JPD Mom

Attending Surtex & The Stationary Show 2008

May 30, 2008.

I feel like I only dabble in licensing my artwork.  Dabbling in licensing is sort of an oxymoron or a contraction in itself.  You do not dabble in licensing.  It is a full time job (as I was often told), full of creating new products, designs and putting them in the correct formats for certain companies.  You also need to make contacts, get the correct person (decision maker) to review your artwork.  And yesterdays no could be tomorrows yes - so you need to continue to contact companies with new art over and over.

At the suggestion of many artists I decided to walk the Surtex show  last week.  The Stationary Show runs at the same time and right next door at the Javits Center, so it makes sense to walk both shows if you ever do decide to attend one or the other show.  Let me just say that not exhibiting at a show this year has been a good thing, I think with the economy in dire straits spending upwards of ten thousand dollars just to exhibit does not make sense for this small company.  But if I may contradict myself, when I walk a show, something happens to me, I get a bit depressed and intimidated, but more importantly I start to really wish I was exhibiting.  I kick myself for not getting it together to bring my art to the masses.

Surtex

As a newbie licensor (Surtex is a show for artists looking to license their art), and a newbie (read first time walking the show) I have to say I was sort of shocked at how small it was.  I was surprised at how reserved it was and quiet.  I am used to loud, crowded shows with lots of fanfare and hoopla.  I was also overwhelmed by the amount of work that each artist brought to the show.  I am considering exhibiting next year, but am a bit overwhelmed (I am repeating myself no?) by the amount of work I would need to bring, and the traffic seemed slow.  I have nothing to compare it to, but it did not seem crowded.  I saw a lot of beautiful surface designs, but they all sort of meshed together, not one really stood out to me.

On a good note though, I was lucky enough to meet one of my favorite artists, and another pioneer in the children's industry.  Kelly B. Rightsell and her husband Brian had a booth on the top floor.  Kelly's booth was impressive and chatting with her was a highlight of the trip for me.  She already has an impressive list of companies she licenses with....I am sure she will have a few more after this show.

This is not the first time I met Brian,  I have spoken with him at many a show, many a years ago.  Darin and I also had the good fortune of speaking with him years ago about the plight of our business.  I can honestly say he was very nice, very sincere and gave us the best advice we ever received. 

The Stationary Show

Again, first time to walk the show and I found it just like most trade shows - loud, exhausting and overwhelming (yep we have a theme today).  I did not see a lot of new items, I did see tons of birds and the brown/pink color scheme is alive and kicking.  The stationary looked very similar to the hot fabrics I see on the market now, not the type of art I do, but defiantly the type of products I love!  So much of the same look though, it started to blur and I could not remember where I saw what.  The show is huge and it seemed crowded.  I spoke with a few friends I knew from Atlanta and they said it was slow, and then others said it was great.  I guess each person's experience is different, and as I learned earlier, not every relationship is sealed at the show:

Make it Happen

I have read in business books, articles and many a blog that exhibiting (or attending ) a big show is not the end of it.  You need to make appointments, make calls, make connections - work it sister!  You can not just expect to sit in your booth (like the good ol' day) and expect people to come in.  I agree 1/2 of the work before going or exhibiting at a big show is making appointments.  I am not a big believer in motivational speakers, but the old "You are in charge of your own destiny" could not be MORE true than when going to a show.

Which brings me to a great (or inspirational) story I was told by an entrepreneur.  A very, very successful one too (I know famous people, really I do!)  This woman called up a HUGE company and she said, "Hey!  Why aren't we working together?  Here, go to my website, my designs should be on YOUR products. "  Next thing you know the top sales representative comes to her office, they write up a contract and her designs are on this "product" all over the darn country.  A huge license and a major perk for her. 

Now, I am not so naive to not think she probably called 47 other times and did not get the same response, or she spoke to 345 wrong people before she got the "right" one on the phone.  Or, maybe it is true and she was at the right place at the right time - who knows.  The point is she makes things happen, she is not afraid to make the call either.  I have to respect that, unless I get overwhelmed or something, right?

Being Good to Employees

May 17, 2008.

As I ran through my list of things to do for my trip this past week, this children's rhyme ran through my  head:

The Cupboards Were Bare

Old Mother Hubbard went to the cupboard to get her poor doggie a bone.  When she got there, the cupboard was bare, so the poor doggie had none.  If you read here you can see where the song really came from....not what I was actually um thinking but interesting.   Anyway, maybe it is because I have had puppy on the brain, but I think it has more to do with my work environment...working so hard I have um neglected the cupboards.  I was looking for a snack, a soda, a water the other day.....I found an old piece of candy from Christmas.

I filled the cabinets in the break room, or well maybe not totally full (I gotta eat too you know), but stocked them with snacks, drinks and some treats.  I cleaned the office, I got flowers for the table....made it perty.  We moved into this space almost 2 1/2 years ago and I think it needs an update.  I tend to get itchy with decorating my home, gardening, table settings - the same thing every day bores me to tears.  I think when I get back I will spruce up the place a tad.

Small Tokens of My Appreciation

We had no Christmas party in 2007, it was not in the budget, or more honestly we could not pull it off.  The end of the year was tough and well I think have been pretty clear about how 2008 has been.  So I went and got gift cards for everyone - left them a little gift while I am out of town with apparently every other artist in the country.  I am pretty sure life at the ol' JPD office will be just fine without me.

The Ad Was Chosen

I know I posted about this ages ago, but thought you would like to see the one that was chosen.  I think the colors are bright, cheery, hopefully it gets me some business.  The Jungle one we used for the press release, so all in all - I think we used the best art.

I am furiously working on new art for a company we license with....and a few other surprises.  I will keep you posted on how Surtex was, who I saw, any other artists that went....and my over all thoughts, observations and you know any snarky comments I may have.   

Once A Sell Out....Always?

May 13, 2008.

I am not dumb, I am not stupid and I do not run around with my eyes covered refusing to acknowledge design trends.  Sometimes though, I like to sit back and watch and wait to see if it is a fad or just a trend.  Othertimes I realize that if everyone is doing it, maybe I should not.  The fact still remains - I watch trends, whether I act on them or not I get it.

I knew the brown trend was here to stay - I love brown, I have brown all over my home - and with the pastel colors, fabulous for baby.  I love me some brown, I just had no need to add it to my line, and it felt everyone would think , oh there she goes, just like everyone else.   I assumed my work was classic and it was like the canvas art - everyone was already doing it, and doing it well, so why bother?  Until today that is:

Brown is the New Black

Which brings me to a few new designs......designs that were asked of me by others, um maybe more than once.  And, if I am getting paid to paint new designs for people, you better believe I am going to paint the colors they like.  My product is an accesorry, an add-on if you will - so I really should consider taking their suggestions.  A certain person I um, shared a booth with last July also was pushing for this color combination.  Again, I am not dumb - just stubborn.

Not Bucking the Trend

So here is my version of "Pink & Brown", I had to add some butterflies.  I also could not just do polka dots and stripes, not my style or my thing.  Wait, let me rephrase that - I don't draw those things, not my strong point.  Sounded like what my graphic desinger started calling me after she designed our ad last year "Jamie Hates Polka Dots". I don't know what it was, but the polka dots were not working for me.....yet they were for another person.  Anyway - here we are today.

I give you my first sample.  I like the colors, sort of kicking self for not doing this sooner.  However, I have NO idea what the Just Because Plaque should say or if it should be a new Name Plaque?  Thoughts? Advice?  Stuck in a pickle, so to speak.

Second sample with a brown ribbon you can see below.  Again, I can not decide which one to go with.  I always want to try a new ribbon color, however anyone in this industry knows pink sells, and pink sells well.  If pink is the predominating color in a product we know it will sell better than any other color combination.  Even though I continue to try other color combinations from time to time, anything with pink trounces the others.  Thoughts on the brown or pink ribbon

My Art History

When I was in one of my beginning art classes I made a self-discovery at one of our critiques (critiques are common in art classes, where you show the class your piece or work and they pick it apart).  I have found that these critiques (that were nerve wracking at times) have helped me to develop a thick skin when someone does not like my art.

Anyway - what I announced to the class as they were dissecting some piece or work, was I hated to have the art fall off the edge.  I could not stand it over to the side, not centered - made me crazy (can you say I had some control issues? Or have?).  For the rest for the semester I was forced to push my drawings, paintings, anything to edges.  I hated it.

So now that I am the boss of me I hardly never, ever push the art to the sides.  I like it pushed to edges, but not off the edge.  Oh well, now that I am on that I jumped on the brown train, maybe I will attack my "edge" issues.  I am feeling like a sell-out with the brown and pink color combinations for sure....oh well, takes one to know one, right? 

You Can Blame it on Me

May 4, 2008.

So, it has come to my attention that I need to stop apologizing and just do what I do and shut-up, or just blog.  I spend waaaay too much time apologizing for not posting, not writing well and not doing what I planned on doing.  I wish I could be more like my dog, Pixel - she looks me right in the eye all the time., and a seems to be saying , "You talking to me?"  The need to please (as my husband says) is an issue I have...he is probably right.  And, I sort of assume some peeps are a bit peeved and throwing their paint covered hands in the air and saying, "enough already'" about my posts.  Sorry, yes again - I am um, sorry for being sorry, uh sort of a strange thing to write - but I am going to try and not apologize for what I am doing, or not doing.  Damn I did it again - sorry, I mean no, I am not sorry for being sorry....shoot!  Here are a few reasons (or excuses if you must) for why I have been doing what I do, or not doing what I said I was going to do, sheesh:

The Perfect Cheer.....er uh Post

When I started this blog I thought I knew what it would become.  I had a vision, I had a plan...I guess it was like having that ol' birth plan we all had with our first pregnancy - you know how that turns out.  I had no idea that this blog would not always be what I wanted it to be.  I had no idea what would strike a cord, and what post would put readers to sleep.  I also more importantly felt that I had to put a large number of hours into each post - make it the best post ever!  Two years later I am a tad bit wiser and realize that I don't have to pour my heart and soul (and 476 words) into each post.   Well, I still try and write good posts, but I realize I can't write the Great Gatsby every week, nor do I want to....and really, I am not that great a writer.

Too Many Projects to Focus

As of right now I am seriously on overload, over drive and I have started way too many projects.  I don't know why I chose right now to open an Etsy store, go to a show, place an ad, pursue 5 licensing projects, put up new products, re-do website, go after sales channels....and get a new puppy.  All of these things I have um, well tried to pursue since January of 2008....ya read a bit side-tracked and going in 32 different directions.  The word over-achiever and crazy have passed my friends lips one too many times this year, but uh this is where I am.

Puppy Fever

Yes it is true, I have Puppy Fever and to be honest I have had puppies on the brain since um a year ago.  We started checking out websites, breeders and Rescue Dog sites since January.  I knew we would get a puppy this Spring or Summer and have spent many a night (or maybe a few hours at work) surfing the net searching for my little pup.  It was a fun search, sometimes frustrating but a family affair for sure.  We are officially finished searching....

Puppy Parties

We picked up our little Beagle puppy on Friday morning and we named her Stella.  And, yes I am having a hard time calling her Stella and not yell, "STELLLLLA!!".  She is a cutie-patotie and we love her to death already.  She has settled in just fine at the crazy Lentzner home, we have had a trail of people visiting to prove it.  My sister, the self-proclaimed Dog Whisperer of San Mateo County claims puppies need to meet a 100 people in the first hundred days of their life to be I guess good dogs.  If that is correct Stella has met about 54 in the last 48 hours so we are moving right along.

We had a little casual dinner party last night (hence the blow-up cactus in the for Cindo de Mayo in the corner), and  more people over tonight (just family).  I am squeezing this blog in between visitors. 

At least she takes a nap every hour or so and we (that would be me) get a break.  Oh, and the fact that her little face melts my heart and she has had like no accidents in the house....yet.  I am sure I will be forced to create some beagle inspired products for the fall, I mean really how can I help myself?

I hope everyone had as fun a weekend as I did.  Oh wait, I hope you all got more sleep then I did - this little pumpkin whimpers and I jump out of bed like a crazy lady (yes four times last night).  The term punch - drunk tired is not just for new mom's of babies....