In this exclusive interview with CanadianSME Small Business Magazine, Bonnie Rentz, Founder of Paper Doll Co., shares how her heart-led business is empowering women and families through creative, community-focused healing. Known to many as The Paper Doll, Bonnie combines her expertise as a Reiki Master, certified NLP practitioner, and gifted clairvoyant intuitive to create transformative experiences. From affirmation apparel to workshops and rhythm classes, Bonnie’s mission is to help people feel emotionally safe, deeply seen, and wildly free. As she prepares to release her debut book, Plug and Play Social Media, Bonnie offers invaluable insights on how small business owners can grow their visibility without burnout.
Bonnie Rentz-known to many as The Paper Doll – is a Canadian entrepreneur, mother, grandmother, and lightworker with a heart for healing and play. As the founder of Paper Doll Co., she has built a heart-led brand from her home base in Morinville, Alberta, centered on community, creativity, and conscious connection.
You’ve transformed a deeply personal healing journey into a thriving business that empowers women and families. Can you share how Paper Doll Co. began and how your own life experiences shaped its mission?
Paper Doll Co. began with affirmations—simple, powerful words I wrote to remind myself I was brave, I was safe and I was loved. I learned that the words we speak to ourselves shape how we show up in the world.
After years of rebuilding through trauma, grief and major life change, I turned those daily reminders into something tangible—a brand that helps others feel brave, safe and loved.
Paper Doll Co. is a growing Canadian brand built on healing, honesty, and connection. I created it for women and girls who need to know it’s safe to be brave—and that being deeply loved isn’t something they have to earn.
Your brand goes beyond products — offering workshops, pop-up events, and rhythm classes that bring people together. How do you design programs that foster genuine connection while also supporting your business growth?
I design programs that feel natural and real—things I’d want to attend myself. Whether it’s a craft station at a festival or a rhythm class for kids, the goal is always to create something people actually connect with.
It supports the business because people remember how it made them feel. They stay in the loop, they buy the shirts, they come to the next event. It’s not about selling to them—it’s about building something they want to be part of.
That connection leads to real growth. I don’t want to overcomplicate it. I like to create experiences with intention, and the community has built from there.
Running a business can be exhausting for any entrepreneur, yet emotional wellness is at the heart of everything you do. How do you balance the demands of being a solopreneur with your commitment to creating safe, uplifting spaces for others?
Balance? LOL. Does that exist?— I have learned to be honest about what I need and build my business around that.
I’m a mom, a grandmother, a creative, and someone who’s still healing. I create safe spaces for others because I’ve had to create them for myself first. That’s the whole model—real life, not perfection.
I’ve set boundaries in my week: Sundays are for wellness, and I batch content so I’m not always “on.” Some weeks are chaotic, and some feel aligned. I won’t hide that—I will lead with it.
Emotional wellness isn’t a side project. It’s the foundation. And I know that if I’m grounded, everything else I create flows better—from the content to the community to the conversations.
Your upcoming book Plug and Play Social Media promises a simple, repeatable content system for small business owners. What inspired you to write it, and how can entrepreneurs use it to grow their visibility without burning out?
This book came from lived experience. I ran a pet business for over eight years with a full team and a packed schedule—and I still had to show up on social media. But like most small business owners, I didn’t have the time or energy to create fresh content every day.
I needed a system that was simple, flexible, and worked even when life got hard. So I built one. Plug-and-Play Social Media gives entrepreneurs a repeatable structure to plan once and stay visible all year, without losing themselves in the process.
It’s not about going viral. It’s about showing up consistently in a way that actually feels doable. Because we’re not just building businesses—we’re building lives. And the content strategy should support that, not drain it.
Many Canadian small business owners struggle to merge passion, purpose, and profit. What advice would you give to those trying to build a business that reflects who they are—while still sustaining long-term growth?
Even when your business reflects your values, it can still drain you if it’s not built to support your actual life. I’ve learned that purpose is important—but so are structure, systems, and rest. You can’t sustain long-term growth if you’re constantly running on empty.
My advice is to get honest about your capacity, not just your passion. Build something that works with your life, not against it. Set up systems that keep things moving when you can’t.
And don’t build for everyone. Build for the people who get it. The ones who feel like home. When your brand is rooted in something real, the right audience will find you—and that’s what creates growth that lasts.
