So just a quick background so you are up to speed with where I am starting - I recently moved from NYC to Philadelphia to be able to afford my own studio and the opportunity to start a business with my husband (not quite a viable option on 1 salary in NYC). So we packed up and U-Hauled it down to Philly. The transition hasn't been easy or fun, but we are getting there. Slowly but surely. We've had dinner with a few friends, signed ourselves up for a wine class, got a puppy and our newest gig is to find our dream townhouse which, of course, must include a garage, roof deck, backyard and large kitchen that opens into the living room with a breakfast bar. I don't think we are asking for too much do you? :)
So Scott goes to work, and with little research so do I. I found my dream studio in an old mill building with painter wash sinks, original wood beams, lots of bright sky lights and a community of artists all around me. It doesn't get any better than this. Turns out the other artists only work about once every two weeks, there is a lack of air conditioning and regular heating, there aren't any toilet paper holders, rarely any soap and a sink that sprays your entire top half when you turn it on. But you know what? I kind of like it that way. It gives the entire building even more character than the cracked glass, splintering wood and old school gas heaters already had. And most importantly - it looks like an artist studio. And that's the most important right? I am an artist and I certainly don't want to be holed up in a cubicle with gray carpeting stripping me of all my creative energy, even if there are toilet paper holders and AC. Plus this is a start up - I gotta rough it! So I set up my place and start painting away. I participated in the building's yearly open house and started trying (trying being the key word here) to formalize my business plans. My art? Hand painted glassware. My nemesis? Financial projections for business plans.
My first step - The Philadelphia Gift Show. This was a critical show for me - my first time ever exhibiting and getting retailer feedback about my products. I busted my butt to have tons of designs and a somewhat decent looking display. The idea is that you sell your products at wholesale and get large orders (or more than a retail customer would purchase). I got a few new accounts (1 Hallmark store and 2 other gift shops) and some great feedback about my main competitor Lolita. Turns out no one cared about how many designs I had, and my display wasn't that great, but you live and learn :) I'm sure you've seen Lolita products - they are everywhere. She, however, gets her glasses mass produced overseas. Mine are hand made by moi in the USA. So take that. Just kidding. But seriously the biggest thing I learned was the re-emerging market for hand made goods, and the increasing loyalty for "Made in the USA" products. It was refreshing and invigorating to hear that customers didn't like dealing with large reps, that my quality was better, and that people wanted to support an emerging artist trying to make it. I met some colorful people and decided that my initial route to overtake Lolita in the market wasn't the only option. Thank goodness because the chances of that were slim :) I needed some retail marketing gimmicks, upscale packaging and display ideas as well as a narrowed down selection of glasses that I can keep refreshing each season or at least every year. Man I have a lot of work to do.
So I leave the gift show with several new and overwhelming questions: Is wholesale the way to go? Should I focus on retail only? What should my collections be if I narrow down my designs? What is the best way to display them, as a set of assorted glasses or a set of all the same? A lot of people paint glassware, mine is different and yes better quality, but people are buying the lesser quality and don't seem to care - so do I go even more upscale than I currently am? And what about packaging - I know that the package helps to sell the product and definitely adds value, but how much value and what kind of packaging? These are just a few of my main tasks that I need to figure out before I can move forward. Hopefully I will answer all of these questions throughout this quest :)
Today on Hudsonater (that's my dog) - she learned how to dance! Long hours of painting means lots of knots in my back, so I put a few fingers to the toes and try to loosen the muscles. Well today while jumping around Hudson decided to join in. I held up a treat and said "Dance Hudson Dance". Turns out she likes to jump and stretch too - sweet I'm not alone!
So here it is! A nice sweeping panorama of my new 2 room studio. I LOVE my new camera which was able to take this lovely shot, so now you have an idea of what the whole 1st room looks like with a peek into the 2nd room. I love my workspace. I think I may be one of the luckiest people on earth!
