Recession: Small Business Advice From My Dad

From the time before I could even remember, until I was well into my teen years, my dad owned his own home-based business. I never really thought about it much until recently, when I realized that being an entrepreneur ran in my family, and I could probably learn a lot about running a small busniess from my dad. So I asked him if he could answer a few questions for my blog, and he agreed to do so.

I never realized that the recession in the ’80s affected my family so much. I was very young at the time (three? maybe four?), so I didn’t know what was going on. I know a lot of small businesses are hurting and worrying right now, and that’s very real and very scary. However, there is still hope to be found out there. After talking with my dad about his small business, I actually feel really inspired. My dad made a successful business during bleak times, and I know a lot of people are embarking on similar paths right now. Here’s some of Mr. B’s insights…

Why did you want to start your own business?

I started Renuco not out of want, but out of need. It was during the recession of the ’80’s. The company that I was working for laid off everyone except the secretary/bookkeeper.

Was it scary to start a business during the recession?

Yes! It was very daunting. We were in debt, with a house payment, two car payments and a young family. There would be contractors licenses and insurances to acquire. To be self employed also meant we would not be able to afford health insurance.

Unemployment was at near record high levels (much like today) so finding a job was not a viable option, and unemployment insurance would only be available for 6 months.

What are some things you did to make sure your business would succeed during a recession?

I pretty much flew by the seat of my pants, made a trip to the library and found a couple of books that were somewhat related to what I was doing, then went to Powell’s Books and found a couple more. While they were somewhat helpful, things were mostly trial and error. We were in survival mode, just trying to make sure we didn’t lose what we had.

One thing that was helpful was sharing jobs with my brother-in-law, who was another contractor. We would trade labor hour for hour on jobs where it was necessary, or beneficial to have more than one person on the job. As time went by, your mother began to clean rental units (as you surly remember) for some of the property owners I was doing work for. This was very helpful, too.

How did you come up with the name Renuco?

The type of work I was doing at the time was making new homes ready for occupancy, restoring apartments and repossessed homes. This later led to working for homeowners, commercial and industrial customers. It was sort of a play on “re-new”. It wasn’t as clever as I thought at the time; most people never made the connection.

Did you ever buy advertising spots?

Yes, from the very beginning I ran an ad in the yellow pages of the local phone book. The ad rarely more than paid for itself; most of the work came by word of mouth from satisfied customers.

Over the course of your self-employment, what is the biggest thing you learned about owning your own business?

Always do more than the customer expects, and always treat the customer with respect. You may be the owner of your business, but each customer is your boss.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome when you were self-employed?

Scheduling! In the service industry, everyone needs the job done yesterday.

What was the biggest satisfaction, or biggest reward you felt from owning your own business?

There is no single biggest satisfaction or reward. For me just knowing that I always did the best job I could for a reasonable cost, even if occasionally the job lost money.

If you could only give one piece of advice to those who are starting up their own business, what would it be?

Always provide the best customer service!

Interview with Georgia Sakura of Little Sparrow Nest (And a Giveaway!)

I’ve always had a fascination with whimsical forest themes. If something is adorned with an owl, deer, or squirrel, I instantly covet it. I see a pillow shaped like a log, or stationery featuring tall pines, and I’m entranced. So it’s no wonder I’ve been noticing and admiring mushroom motifs lately.

So you can imagine my delight when I discovered Little Sparrow Nest, a line of imaginative and quaint plushies, art, and accessories by Georgia Sekura. From her lovely cuffs made of luxurious velvet, linen, and lace, to stickers and stationery featuring her original artwork, there is much to admire at Little Sparrow Nest. It was her hand-stitched, hand-embroidered mushrooms that first enraptured my heart, though. It’s very apparent from the moment I saw these plushies that so much care goes into all of the fine details of these creations. Each one is unique, and captures the magic and delight of a walk in the forest on a clear, summer day.

I got in touch with Georgia recently, and she graciously agreed to do an interview for the Flapper Girl blog, so we could learn more about her and her work.

How and when did you start sewing?
I began to sew at a very young age, probably seven or eight. My grandmother was always with her embroidery work in her lap, and no doubt laid a solid foundation. In fifth grade, I remember hand-sewing my curtains with music notes on them. Around 10 or so I was allowed access to my mother’s sewing machine, and I would spend hours creating my versions of fashion. I wish I would have kept some of that stuff… good times!

What really inspires you the most in your work?
I am compelled to create a bridge to one’s inner emotions through the things I create to wear and/or view. Nature. History. Eras of old. Feeling soft and sensual. I definitely play with two main themes in all of my work: a simple and pure, almost innocent view; and a smoldering & exotic feminine power.

What are your favorite mediums to work with?
Fabrics that feel good to touch. Trims and lace. Embroidery threads and little wooden hoops. Pastels and conte crayons thinned with poppy seed oil. Ceramic. Fountain pens with ink wells.

Is there a medium you want to try that you haven’t yet?
Glassblowing and metal work. I grew up on steel erection job sites because my father was a steel contractor. I always had fantasies of creating these gynormous metal flowers.

What do you do when you sit down to design something?
Everything I create begins with a visual image or feeling, then gets translated to sketches with pen & ink. I like to gather textures, pictures, words, fabric remnants, threads, and such, and use them to create a working prototype which most often becomes the final. Music is almost always playing and greatly influences my mood, so depending on the piece, varies and helps move me along.

What are your rituals in this process?
I seem to like to let each idea ferment a little in my head before I sketch it out. I often find myself solving all the design dilemmas and issues before I begin to create.

What’s the DIY/Craft scene like in Scottsdale, AZ?
I wish I could tell you! I am perpetually found inside my studio/home-school home, with the constant and utter amazement of how the hours of the day fly by. The internet is my true window. But I do think the Crafty Chica is from here, so she would know.

What’s the origin of the name Little Sparrow’s Nest?
I have always had a strange kinship with birds. I think of my role of mothering my four little baby birds much like that of a bird with hers. When I was splitting my original etsy shop in the fall of 2008, we had (for the third time) a little bird who nested in the cactus in our backyard.
I would watch her and the daddy bird feather their nest. Then she would sit—and sit alone—in the blazing hot sun. Then one day we would see her feeding two little chicks, and soon she was teaching them to fly & they would spend time in our yard before they disappeared. I felt it fitting to call the place where I send out little pieces of myself Little Sparrow Nest. For awhile I pondered the type of bird’s nest it would be, and finally settled on sparrow for their song, which will always remind me of a love for music and singing I have.

What inspired you to start Little Sparrow’s Nest?
I wanted a venue to create the inner emotional pieces I had been filling my sketchbooks with. I have been painting for so long I was ready to get back to my early roots of hand sewing and late night fashionings.

What’s next for Little Sparrow’s Nest in 2009?
I have an overload of things I want to get to creating. Look for more fashion-y things, some highly drippy lace adornments, working with vintage materials and findings. I am feeling the need to un-censor the things I create and unleash my more complex and detailed work. We’ll see… it should be good.

I also feel the urge to paint again, and suspect I will revisit the beginnings of my style, with my old surreal abstract work making a reappearance. Oh, and my toe in the pond of blogging, and a brand spankin’ new website too!

* * * GIVE AWAY * * *

Want to win this amazing hand-sewn Little Red Agaric Mushroom by Little Sparrow Nest? Here’s how to enter:

Just visit the Little Sparrow Nest shop, then come back and leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite Little Sparrow Nest item is and why.

Comments will close on Monday, February 9 at 11:59pm, and I will announce the winner on Tuesday, February 10!

Good luck!

Interview with Rachael Adams of Nouveau Motley

Rachel Adams of Nouveau Motley makes wonderful vintage-inspired jewelry and accessories. I was first attracted to Miss Adams’ work because she is able to make everything so elegant, yet rebellious. With these two forces at play, her line is simply mesmerizing. Take a look at one of her necklaces, and be enraptured first by beatuiful beads and an antiquated chain. Take a closer look, and discover the pendant features an image of a nude jazz-era flapper. Miss Adams’ usage of clock movements in many of her pieces simply amazes me, and indulges my enthusiasm for steampunk aesthetic. These are the sort of surprises I love about Nouveau Motley. Wanting to learn more about these lovely creations, I contacted Miss Adams, and she graciously agreed to an interview.

How and when did you get started with creative arts?
As far back as I can remember I was always interested in creative arts. I started making dolls at a very young age, and that led to making miniature accessories to go with them. I have always been rather independent and interested in how things work and the way they are made. If something looks intriguing to me, I will more often than not try my hand at making it.

What inspired you to start Nouveau Motley?
It was a bit serendipitous, actually. I came up with the name about 8 years ago when dreaming of opening up an antique and antique reproduction jewelry shop. Then when I finally graduated college (I was a perpetual student who changed majors 4 times), I decided to pursue my life long dream of supporting myself through my art and my crafts. Nouveau Motley actually began as a soap making business and sold pocket mirrors and pendants that used a lot of risque imagery from the 1880s to the 1920s. Then it quickly blossomed into antique-style jewelry. I still enjoy making soap from scratch, all Fight Club style, but no shaved monkeys or apocalyptic aims.

What really inspires you the most in your work?
The name Nouveau Motley is actually quite poignant in the fact that my inspiration comes from a very wide motley of sources and then adapting that inspiration into a modern or Nouveau design. Reading a book or cleaning a closet, I will find a sentence or a fragment that will get my head spinning with ideas. I gain inspiration from anything and everything, really. Antiques, history, anthropology, fashion, art, literature, doll houses, friends, acquaintances. I’m quite obsessed with Victorian Curiosity Cabinets, taxidermy dioramas, & doll houses, and these three influences are quite apparent in my Kafka Clocks, which are essentially itty-bitty versions of curiosity cabinets housing insect specimens, gemstones, and antique clockwork bits.

What do you do when you sit down to design your jewelry? What are your rituals in the process?
Two words: Creative Chaos. I make a mess. A really big one. I like to have everything I would or could need within an arms reach, as to not be hindered in the creative process by having to get up and search for that one special component. Many of my clockwork pieces begin with me really looking at a single plate from a pocket watch or an empty pocket watch case. When you really look at something it kind of guides you as to the next step as to where to go with it. It’s like what Michelangelo said about his David, and how when he received the block of raw marble, he simply let David out of it.

What’s next for Noveau Motley?
I have many desires as to where I would like to go, but the most immediate adventure is going to be the move into feathers and fabric in a millinery sense. I wish to begin creating hats from scratch to incorporate my Kafka Clock hat bands in, and to use jewel-toned velvets and plumes to further highlight the splendors of Nature’s handiwork as well as the beauty of human invention.

Interview with Jenn Hill of Chet and Dot

Although Jenn Hill of Chet & Dot makes a wide array of wonderful creations from linen and wools of pastel hues, it’s her softie animals that I covet most. Sweet owls, playful penguins, and sleepy cats can all be found inside the Chet & Dot Etsy shop, along with many other adorable little creatures. The simple patterns, sturdy craftsmanship, and hand-detailing of these softies remind me of the handmade toys of generations past. Each one seems like it’s got a story to tell, and since these little guys intrigue me so much, I had to find out more about them and their creator.

How and when did you start sewing?

I’ve been sewing off and on since junior high, but started sewing more seriously about 6 years ago. I had decided to make all of my Christmas gifts one year and loved it so much I knew I had to get better at it.

What inspired you to start Chet & Dot?

I started Chet and Dot because I wanted to do something different from my other business, Robot Candy. I love what I do with Robot Candy, but I really wanted to work with different materials and styles.

What really inspires you the most in your work?

I am inspired most by simple, good design. I try to keep my work sweet and simple. I love that I can make an owl or cat or bear from two squares of fabric, sewn together and stuffed. I have a large collection of vintage craft magazines which is where a lot of my inspiration comes from. I find that if I’m running out of ideas or just need a good dose of inspiration I can flip through a few pages and it usually does the trick.

What are your favorite mediums to work with? Is there a medium you want to try that you haven’t yet?

My favorite medium at the present is wool. Wool is so versatile, it’s great! I do adore linen and paper too. I hope to one day have a kiln and learn to do enamel and ceramics work.

What do you do when you sit down to design a softie? What are your rituals in the process?

When I design a softie, it usually starts out on paper as a sketch. The funny thing is that they never turn out like I think they will. I love that though. It’s always a surprise, and each softie has it’s own personality.

What are some tidbits of advice you’d give people just starting out on their own handmade business?

My number one tip for someone who wants to sell online, is to learn to take good photos. In my opinion, it’s the single most important element to selling something. You really have to compensate for the fact that people can’t touch the item or see it as they would in person.

Interview with Yanna Garecka of Squidlicks

One of the things on my Christmas list this year is a collage necklace by Squidlicks, a lovely vintage-inspired jewelry line by the talented Yanna Garecka. Based out of Fairfax, Miss Garecka makes necklaces out of brightly colored beads of bold & interesting shapes. They remind me of adornments that could be found in fading snapshots taken during decades past: A pretty lady sips a martini at a summer barbecue wearing a sun dress; A group of girls are lined up in frilly gowns before the homecoming dance; A woman wearing a slinky black number and big Jackie O. shades looks like she’s headed somewhere fun. These are the types of images that I think of when I see a Squidlicks necklace. To me, these adornments say, “Let’s be daring and have fun in life.”

I got in touch with Yanna recently, and she graciously agreed to do an interview for the Flapper Girl blog, so we could learn more about her and her work. So read the interview below, then check out all her wonderful creations.

How and when did you start making jewelry?

My very first memory of making jewelry was when I was about four or five years old, with these underwater-themed snap beads. They were pearly-pastel colored, chunky, hollow, and had this plasticy smell. There were all different kind of shells and fish. My dad had some pictures of me wearing my creations. You can tell I felt absolutely fabulous adorned in them.

I also recall hauling out huge trays of Lisa Frank beads from club warehouses. I can remember how excited I was refilling through the scary bright colors, shapes, and sparkles. Those were so sweet. And I could totally use those beads in some of my necklaces today!

What really inspires you the most in your work?

Beads do. I tend to go for a big assortment of beads if I can. It forces me to work outside my color comfort zone. I mostly work off of the flower beads. I like round dense lucite beads in awkward colors. I imagine how they want to be put into a certain color scheme, how they want to fit into a space. When I look at a bead I know what its purpose is in the arrangement of a necklace. It sort of just becomes this beady wiry mass, but it works… most of the time.

What do you do when you sit down to design a necklace? What are your rituals in the process?

I love finding the perfect beads and sorting them into little compartments by color and size. I could spend hours sorting a bucket of beads into made-up categories that only I understand. So needless to say, I have many trays of beads. But I know where each one is if I need to find a specific one. I go through each tray and pull out the ones that go with the color scheme I have in my head. Then I sit down, listen to some music, or even watch TV at the same time, and just let the necklace make itself, in a sense. I know which have holes big enough for the wire to go through twice, I know which ones are heavier, I know how and where to attach them. So I guess I have to build this kind relationship with each type of bead and I’ll know exactly where it wants to go. Then I set them aside for putting on the chains, taking photos, and posting to my Etsy shop.

What are some tidbits of advice you’d give people just starting out on their own handmade jewelry business?

Have something you’re really good at, or really like making, and stick to it, perfect it, and go through phases with it. Don’t get discouraged if something doesn’t work; just try it again, try something different. It’ll keep evolving into something better over time. And people will want what you’re so good at.

What’s the DIY/Craft scene like in Fairfax?

Craft fairs scare and overwhelm me. Taking in too much at once in a crowded space makes me dizzy and sleepy. Fairfax County is NOVA, and I can’t say I know much about the NOVA scene in specifics, I usually associate with the DC craft scene if I do at all. Crafty Bastards is neat, but it is in a small, confined area with lots of people and that deters me from going sometimes. It’s cool to run into people who know Squidlicks. Definitely cool.

What’s the origin of the name Squidlicks? Why did you choose it?

I’ve always had an unhealthy fascination with marine life. So much that I don’t eat seafood of any sort (on top of not eating meat). I loved watching Discovery Channel shows about coral reefs, ugly and strange deep sea creatures. And most of sea life is extremely cute. Even the ones without faces. Sea cucumbers, urchins, snails, clams, jellyfish… anything symmetrical and relatively round strikes my fancy. But have you seen some of squids out there?! Adorable. Like kitten adorable. Like kitten licking your face adorable. And I guess Squidlicks just has a good sound to it too. And it’s different, makes you ponder a little.

What are some of your favorite activities and hobbies?

Watching ghost shows and eating ranch-flavored sunflower seeds, bead shopping, wandering around craft stores, buying cute useless things, fish-keeping, outdoor and indoor gardening (ex: watering houseplants), keeping up with lolcat videos and pictures (every day, sometimes twice), drinking tea, taking cat naps with my cat, wrapping gifts, sorting beads and buttons, working at the venue/bar/coffee shop I am employed at, partaking in drunken Polish family events, being completely ridiculous with my best friends, spending quality time/down time with my BFF (boyfriend forever).

Interview with Laruen Steinhardt of Anne Bonney

Four years ago, I went to a craft fair at Nocturnal (R.I.P.) here in Portland around Valentine’s Day. The vendor I was most excited to find was a lingerie company called Anne Bonney, which had a display of colorful, vintage-inspired slips, knickers and pantaloons that I instantly fell in love with. I bought a pair of red and black pantaloons, took a business card, and left a happier woman. So I was pleased as punch when I recently got ahold of Lauren Steinhardt, the mastermind behind Anne Bonney, and she agreed to do an interview for the Flapper Girl blog.

How and when did you start sewing?

My grandma taught me how to sew when I was ten.

What inspired you to create underthings and start Anne Bonney?

I started making slips and underwear around 2003. At that point I was super into vintage underthings and I was always buying cool stuff at thrift stores and estate sales, but I really wanted to be able to make my own in different colors. I also wanted pantaloons so I could ride my bike while wearing a skirt. Originally I started my little business with my friend Seyta, but she became involved in another endeavor (which is now Duchess Clothier) and I carried on with the lingerie thing solo.

How has Anne Bonney has changed throughout the years? I remember when I bought a pair of pantaloons in 2004, your tagline was “Pirate Underwear”, but its obvious from your website that the image of Anne Bonney has evolved since then. I’d like to know more about what evoked that change.

To be honest I was never really that into the pirate side of things, and if I do start up again doing my own designs I will probably change the name. When I first started out I would try to anticipate what kind of designs other people might like, even if I wasn’t totally into it. But I noticed that the things I actually did like always sold much better, so I started making a point of putting my own aesthetic out there. I also developed my skills at lingerie design and construction, so my designs got a little more complex in terms of hand-dyed fabrics and that sort of thing.

What’s next for you and the Anne Bonney line?

Right now in grad school I’m doing some research on biking apparel (not the spandexy stuff!) and I will be designing some garments to support my research. I’m not sure what will happen when I finish school, if I will stick with the outerwear design or go back to underwear. I love both for different reasons.

I love outerwear because it is so practical, and functional, and it’s a great design challenge to make a fantastic, stylish piece of outerwear that actually wears well in Portland. So that’s what I’m working on now: Clothes that represent Portland, I guess—stylish but also very functional.

Intimate apparel, on the other hand, is like a little fantasy realm where we can all be magical princesses or fancy hookers under our everyday clothes. I mean, let’s face it, we could all be wearing those grandma bras that the bra ladies at Nordstrom sell, and like some spanx or something, and that would probably be the most practical underwear but also the least fun. So the underwear that people want to buy is like a little design poem that just exists to be lovely, it’s completely unattached to reality. I feel like I can channel my most fantastical feelings of cuteness and magic into my underwear designs, and when I do that it really sells well because that’s what people want in underwear. I miss being able to do that, even though I feel that functional design is more useful, like from a karmic perspective. So that’s that, in a nutshell. I guess after school I’ll just see where life takes me.

The economy is in the shitter right now, and that can really hurt small businesses and crafters. But people need to remember that when you buy local the money stays in the community and that helps everyone. On the whole though, I think the situation for crafters and small-run designers has improved in Portland because people are finally starting to understand the value of handmade goods. I just bought some skirts from Duchess and a recycled wool bag from Queen Bee, those are my big fall purchases that I am super excited about.

Interview With Dana Suster of Magical Pony Farm

I’ve been a fan of Dana Suster’s handmade goods for quite some time now. It seems like more and more of her items from her Etsy shop end up on my personal Etsy Favorites page all the time now. I got in touch with Dana recently, and she graciously agreed to do an interview with me so I could learn more about her and her work. So read the interview below, then check out all her incredibly fun and addictively adorable creations!

How and when did you get started with creative arts?

I have always loved making things! When I was a little girl I would make clothing for my dolls and sew miniature bed sheets with matching pillows. When I finished high school I moved to Chicago to attend The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where I graduated with a BFA in Fiber Material Studies. Finding the fiber department was like a dream come true! I couldn’t believe that things like sewing and other handy crafts could be considered ‘fine art’. All my art work was large sculpture, but on my free time I would go to the studio and silk screen shirts and patches and things for myself and my friends. I would also make pillows, curtains, wall art, and just about anything else to decorate the various apartments I’ve lived in.

One of the things I love about your bold and retro designs is the use of bright, vivid colors. What inspires you to create such fun pieces in this way?

I’m inspired by anything and everything! I love bright color combinations and anything that is beautiful and eye-catching. Some of the most influential things in my work come from my favorite artists, including David Altmejd (who is my very favorite), Andy Warhol, Eva Hesse, Darrell Morris, Kiki Smith, Rob Pruitt, Damien Hirst, & Lee Bontecou… just to name a few. I also find inspiration in movies and music. Most recently, my favorite movie is Eagle vs. Shark (so cute and funny) and my favorite song is Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon.

As for the retro feel that some of my work has—I just can’t get enough of that kind of thing! I have always had a love of nostalgia and anything that has a history to it. I also have a vintage shop on Etsy called Tiger Vintage, in which I sell all kinds of vintage goodies. I sometimes think I’m addicted to vintage.

What are your favorite mediums to work with? Is there a medium you want to try that you haven’t yet?

Favorite mediums: fabric and embroidery floss

Favorite technique: silk screening

I love silk screening! It’s my favorite thing to do. I made my own makeshift studio in my apartment and it has been going pretty well even though I do miss having a big studio with all the bells and whistles, like in Chicago. As for a medium I haven’t tried—that’s a hard one since I always want to know how to make and do everything! I took a class on casting silver jewelry and I would just love to be able to learn more and make more in that medium.

What’s the DIY/Craft scene like in Milwaukee?

I recently moved here so I can’t say I’m an expert in the D.I.Y. scene in Milwaukee, but from what I can tell it’s pretty fantastic! Lots of Indie shops. If you look up Milwaukee shops on Etsy you will find some really unique and beautiful things!

What’s the origin of the name Magical Pony Farm? Why did you choose it?

The semester before I graduated, the inevitable question of “What are you going to do now?” kept coming up. Truthfully, I had no idea, but saying ‘I don’t know’ got a little boring, so I started telling people that I was going to open a miniature pony farm and have hundreds of tiny horses for people to come look at. Anyone who knows me at all knows I still ask for a pony every year on my birthday. I did the next best thing: Opened up my own little Magical Pony Farm—right there on Etsy!