and is important for anyone with a business. My why is doing something I absolutely love to do, but I also love the joy it brings to people when I create something that’s just for them. Also, it’s important to expect the unexpected. Of course, when I went into business, I never expected a pandemic. You can plan but can’t plan for the unexpected, so if and when it happens, hold on tight and keep moving forward.
For more information on Michele Bates and East Coast Calligraphy, please see their website, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
