An Update on the Business Side of Things

Midnight Trellis, a hand painted coat

Little Red Riding Hood, one of my art pieces.

I don't know if I'm simply part of a trend or not, and maybe I'm just more aware of them now that I'm doing it myself, but I seem to notice a lot of independent small businesses opening up lately...  And not the brick-and-mortar store front kind, but the small DIY'er stay at home kind.

I'm not sure if that's a sign of the economic times, or if it's a result of more and more people reaching retirement age, or whether it's a symptom of the rising Handmade/anti-manufacturing ideology... And it's probably actually a combination of these factors as well as a bunch of others that I don't know about.  But regardless, I'm feeling like I'm one among many nowadays.

It hit me that, being a blog about my wearable art business, I've rather "avoided" discussing my business beyond posting new stuff I have up for sale.  In the interests of being transparent and actually writing about what I said I was going to write about, I have to confess something: I'm a bit embarrassed.

A vintage fabric swallowtail vest

Relished Monarch, a "neck lace" choker

You see, my business hasn't really taken off like I thought.  I keep telling myself it's a sloooow process, and it may take a couple years.  There are lots of factors that have resulted in my lack of "business impetus", and I can outline them all for you quite articulately and concisely, but the bottom line is that I've simply not put into it what I could have.  It's interesting--there are days when I am all "gung ho" about it, and spend hours and hours making, then there are days when I simply can't tear myself away from Facebook.  I know that I have to have even more discipline as an entrepreneur than I would usually, and as an artist even more so.  But discipline is hard to develop when I've worked a life as an employee on someone else's schedule.  I have to learn how.  I have a feeling that's going to be harder than kicking crack...  <sigh>

There are different philosophies about how honest an entrepreneur should be about how their business is doing--how much do you share, how much do you keep quiet about, how much do you outright lie about...  I'm not one for telling lies.  But I worry about exposing too many of my foibles for fear of coming across as completely inept and naive.

Recycled Tin Can Mobile

Joplin, one of my Art Dolls

And ultimately why share anything at all?  What's the compulsion to tell others how well things are going for you anyway?  Who cares?  Why should they care?

Some say "for community and camaraderie".   Some say it's our obligation to support each other.  Some say because it's just the right thing to do, because one should always "do unto others as ye would have done unto you"...  None of that makes the embarrassment go away, though.

But if I can't be honest, what's the point?  You don't have to read this.  And I won't share everything, but I think a certain level of "transparency" is what's missing in today's business world, and I'm not going to be part of the problem by adding to the cloudiness.  So.

The state of Relished Artistry, LLC:  Pretty much the same as when it started.  Still working at home, still have both Etsy and Artfire sites, still have my blog, still flitting from one shiny idea to another, and still haven't entered any shows.  Still no actual website of my own.  Selling about 1-2 pieces per month, and have never paid myself (I'm glad my partner has a job...).  All the profit goes right back into the business.  I've made more money contracting my services out through Relished Artistry as a costume technician than I have actually selling any items I've made--but that's not a bad thing, considering that my work as a technician is part of my business, too.   My New Year's Resolutions from January have sadly been left unmet--the majority of them anyway...  I'm thinking maybe I made too many...  Haha!

Porcelain China Choker

Oriental Brocade Frock Coat

1) To participate in 2 Craft Fairs/Trunk Shows.

2) To develop a body of work that includes 150 pieces/items for sale, including garments, polymer clay items, and art pieces.

3) To enter a Wearable Art show.

4) To create 2 Art Exhibitions/Shows or enter my work into 2 juried Art Exhibitions.

5) To go to "Market" in Los Angeles and investigate what it's like.

6) To join professional organizations that lend themselves to my discipline--wearable art, art, and crafts.

Relished Brún Swallowtail Vest

Satin Ringmaster Swallowtail Vest

7) To investigate the San Diego Art scene and community by attending exhibitions, openings, and asking questions at art fairs.

8) To create a stronger sense of community around myself by posting more open and engaging posts to my blog in a more regular fashion, investigating artist-oriented community websites and forums, and commenting more regularly on the blogs I am subscribed to.

9) To explore local boutique and retail spaces, finding out what it takes to sell my work in those venues.

10) To cut down on my television and computer habits by more carefully monitoring my time spent using them, recognizing when I am using them as a crutch, and replacing the habit with something more constructive.

At a certain point, a person just has to DO instead of talking about doing.

Princess Choker

Polymer Clay Mosaic Velvet Jacket

And so I go to do.  When in doubt, I go back to developing my body of work.  I purchased some new fabric for some frock coats and vests today, so I'm very excited about that.  I think I'm going to make some in a variety of different sizes, rather than just a mens 42.  Perhaps that will open up some sales opportunities.  I'd love to be able to "take orders" to make my garments on demand, but I can't afford to front money for the fabric I might need for potential orders and just have it sit there in my stock hoping someone will come along and order it...  And the possibility of it disappearing from my local stores is always there, as I discovered today--I bought three yards of a fabric from a bargain bin, went back for more this afternoon, and it was gone.  So if I don't buy in bulk, I'm sorta screwed if I can't find the fabric again.  Best to make individual pieces.

So I make single pieces of unusual character and (hopefully) artistic merit and pray that they will appeal to a certain kind of customer.  I'm not interested in making a "line" of clothing, and manufacturing them in a variety of sizes.  I'm more interested in the artistic aspect that comes with the creation of each piece of wearable art, with it's singular personality and definition.  I don't want to make dozens and dozens of exactly the same thing.  And I am looking for the type of customer that doesn't want to wear something that dozens and dozens of other people are also wearing, either...

Caramel Relish corduroy coat

Wavy Relish Asymmetrical Coat

Is it an uphill battle?  Probably.  Would I rather be doing this than anything else in the world?  Definitely.  So I can't complain too much.  Slow is better than backward, you know?

In this last year, I refocused my "corporate identity" and tried to start narrowing my style down into something that I could articulate in my head a bit better.  I provided myself some boundaries regarding what's "appropriately Relished Artistry" and what just won't work for the brand.  I've also developed more items to expand my range of price points so it's not all high-ticket items.  I've explored a variety of social networking venues, but I'm having a bit of a problem finding the right audience for my stuff...  It's all well and good to have communities of crafters and artists, but that's not where the customers are.  Awesome  and invaluable support, though!  : )

I'm sure there are others out there that are experiencing the same things I am.  It's a weird feeling isn't it?

But I'm not going to let this feeling stop me from Living Life with Relish, you know? And it shouldn't stop you, either.