LittleOddForest

Web site link: Little Odd Forest
Where are you located?
In sunny tropical garden-city island Singapore, a tiny-teeny dot on the world map.

What do you create?
Mostly bags, plush, accessories and graphic tank tops now, but generally almost anything and everything I can lay my hands on! My dream is to have a whole range of lifestyle products, I just thought of a new tagline last month - littleoddforest, it's not fashion, it's a lifestyle.

How did you come up with your company name?
I've always been very influenced by childhood tales, fairy tales and make-believe, out-of-this-world fantasy stories, and thought that since the setting in most of these tales is usually always the forest/woods, I'd need to go somewhere along these lines... and "forestprints" just popped in my head one night, so ta-da! I registered my business name as Forestprints Design (I love putting separate words together as a new name). Littleoddforest has always been the back of my mind, but it just didn't seem appropriate as an official business name to me, so I have since made it as one of my label (I plan to have multiple label names!)

When and why did you decide to start your business?
My business was officially started in Nov 2004, although it took me more than 6 months prior to prepare its launch. I have always wanted to do something on my own, which I could take pride in and truly love doing. I do love all design in general, and after getting my degree in Visual Communications, worked as a designer in graphic design firms. However, the work I did was never satisfying, and constantly giving in to unreasonable clients' requests for design changes made me resentful - that kind of did it for me in the end, and I quited to start on creating something of my own.


Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
Really from anywhere and everywhere, I don't purposely seek out inspiration, instead, just by going out and about would just do it - people-watching, films, books, stories, music, nature, playing with my cats, my strange dreams, etc. Although I'm generally attracted to colors, and all things unusual, kooky, quirky, cute, and forest-themed.

Which of the tools you use is your favorite?
My precious Powerbook G4! I wouldn't be able to do what I'm doing today without it. I need it to do almost everything, from my website design and operation, product designs, packaging design, marketing, advertising, and etc.

What keeps you motivated?
When people tell me how much they genuinely love what I do, understand what littleoddforest is all about, and when they keep buying and even helping me to spread the word to their friends to prove their point! :)

How did you get the word out about your business when you first started?
When I first started, I could only rely on the wonderful world of the internet - through my website, forums, blogs, etc. where I could find people who understood and appreciate what I was doing, as I had started out with really no support from my friends nor family, except for my ever-supportive boyfriend and my mum.

What marketing avenues do you use now?
So far, I've done very minimal online advertising and only 1 print ad, and I'm ashamed to admit this! I've mostly been neglecting my marketing, because of the workload, manpower issues and time constraints. But I've been very blessed to have been featured in a few print magazines, e-zines, and websites (like yours!) and all these have been wonderful marketing avenues for me thus far, mostly with regards to attracting end-consumers. I have also been participating in trade shows (1 last year and 1 this year), and they really helped a lot with my exposure to buyers and stockists locally.



What is your main goal for this year?
For this year 2006 (since it is almost towards the end now), it was to expand my accessories line, and I think I have accomplished that! :) For 2007, it would be to expand my range of products, solve my production problems, and get my very own showroom/studio/workshop/residence, all in 1! Hmmm...

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
From my short experience, the one and only advice anyone would need is - you have to really love what you do and have a clear idea what your goal is. Without strong passion and a clear goal in mind, the entire process of starting the business and having to see it through in the beginning will wear you out in no time. Being realistic, especially with your goal helps too - starting something you love on your own is not going to be a bed of roses for a long while, lots of obstacles will be met, and lots of sacrifices will have to be made.

*****
Little Extras

What's your favorite quote?
"Don't just dream it, do it."

Can you recommend a good book or great music?
I haven't been able to read "real" books as much as before (I mostly look at design books and read the news nowadays), but the last one I read - "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" by Susanna Clarke, was long, but good! Recent past memorable reads include "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden", "The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy", the "Shannara" and "The Heritage of Shannara" series by Terry Brooks, and the Harry Potter series. My music tastes are widely varied, so a normally simple question like this is not possible for me! - this past few weeks I've been listening to a lot of Brazilian Bossa Nova, the rhythm and beat is superb and it really helped me with working late nights happily!

Who is your favorite indie designer/artist?
It's not my style to have a favorite brand/label/designer/artist, so I do not have any favorite indie designer/artist per se, whenever I stumble upon a design/style I love, I just buy it! :D

Thank you Lynda!