EPI 029 [GUEST TALK] Featuring Monica Khalil: Small Business Success, Supporting Local, + Having a Support System

We’re back this week with a new guest talk featuring Toronto small-business owner, Monica Khalil. I kept seeing Monica come up on my FYP on TikTok, and after checking out her store, I knew I needed to reach out to her.

I was inspired by Monica’s passion and drive to succeed as the owner of SnaptureThis, a woman-owned paper goods, gifts and dried floral shop located in the heart of Downtown Toronto. In our conversation, we chat about her work/life balance, her transition to opening her storefront, how she balances it all, and her newest venture–her podcast!

Key Takeaways:

• Find time for yourself every day
• Support local when you can
• Take the leap!
• Use your support system
• Get your to-do list done
• Launch then perfect it!

These key takeaways are just the tip of what we talk about on how Monica is able to balance everything that is going on in her work bucket and life bucket that are transferable in so many elements of life!

Monica, thank you for taking time out of your schedule to come on, connect with me, and be so open to talk about your work/life balance. To listen to the quarterly check-in episode I mentioned in the intro of this episode, check it out here.

To connect with Monica, you can find her at:

• Monica’s Instagram
• SnaptureThis Instagram
• SnaptureThis Website
• Sip It Podcast

Connect with The Show:

• Tiktok: @workhardlifehardpodcast
• Instagram: @workhardlifehardpodcast
• Tee’s Instagram: @tkoms
• Shop the Amazon Storefront

www.workhardlifehard.com


About Monica Khalil:
Monica Khalil is the proud owner of SnaptureThis, a boutique gift shop located in downtown Toronto. As a young girl, crafting was always a passion of hers. From painting to photography to creating gallery walls in her dorm rooms and rented apartments, she’s always had an eye and passion for creating art. She discovered Etsy as a platform in 2013 when she was looking for a customized gift for a friend of hers. A year later in 2014, she moved from Hamilton Ontario to the big city of Toronto. She was working a full-time job but had an itch to do more. She decided to take a leap of faith and opened SnaptureThis as an online Etsy store. She started the shop off with prints featuring her photography and digitally created designs. Over time, the shop has grown and she began expanding her products. In 2020, she began working with local illustrators on commission to develop some of her most popular items to date beginning with the Toronto Coffee Shop V1 Print. This print featured local cafes in the city and became a best seller quickly. In 2022, she took the biggest leap of faith, quit her full-time job and opened up her storefront in downtown Toronto! She works closely with her best friend, Dunya, and the storefront includes all her products, dried florals, and also features incredible local makers and female-owned businesses.