Patricia Brekke

Why this persona fits the audience

She sells vintage-style art prints and posters from home in Chicago, mixing Etsy sales with occasional direct orders from a basic Square page. She keeps editions, print runs, and packing lists in Google Sheets and processes most updates herself.

• Age: 27
• Location: Chicago, Illinois, US
• Occupation: Owner, vintage print shop
• Income: $41k
• Education: associate degree
• Company size: 1 (sole proprietor)
• Years in role: 3

“There's a certain magic in taking something old, giving it new life, and sending it out into the world to find its perfect spot on someone's wall.”

Patricia Brekke, 27, is the sole proprietor of 'Brekke Prints,' an online shop specializing in vintage-inspired art prints and posters, operated from her Chicago apartment. Holding an associate degree in graphic design, she channels her passion for art history and printmaking into creating unique, affordable pieces. Her journey began three years ago, fueled by a desire for creative independence and a frustration with the generic art available in mass-market stores. She started small, selling on Etsy, and later added a basic Square site for direct orders, allowing her to capture more customer information and potentially avoid platform fees. Patricia manages all aspects of her business herself, from design and printing to marketing and shipping. Her operational backbone consists of Google Sheets, where she meticulously tracks print editions, inventory levels, and packing details. This self-sufficiency is a point of pride, aligning with her value of independence, though it also means her workload is substantial. She recently decided to experiment with slightly higher-quality paper for her most popular prints, aiming to enhance perceived value without drastically increasing costs. Financially, she operates with a tight budget, earning an estimated $41,000 annually from her shop. This necessitates careful sourcing of materials and a preference for affordable, efficient solutions for her e-commerce infrastructure. She views her business not just as a source of income, but as a curated collection reflecting her artistic taste and a way to connect with people who appreciate similar aesthetics. Her routine is structured, with dedicated times for creation, fulfillment, and administrative tasks, a habit born from a desire for organized routines and a need to maximize her limited hours.

Background & daily life

A day in their life

Patricia's typical weekday starts around 8:00 AM with coffee and a quick check of her Etsy and Square dashboards. She dedicates the morning to creative work: sketching new designs, color-testing, or preparing files for her print-on-demand service. Lunch is usually a quick sandwich while listening to a podcast. The afternoon is for the more tactile side of the business: printing, trimming prints to size, adding her stamp of authenticity on the back, and carefully packaging each order with tissue paper and branded stickers. She updates her Google Sheets for inventory and sales tracking before dinner. Evenings are for personal time, perhaps a walk or catching up with her roommate, though sometimes a large order might necessitate more packing time.

Lifestyle

Patricia lives in a modest two-bedroom apartment in Chicago's Logan Square neighborhood with a roommate, a graphic designer who shares her appreciation for aesthetics. Her income necessitates careful budgeting, but she prioritizes spending on quality art supplies and unique thrift store finds that inform her business. Weekends often involve exploring flea markets or antique shops, searching for vintage frames and inspiration. She enjoys quiet evenings at home, either sketching new designs or meticulously packing orders. Her social life is a mix of close-knit friendships and occasional local art gallery openings.

Work life

As the sole proprietor of 'Brekke Prints,' Patricia’s workdays are a blend of creative endeavors and administrative tasks. She spends mornings in her dedicated studio corner, sketching, refining digital designs, or preparing print files. Afternoons are often dedicated to printing, cutting, and carefully packaging orders. She meticulously manages inventory levels, print run numbers, and customer details using Google Sheets, finding satisfaction in the order it brings to her otherwise fluid schedule. Occasional direct orders via her Square page require her to update both her customer contact list and sales records manually. The pressure is mostly self-imposed: meeting shipping deadlines and maintaining a consistent flow of new, appealing designs.

Relationships

Patricia maintains a close, supportive relationship with her college roommate, who offers design feedback and encouragement. Her parents, living in a suburb of St. Louis, are proud but don't fully grasp the nuances of her online business. She has a small circle of friends from her associate degree program, a few of whom also run creative side hustles, and they often share tips and commiserate about business challenges.

How they decide

Patricia is generally a thoughtful decision-maker. She values practicality and affordability, often researching options thoroughly before committing, especially if it involves a financial outlay. She’s influenced by seeing how similar tools or methods work for other independent artists and sellers she follows online, but ultimately trusts her own judgment on what fits her workflow and budget.

How they sound

She speaks clearly and at a moderate pace, with a slightly lower pitch. Her vocabulary is descriptive but not overly technical, unless discussing printmaking processes. She tends to use phrases like 'you know,' 'kind of,' and 'I guess' when exploring ideas, but is direct when stating facts. Avoids jargon or overly casual slang; her tone is thoughtful and earnest.