You know when you just know it’s time to make a serious life change? Even if your ducks aren’t all perfectly lined up, there’s that persistent nagging voice saying: We gotta mix things up, and we gotta do it now. For Gigi Saca (Epsilon Rho-UC Davis) , that voice got louder after 12 years in the tech industry. “It was time to take more control over my professional journey and branch out on my own,” she shares. “I just knew it was time.” Her pivot wasn’t a gentle merge into a new company or a steady climb upward. It was a full 180 — from the measurable, analytical world of tech to the nonlinear, unruly realm of art. “I was really interested and excited to do something that would tap into my creative spirit, especially since I’ve always considered myself a creative person.” GS Print Shoppe (gsprintshoppe.com) was born as a side hustle in 2022, mostly as a creative outlet for Gigi, who was severely struggling with endometriosis at the time. She desperately needed an escape from her desk job and constant doctors’ visits. Creating bright, fun and sassy (but never snarky, according to Gigi) prints became that escape. After years of nurturing her side hustle and building up a big enough nest egg to make it her sole focus, Gigi took the leap. Now, GS Print Shoppe is her full- time job, where she’s a one-woman team running the entire ship. Admittedly, there is one downside to working alone. “I do miss the office gossip,” she laughs. “I really do.” Being a team of one is both the most rewarding and most challenging part of owning her own business. Gigi elaborates, “I am in complete control, which is scary and thrilling. But after spending so many years along for the ride with other people’s hopes and dreams, it feels so fulfilling to know that my decisions will make or break the business.” She’s doing all the right things, even if those things feel a little scary. Her meticulously curated prints, whether designed directly by her, licensed or pulled from classic archives, have received shoutouts from BuzzFeed and “Today.” Gigi often gets texts and
social media tags when her art is spotted in the wild. And recently, she just secured a pretty sweet deal at a little ‘ole retailer familiar to many. “In fall 2024, I launched my prints for sale online and in stores with Urban Outfitters.” Gigi adds, “Talk about a huge accomplishment.” From its earliest days to now, GS Print Shoppe’s mission has always been crystal clear: life is hard, have fun with art. Gigi finds joy in creating, and ultimately, her goal is to bring that same sense of fun to people of all ages and life stages through her designs. “Whether you're a college freshman decorating your dorm, a new mom setting up a nursery or an elementary school teacher looking to spice up their classroom, I want GS Print Shoppe to have something for you,” Gigi says. “My goal is to meet customers in all the different phases of life and be the shop they return to as those phases change.” Another goal of hers is to donate a portion of sales each year to an endometriosis charity, a cause that hits close to home. Gigi began experiencing symptoms at age 12 but wasn’t diagnosed until 2020, at 32, after an extremely painful and invasive surgery — an option often only available to those with health insurance. As her business grows, Gigi is determined to give back and help others receive a diagnosis and treatment sooner. “I want to find a worthwhile endometriosis charity that focuses on new diagnostic methods or improving access to diagnosis,” she says. Until then, Gigi will keep doing what she does best: creating playful, sassy designs inspired by her Oakland landscapes, vintage art, pop culture, retro ads and unique fonts. And when creativity doesn’t strike, she doesn’t force it. Instead, she shifts focus to more left-brained business tasks, like bookkeeping and finances. Outside of GS Print Shoppe, you’ll find Gigi renovating her 100-year-old craftsman home. Her latest project? Building an entirely pink basement. And if she’s not doing that, she’s probably curled up on her couch, surrounded by fun gallery walls, catching up on all the gossip with Andy Cohen and Bravo’s reality stars.
23
Made with FlippingBook Digital Publishing Software