Crafty Synergy is a Blog of Note

Thank you to Blogger for naming Crafty Synergy a Blog of Note yesterday! Welcome to those of you that are new to my blog. I hope that you enjoy your visit.

Rifferaff

Artist: Shannon Riffe
Location: Cambridge, MA (in late August I'll be moving to Ann Arbor, MI)
Web site: Rifferaff
Blog: Rifferaff

What do you create?
Screenprinted paper goods.

When and why did you decide to start your business?
I officially started my business in October 2007. I've always wanted to be my own boss, and it only took a few years of working in the "real world" post-college to convince me to get started on my dream sooner rather than later. I love the idea of having ownership over my time and how I choose to spend my days.

How did you come up with your business name?
I wanted to use my name in the business name, but I wanted it to be more interesting than "S. Riffe Designs" or something like that. I thought Rifferaff was fun, memorable, and –most important- highly Googleable.

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
Inspiration isn't something I think about very much or actively seek out. I like that the silkscreen printing process has it's own constraints, unlike digital printing which can do whatever you want it to. Because I print all the products by hand, I come up with designs that I know I can print- single colors, not a lot of fine detail. I'm self-taught and I still have a lot to learn, so I guess my limitations as a printer kind of guide the direction of my work.



Which of the tools you use is your favorite?
My Xacto paper trimmer. For the longest time I was cutting everything with an Xacto knife because I thought all the good paper trimmers were super expensive. Not only was it slow, it was killer on my wrists. Then one day I had a wholesale order and decided I couldn't cut all these cards by hand, so I picked up a cheap trimmer from Staples and I've been pleasantly surprised by how great it works and how much of a time saver it is.

What keeps you motivated?
The desire to be my own boss. Knowing that I will regret it forever if I don't give this my all. Wanting to be a successful designer of color in an industry that is not very diverse.

How do you get the word out about your work?
I regularly update my blog, about 3 – 5 times a week. When I've got something new to share, I'll send an email and pics to blogs that may be interested in it. Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. I think the main thing is to just keep at it and always get my work out there. I need to be better about listing regularly on Etsy, though I do find that hard to keep up with.



What is your main goal for the next 6-12 months?
Hmm, this is a great question and I'm not sure what my answer is. I started my business thinking I'd be super successful right away and could quit my job within 6 months and live the exact same lifestyle. Um, I had a rude awakening. I did quit my job, but I am not supporting myself with my business by any means. (I work part-time as an office manager) This first year was an invaluable learning experience, so I think that as I enter my 2nd year in business, my goal is to not make the same mistakes. To learn from my experiences and keep doing the work I want to do in the way I want to do it. If this means finding a full time job because my artwork isn't supporting me financially, so be it. I want to take the pressure off of my business to make money and just really enjoy what I create and be thoughtful about the direction of my business.

What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
Be consistent in everything you do. Marketing, photography, packaging, your product. You want to present a professional appearance to your customers and potential vendors. Spend time working on your product photography and web presence. If you're using the web as the main way you connect with customers, make sure to present your best side. This is something I'd even recommend paying someone to do if you're not getting the results you want on your own, it's that important. I'm in the process of redoing all my product photos and contacting a web designer to design me a very simple but professional looking web page.

I'd also recommend starting out with good habits instead of doing the bare minimum and then planning to make changes down the line.



What's the most important thing you'd like people to know/understand about your work?
I'm really passionate about American manufacturing and a priority in my business is to source American made materials – when possible, and unfortunately it's not always possible - and of course produce all my own products here. I'm really proud to use recycled papers exclusively from a family-owned paper mill in Michigan that's run on hydro-electric power.

As I research materials for other products I'd like to create in the future, making the products here in the states and sourcing domestically made materials will always be important to me.

What has been your biggest obstacle while working on your business and how did you overcome it?
Organization. Both the physical organization of my work space and the digital organization of my files. So when I mention above for aspiring entrepreneurs to establish good habits early on, I really mean organizational habits. I'm starting to get things under control and my upcoming move is really forcing me to get organized and get rid of clutter in my workspace.

What has been the most important lesson you've learned while running your business?
Look at every opportunity, even failed opportunities, as a chance to get your work out there in front of one new person. Recently I've been blogging about my difficulties getting sales in the craft sales I participated in. I've learned that these aren't the best venues for my work, but I have also learned to recognize that by participating in the fairs I've put my work in front of that many more people who may not have seen it otherwise.



If you had the time, what new craft/medium would you like to learn or use?
I have a basic knowledge of sewing but I'd love to become an excellent sewer and be able to sew my own clothing. It's such a great skill to have, and it's really empowering to be able to make new curtains or pillows for your home with whatever fabric you want. An eventual goal of mine is to do prints on fabric. I'd want to be able to use that fabric to make my own slipcover for a sofa or design the perfect hobo bag.

What's your definition of a perfect day?
Crisp fall weather. Waking up early to the sun shining and the windows open. Have some productive time in the morning working on Rifferaff stuff (I find I work best in the morning) then have breakfast on the back porch with my boyfriend, Matt. Spend the day doing the following things: go to the Tibetan buffet for lunch, take a walk to Harvard Square and read magazines in the bookstore, go to the farmer's market and shop for dinner, then cook dinner with Matt and veg out in front of the tv with an entire season of a show like Gilmore Girls or Deadwood.

Or we could take a drive to the beach and eat lobster rolls and then come back home to those dvds. Really if it involves eating, lounging and being in bed by 11, I'm sold.


Thank you Shannon!

Feterie

Artist: Cathe Huynh-Sison
Location: San Jose, California (Just about 45 minutes south of San Francisco)
Web site: Feterie
Shop: Feterie {JUST LAUNCHED!}
Blog: Feterie

What do you create?
Custom event stationery for life events such as wedding, gift wrap, greeting cards, social stationery, imprintables, enclosure & gift tags, birth announcements, shower invitations and other bespoken lovelies.

When and why did you decide to start your business?
Feterie really grew out of my passion for all things paper, the need to fill a void that at the time was lacking in choices and availability (designer paper goods), and modern design. I started my business in 2003 (then it was operated under the name of Fete) after an opportunity that I couldn't pass up dropped into my lap. The event planners at the San Jose Museum of Art (venue for my wedding reception) were hosting a Spring Wedding event at the museum and remembered that I was working on a collection of wedding invitations as a result of my frustration of not finding anything that I liked for my own wedding. So, they invited me the show my wedding stationery and that event served as our debut!



How did you come up with your business name?
Feterie is really a made-up French word in the same tradition of how French shops are labeled, such as a patisserie is a shop that specializes in pastries, etc. I wanted to retain the history of the original business name but show an evolution of the direction it was going towards as well. It was perfect for what I was trying to achieve - the first and second time around!

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?
Everywhere and everything...I've formed a habit to always carry a sketchbook with me because the inspiration moment can be found anywhere and anytime — from a simple stroll in an art museum with my son and husband to the most mundane thing such as a knot in my hair.



Which of the tools you use is your favorite?
I have to choose one? Pen, sketchbook, x-acto knife, and computer. Most of the time in that exact order. But, if I have to single one from the list, I would say my pen (it has to be a black rollerball pen, I'm very particular about pens.).

What keeps you motivated?
That's a great question! What keeps me motivated are the wonderful feedback that I receive from customers, the giddiness that I still get when I am on a sparkapalooza streak for an idea that sparks another idea (and another idea, and another idea...), and the sheer joy of doing what I absolutely love!



How do you get the word out about your work?
Being a small business owner, I have very limited budgets for advertising. So, I do a number of creative marketing and promotions — from blogging to co-marketing with other businesses with similar design philosophy to sponsorships of events and grass-root efforts! Joining networking communities are also very important, such as having a LinkedIn profile as well as am a member of a very effective network called Ladies Who Launch. I have received a tremendous amount of support and networking opportunities through all of them. And finally, I have the fabulously wonderful Moji from Moji O PR who works really hard at getting my work exposure. She is just a blessing and I am grateful to have her help!

What is your main goal for the next 6-12 months?
Currently, my social stationery & tailored event stationery are available through my site and a couple of stationery boutiques. I am working to add more retailers to carry my cards and albums nationwide...and hopefully internationally! So, building my retailer list is one of the goals. Meanwhile, I am also working on a couple of new card collections and collaborations with some wonderful creatives. So, launching those projects is also a important goal because it's crucial to growing the business.



What advice would you give to someone starting a creative business?
Do research thoroughly. Know your market and target demographics and stick to it. Most of all, find others like-minded individuals that are willing to share resources, information and even be a mentor. When I started my business, I did about 2 years of research and design, but what I wished I had at the time was the ability to connect with someone that was already in the industry willing to offer advice and be a mentor.

What’s the most important thing you’d like people to know/understand about your work?
That's another good question! I would say that the designer in me is always looking towards the possibilities and what-ifs. My medium and focus may evolve over time, but the process that makes me love design and what I do so much will always be an important part of it.



What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned while running your business?
If you're not a business person, learn to be one or get someone to focus on that task so that you can do what you love! I've learned that the hard way when my former business partner left the business at the beginning of last year.

What was the biggest lesson you learned by participating in the National Stationery Show this year?
Participating at the show is not all about making the sales (though it is nice to have huge sales!), it's also about media exposure and making connections. It's also a 3-part job: 1 part PR + 1 part Sales + 1 part Marketing.



If you had the time, what new craft/medium would you like to learn or use?
Design for textile and other surfaces. I've been completely fascinated about surface design since designing my gift wrap collection and stationery.

What's your definition of a perfect day?
A perfect day for me would involve just the right balance of work, play, and family time — those 3 things plus a nice cup of café crème and a scrumptious butter croissant or pain au chocolat in the morning. Yum!


Thank you Cathe!