Meet Nica Obranovic | Founder of Mole Club Stationery

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nica Obranovic and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nica, what habits do you feel play an important role in your life?
There are times where I have to learn to be patient, especially when it comes to long-term goals, but I also have the habit of being impatient. I take matters with a sense of urgency and I naturally strive for action. When starting a new project with a new design, patience can sometimes result in inaction and stress is a consequence of inaction. I’d rather go for it and fail than not go for it at all.

I am a firm believer in writing things down. It is the practice of imprinting what’s important and what’s not. I was told that I tend to prioritize my list, but it’s actually more of listing down my priorities and to go from there.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve lived in the Philippines, Singapore, and the United States, and throughout my journey, a calendar and planner have always been by my side. When I set out to start Mole Club, I had no idea where to begin—but I knew in my heart it was something I wanted to pursue. With little knowledge of the stationery industry, I dove into learning, taking online courses from successful brands in 2020. Before that, I spent three years studying Visual Communication in Singapore, before enrolling myself in LSU for another 4 year degree in Marketing. I applied everything I learned, but success still required plenty of trial and error. I would say that the stationery industry is pretty competitive, there are a lot of creative artists out there! There was a time where I did not get any orders for a whole month but keeping an open mind and staying mentally flexible helped me adapt to change. Tracking my progress became essential in really understanding what worked best for me. Now, I design, print, and assemble all our products in-house! One lesson that I learned is that if you hit rock bottom, just collect some pebbles and pave a way out of there!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is tough! First, I’ll be driving because I love it when my girls have fun! We will get our matcha (with oatmilk + honey) from Cafe Momento. Then head to Nonna Tata for Italian food and check out some markets in town! If there isn’t any, Kimbell Art Musuem could never go wrong. Then listen to live music at night at The Cicada!

We’ll drive to Dallas but before that, we’ll look at some plants at Native Gardeners Nursery in Euless! That’s where I found some gorgeous Texas Sage! Then we could go for a walk at Katy Trail and eat calamari & paella at Si Tapas! At night, we could go to Nasher Sculpture Center and then have dinner at Billy Can Can. Listen to more live music at The Revelers Hall!

I’ve been called a goofball before and it’s fun to be a little silly sometimes! I am also inspired by the people who are not afraid to do things on their own. I did my solo backpacking before, starting from Singapore, to Malaysia, to Philippines, Hong Kong and to Thailand before moving to the US. I think those who are so willing to overcome difficulties, try new things and see new places are the most exciting people I know.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have read “Atomic Habits” by James Clear twice that helped me change my micro habits! I did a lot of reflection and correction after reading this book.

I’m deeply grateful for the support of my family, especially my sister and brother, Nicole and Brent. What began in a small corner of our apartment has now grown into a thriving wholesale business! A heartfelt thank you to my friends, both old and new, who have supported my journey in every way, big or small. I also truly appreciate the trust and encouragement from local business owners—those I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with and those who carry my products.

Website: https://moleclubstationery.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moleclub.stationery/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095474795777#

Image Credits
Photographer – Samantha McDonald
Model – Sydney Dawson