Hello to all of you out there in Orchid world! I’m rejoining and
delurking after a semester abroad, and I thought I’d introduce
myself. My name is Bekka, I’m a third year dual degree jewelry and
women’s studies student (no, I haven’t slept for three years), and I
run a (tiny) business selling my work. I’ve taken a break from
selling while I’ve been away (student visa), and I’m trying to get
back in the game. I have a few pieces in galleries, but do mostly
craft shows and I’m starting up a website. I have a few questions I’d
love some input on from anyone with more experience (which would be
almost anyone).
1). I have a mix of everyday pieces and narrative, conceptual work,
and I’m not sure how to appropriately present these. Should I keep
them with me to display at shows, even though I know that at several
thousand dollars they are unlikely to be an impulse buy? Should I try
to get them into galleries, knowing that I’ll then pay a 50%
commission? How do others balance the two?
2). I’m just getting the website started, and I’d love feedback from
people who know their stuff about what I could do to improve it, both
in terms of layout and from the business end. I currently mostly have
only sold things posted because they’re older pictures, but that
should be solved in the next few days, as soon as I can set up and
shoot the newer stuff.
3). I registered my business name three years ago in my home state
of CT, at which point there were no other “R Cubed Designs” or “R
Cubed Design” companies. However, I learned when I went to get a
domain name this week that there is a graphic design company in
(Illinois? Florida?) called R Cubed Design, with no s at the end. I
already have business cards, a website, and a (small) brand centered
around my name. Is there anything I can do to distinguish myself from
these people, or make it easier for customers? I really don’t want to
change my name, it’s based on my initials (RRR, haha punny), and it’s
got sentimental value at this point, as it’s been a family joke among
the R Cubed club (there are four of us, currently) for years.
Thanks for your help, and I look forward to getting to know you all
though the computer-machine.
Rebecca Ross Russell, R Cubed Designs
http://www.rcubeddesigns.com