Mi Spa

What do you create?
I make natural SPA body care like handmade soaps, whipped body butter, sugar polishes... all sorts of goodies for the body!



How did you come up with your company name?
It's easy. My products were inspired by the Asian traditions for using RICE as the foundation of skincare. And 'mi' is actually RICE, known in Chinese!

When and why did you decide to start your business?
The idea of 'mi' was started in last summer 2005, when I was having my mental break after years of corporate-working life. I decided to search for a more balanced lifestyle and started growing my interest in natural healing herbs. I then discovered that the staple food of her culture, rice [in Chinese, the word is "mi"], was actually a secret ingredient to beauty and glowing skin! Using rice as a pampering beauty treatment dates back centuries in Asia.



What is your main goal for this year?
I hope to continuing to grow by completing my collection with more spa treatment type products in each area, building up my brand identity and to have my products represented at retail stores within US and other countries that share the same lifestyles of mine.

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
I would say don't just dream about your ideas. You've got to believe in yourself and find a way to do it. Opportunity does not come looking for you, you've got to grab the one that's worth trying and see where it'll take you. To be successful or not... it's not that easy! But if you don't try, you'll never find out. Try to come up with a niche to make your business special and stand out!

And just out of curiosity, what’s your favorite tool of your trade?
Just be yourself and believe in your dream! ^_^

Site
Mi Spa

Bonnin Designs

What do you create?
I create jewelry, accessories, and a little bit of home decor items. I also create jewelry and accessories for Flamenco dancers.



How did you come up with your company name?
When trying to find a name for my company, I noticed that a lot of jewelry designers used their full name as their company name, but I wanted to somehow express that my jewelry and accessories were unique, so I used my last name and "Designs". That was about as creative as I could get at the time.

When and why did you decide to start your business?
My business became official in 2000. My kids were in school, I was making jewelry most of the day because I was crazy in love with doing it and people were noticing. I was making seed bead jewelry and accessories, like cell phone holders and beaded perfume bottles and ceiling fan pulls. I took them, just for the heck of it and to see what kind of response I'd get, to a really fun gallery in Palm Springs, CA and right away got in. I knew then I was on to something. Besides that, I was making jewelry and accessories to match my and other fellow Flamenco dancers dresses. For this, I was also getting a great response.

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
I really get inspired by the materials at a bead store or bead show more than anything. I love that moment when I walk in the door after a big bead show buying binge and spreading the beads out on the table and seeing what would works together. I always have a list with me when I go, but never stick to it. I adore combining textures and colors. I am a Flamenco dancer too, so I am always drawn to bold designs and colors. My inspirations for my jewelry change frequently as you can tell by my jewelry designs which are always different.




What is your main goal for this year?
I want to get my jewelry into more brick and mortar shops and boutiques. That's my main goal. But first I really need to find the best way to show a possible wholesale account my line. Because it's mostly one-of-a-kind and limited edition, it's really difficult to have a line sheet with photos especially for out of state accounts where they are not seeing the jewelry in person. At least that's my experience. I've been pretty good at bringing in my jewelry to a shop and showing them but because there has been so many different pieces, I think shop owners were getting a little overwhelmed. I just started with collections this Spring. By organizing the jewelry into groups it makes that part of the display a little easier to understand.

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
I think it's important to find a niche. There are so many crafters out there that you need to find a way to stand out. Think of a box of donuts. Why did you pick that one particular donut? They are all donuts in that box.

And just out of curiosity, what's your favorite tool of your trade?
Oddly enough, I love the surface I work on. I have this piece of scrap soft brown leather I found in a remnants shop when I first started beading. It's perfect. The beads don't roll off of it. When I'm done with a project for the day, I just roll it up burrito style with my project and tools inside. It's portable. I can take it to any table to do my work.

Site:
Bonnin Designs

Rose Flash

What do you create?
I'm an artist - photographer - painter - graphic designer - art teacher who happens to make jewelry! My business is all about fun and wearable jewelry. I mostly re-use vintage pieces, beads or buttons to create my jewelry.




How did you come up with your company name?
I have worked in a summer camp for 6 years now and my camp nickname is Roseflash. It's really kind of my second name; my friends call me Rose instead of Valerie most of the time! When it was time for me to find a company name, Rose Flash came naturally. I think it's a pretty cool name and it's reflect my personality and my art!

When and why did you decide to start your business?
Well, it was a long time dream of mine to have my own business: when I was 12, I used to make Fimo jewelry and sell them to my family and friends! Last year, I graduated from University (UQÀM, Université du Québec à Montréal) and decided in the summer to plan the opening of Rose Flash for the Fall. So in October 2005, Rose Flash was born.

Why did I decided to start my business? It was kind of a Now or Never time for me: I don't have kids yet, had time to plan everything, was ending my University degree, have an incredibly-supporting fiancé... The timing was perfect for me! I also wanted to accomplish something of my own, to be my own boss, to fulfill my graphic design background and my more artsy side. Perfect timing I say!




Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
Everywhere! I keep what I call my creative-chaos journal where I glue in stuff that I find in magazine, books, paper, fabric, anything that I find inspiring. I do a lot of writing also in there and I draw. Being very visual, I simply adore going to flea market (where you have to dig in piles of stuff to find something interesting), to fruit market (nature's colors scheme) and to galleries and museum. The web is also an ever-lasting source of inspiration. Finally, I sometime get inspired by an object that I own: my summer collection was entirely created from a seashell which have vibrant colors!

What is your main goal for this year?
Well, it's my first year of business, so this year is a learning process for me! I want mostly to increase my website traffic and my visibility (and thus, my sales!).

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
It takes time to achieve your goals: don't give up, don't try to do it all in once, plan you business, surround yourself with efficient and friendly collaborators, STAY SANE (don't forget to relax once in a while) and finally, leave your house at least once a day and take a break!

And just out of curiosity, what's your favorite tool of your trade?
My hands (I use an excessive amount of hand lotion to kept them smooth looking) and my dear MAC computer!

Site:
Rose Flash

destination:unknown

What do you create?
I make journals designed especially for travel. I love to travel, and I’ve learned from experience that a good travel journal has be more than just paper inside two covers. Travelers need to be able to write while on the move, collect souvenirs, keep track of important information, and do it all without adding to the burden of luggage. My journals are small enough to carry easily and include three types of paper for writing, recordkeeping, sketching and jotting quick notes, pockets for storing mementos, wire binding for easy writing anywhere, an elastic band to keep it all together. They are the best!



How did you come up with your company name?
I’ve found that the most meaningful travel experiences are more than just getting from one place to another. It is the unexpected things – the chance occurrences, the serendipitous discoveries along the way – that make a trip special. I wanted to capture that in my name, destination:unknown.

When and why did you decide to start your business?
I’d wanted to start my own business for a while, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted that business to be. My inspiration came two years ago while I was planning a summer trip to Europe. I was looking for a journal to take with me, and I looked in every bookstore, gift and stationery shop but I couldn’t find a journal that was really suited for travel. I realized the only way to get the travel journal I wanted would be to make my own. When friends expressed interest in obtaining one of my journals for their upcoming trips, I knew I had found my business idea. The timing was right, too, since I had recently left my last job.

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
For me, inspiration always comes from travel. I look for papers with colors and designs that reconnect me with travel experiences. Some of my journals are obviously destination-specific, like London and Paris, and some evoke the experience of travel in general, such as vintage postcards and matchbook covers. (For years, I’ve collected matchbooks from places I’ve visited!)



What is your main goal this year?
I suppose I should say something businessy, like increase sales by xx%. That is important, no doubt, but what I really want is to learn something new, do the best I can, continue to challenge myself, live a life rich with new experiences and find the perfect balance between work and leisure. All that, and travel too!

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
Definitely do it. But be aware that it takes a lot of work, especially if you are doing it on your own. Patience is important, because you can’t do everything all at once. It takes time, but you will get there!

And just out of curiosity, what’s your favorite tool of your trade?
Well, making a journal is very hands-on, so what I use most often are my hands. And after making hundreds of journals, my hands have a lot of experience. Then, there is also my rotary cutter. When I put a fresh blade in, it makes a wonderfully satisfying whooshing sound as it cuts through a piece of paper!

Site:
destination:unknown