Dreaming Big with Paper: An Interview with Polly Payne of Horacio Printing and Print School
When Polly Payne launched Horacio Printing in 2014, she had no background in paper or printing. What she did have was a deep love for planners, a strong faith, and the courage to pursue her dream. Today, Horacio Printing is known for its luxury Dream Planner, Bible studies, and journals—and Polly has expanded her work to empower others through Print School.
From Ad Tech to Paper Products
Before starting her company, Polly worked in New York’s fast-paced ad tech world. Surrounded by startup culture, she gained experience in marketing and communications. But she longed to build something of her own. A book called The Artisan Soul by Erwin McManus reminded her that her life was a canvas, and she realized she wasn’t creating the way she wanted to. That conviction, coupled with her love for planners, led to the idea for the first Horacio Dream Planner.
The First Leap of Faith
That first planner didn’t look exactly how Polly envisioned—it wasn’t hardcover, didn’t have tabs or pockets, and cost a hefty $28 per unit to produce. Still, she and her small team pressed forward, ordering 1,000 copies and hoping people would buy them. By January, they had sold out. It was proof the demand was there, and it gave Polly the courage to keep going.
Building a Business and a Community
Over the years, Horacio Printing has grown into a full product line that includes planners, Bible studies, notepads, and more. Polly shifted production overseas to improve quality and reduce costs, learning lessons about pricing, sampling, and supply chains along the way.
But her impact didn’t stop with Horacio. After years of being asked how she created her products, Polly launched Print School to teach others the ins and outs of printing. She admits she once resisted the idea after being burned by someone who copied her work. Over time, though, she realized she couldn’t (and shouldn’t) be the one to create every resource. “There are so many things that need to be born that I wasn’t going to make,” she says.
Now, she teaches hundreds of students how to bring their own ideas to life—whether it’s a devotional, planner, or journal. Print School has also created a thriving community where competitors cheer each other on and entrepreneurs find the support they need.
Lessons Learned
Polly is honest about the highs and lows of her entrepreneurial journey. She’s experienced failures, like spending weeks on an offer no one purchased, and she’s felt the sting of fear and judgment. But through it all, she’s leaned on faith. “Where’s your hope? Is it in sales, or is it in God?” she reminds herself.
Her advice to her younger self? Respect yourself, value your decisions, and don’t seek approval from people who don’t respect you. And her biggest business lesson? Pricing and printing are critical, but so is the reminder that failures are simply data points, not definitions.
Why It Matters
Polly’s story is a powerful example of how faith, creativity, and resilience can come together to build something lasting. Horacio Printing products are more than just pretty planners—they’ve met people in moments of deep need with messages of hope. And through Print School, Polly has multiplied her impact, equipping others to share their own God-given ideas with the world.
For entrepreneurs, her journey is a reminder that the road may be humbling and hard, but it’s also refining—and full of opportunity to grow, stretch, and create something meaningful.
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