On Tour: National Stationery Show Steps & Success

It was a whirlwind of a week, productive and charged, and I couldn’t have pulled off the successful show without the help of my assistant Bryn, thank you!

Now I will assess. The power of creativity is that it multiplies when surrounded by other creativity, this alone is a worthwhile reason to make the investment into industry trade shows. But as we all know, inspiration and networking doesn’t cover overhead, at first anyways. Yes, I’m emphasizing the value of patience, persistence and relationship-building and industry shows are key to all three.

I won’t sugar-coat the large investment (a few thousand dollars) by sharing illusions of over-night success.  Instead I will outline my steps taken for a successful show and how I maximize the opportunity for return.

Step 1: Set My Goals before the Show

A) Find a prospective Rep
B) Scout/Full-Fill 10 orders
C) Explore Distribution
D) Learn more about Industry

Step 2: Steps Taken at Show to help Meet Goals

A) Utilized free exposure opportunities at show, including submission for Best New Product and Advertising
B) Maximized networking opportunities by attending events, listening and making introductions
C) Submitted Press Releases
D) Submitted inquiry for Rep Leads

Step 3: Assess Show during the Show and Identify Reliable and Valid Follow-Through

A) Keep my company mission as priority
B) Maintain brand integrity
C) Do business with “Like-Minds” and target demographic

As always, I share my experience in hopes that it lend perspective to my readers and your Creative & Bold pursuits!

Continue being BOLD – Jessey

Our Logo & its Symbolism

Power in a symbol. Our logo represents the ability to make positive change with your own two hands. The labyrinth included in the center symbolizes the intricate paths of life. The color combination represents:

Red: Importance & Action
Blue: Trust & Commitment
Black: Power & Potential

A Moment of Truth: The Art of being Little Lady Studio

So, I rightly ask, is my work a product of my environment? I would have to say, yes. Since my move to the Chicago suburbs a few years ago, my physical ‘studio’ space is that of an ‘office’ space. At the time of the move I clearly realized that my environment in itself was going to change my work dynamic – temporarily anyways. So both nervously and excitedly, I laid everything out and studied my mission. With the evaluation in-hand, a strategical plan (aka new business plan) was created. It was then that I was confident I was on the right path.

I’ve been able to ‘get current’ with my online presence, develop a content marketing plan, devise my product innovation steps, build a cohesive brand and still satisfy my need to be ‘hands-on’ with the process of creating. A significant lesson through it all: Do not stop moving, no matter if the movement is ‘behind’ the scenes or ‘in-front’ of your audience.

In my simplest form, I am an artist. But as is, I am also a business women and entrepreneur, which requires movement in all the scenes. With a bit of nostalgic pride blended with anticipation for what’s to come, I highlight some of my artistic creations here

Tips for Aspiring and Seasoned Creative Entrepreneurs

I believe as creative/artistic entrepreneurs we are in a unique position to reach people on a human level with our products. We tap into emotional responses, create sensory experiences, provide user experiences and communicate messages – feeding a business-to-consumer relationship. But, just as importantly, we as small business owners need to understand that a majority of what we do is work from a business-to-business model. Whether goals include working with galleries, academic institutions, festival producers or merchandisers – all paths of business growth include professional partnerships. We need strategies that identify our target markets and build brand awareness but also leverage parallel opportunities for product visibility, merchandising, and brand development.

A few tips for both the aspiring and seasoned creative entrepreneurs:

• Spend time developing your mission – your mission will serve as the framework for all initiatives
• Develop a philosophy for self-guidance: Organize. Prioritize. Take action. – A constant reminder that business is a process and requires time
• Document both short and long-term goals
• Find a supportive team to reinforce your goals
• Spend time to assess and identify your strengths and weaknesses, as both will allow for growth.
• Make/keep a schedule for task completion
• Stay prepared, you don’t always know what will happen next
• Don’t make assumptions, ask questions
• Be firm, but polite
• Spend time listening to your existing or prospective customers, partners and employees
• Find activities to stay professionally engaged and to keep your mind limber

Imagination: My Process

My WRITE DESIGN COMBINE process is key to starting new works. I first start with note taking, word lists, story creation, then move on to designing, using graphics, media, typography and color to communicate the story. Finally, I combine all the elements with collage techniques to create the composition and achieve the visual goal.

I choose to use wax as one of my media to symbolize timelessness. The wax is a malleable texture that represents changing circumstances and offers a rich medium that can be carved, painted or shaped. I work acrylic and oil crayons into the wax painted surfaces, using fleeting imagery and color to communicate expressions of whispering moments.

 

 

My Story

I was in 7th grade when my art teacher presented all the students with an 8×8 inch copper plate. He explained to us that as soon as we pressed into the plate the lines would be permanent, so we were to give thought to what we wanted to create before starting.

I loved it, all the students, no matter where they were from, started with the same tools and resources. I believed if I made a mistake I could just move on and make the line into something else. So I pressed my lines into the surface with no worries if they were right or wrong, but only that they were building off the rest.

My relief shaped into a butterfly and it was one chosen to be exhibited at the state capitol which my parents were steadfast in attending. This small 8×8 plate opened my mind to opportunity and confidence. I realized that like that copper plate, every experience in life makes an impression, but it’s what I choose to do with the impression that counts.

I like to start with that anecdote because essentially I’ve been working towards the vision to operate an artistic and social-minded enterprise since I was a youngster. I believed that creativity could take me anywhere, most importantly to a life of choices and resources, and Little Lady Studio is the result of that belief, commitment and persistence.

The path has been windy, but certainly deliberate and focused.  I officially registered Little Lady LLC in 2003 while working full time for a marketing company which is where I made my first sale of my unique greeting cards. The women of the office immediately connected with my new brand’s message of empowerment and persistence and placed orders and requests for more. I was eagerly thrilled and have spent every day since navigating to get closer to my vision.

Concurrently, in 2004, I partnered with two dynamic individuals to start a multimedia company. We decided that if we were going to make a leap with a full time start-up that it would be a greater success if we were to combine our talents. So relying on aptitude, passion and our belief, we put everything on the line and started blurredistinction, our multimedia company. It was quite a risk as we literally opened business on a dime, had complex family obligations and knew that any security would require the luxury of time, something we didn’t feel we had, but we persisted. To our advantage the experience provided the opportunity to be immersed in dynamic media, B2B relations, networking, sales, management, service and technology, all key in the growth of business and individuals and resulted in a significant step in building the foundation for Little Lady Studio.

Like most small businesses, I’ve faced unnerving obstacles, but my persistence is founded in my belief of my mission. I know that a little creativity can stretch a long way, so I passionately use my creative skills to assist in accomplishing my mission of using art and design as a catalyst for positive social change. I’ve learned to first build from my strengths and then work to improve my weaknesses, and this combination continues to reinforce Little Lady Studio’s growth.

Through the marriage of my mission and products, I now manage two collections:

• WRITTEN
• MyPOP

Two collections  – One purpose

To address some of the contemporary issues that surround the poor by using art and design as a catalyst for positive social change.

Bio

Jessey Jansen a graduate from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, has utilized her diverse skills in the fields of Graphic Design, Communications and the Fine Arts. Her professional experience has ranged from Event Coordination to Project Management to Entrepreneur, having served as Co-Owner/Business Manager of the multimedia company blurredistinction. Jansen’s experience and endeavors have always coupled with her building and growing her own brand, Little Lady Studio.

Passionate and determined, Jansen strongly believes that the arts are a profession of insight, rigor and practicality which can be used as an agent for social change. She distills her professional and personal experience to offer WRITTEN and MyPOP, two compelling collections that work to help the lives of others by promoting empowerment, critical thinking and communication.