Monday, September 19, 2011

Etsy Conference

September 17, 2011

I had the opportunity to attend the I Heart Portland Etsy conference this Saturday. Arriving at the venue, I didn’t know what to expect because prior to entering my MFA program a month ago, I had no clue was Etsy was. Ok, it’s a website where people make stuff and sell it. If I were to say this to anyone at the conference I would’ve been slapped with glares of contempt and dishonor. Approaching the entrance at 8:45am, there was already a line of people that led to the end of the block, many of whom were sporting their own handmade hats, jewelry and bags in hopes that “…please, god, someone please comment on my shoe tassels so I can talk about them!” That being said, there were also some pretty impressive crafted items that showed up.

Once inside, there were a selection of workshops to could attend, and I chose “Tasty Branding” primarily because it seemed the most relevant to what I need to focus on in my own endeavors. Aside from the presenter’s apparent fear of speaking and near Seinfeld-level low-talker quality (remember the Puffy Shirt episode), the workshop had some valuable tidbits of information I will be working on. The presenter had been running her own business that helps upstarting companies develop a brand; she seemed to know what she was talking about. Of all of the information we received, here were my take-aways:

-Brand is not a look, it is a feeling.
-A successful brand has a connection to the maker.
-A successful brand LEADS WITH ITS VALUE, not its price.
-Be very specific in terms of goals, (In 5 years I will have increased my profits by 20%) and then break down what it will take to reach that goal.
-Being handmade isn’t unique (at least in Portland)! Don’t use it as a selling point.
-”Don’t take them to the clearance section of your business.” You provide quality. Stand by it.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

BOMBed

Photobombing - the act of sneaking into the frame of someone's photo. Example:

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Web update!!!!

A new version of www.hauffportfolio.com is being uploaded as I type this message! Check it and and test the email link, lemme know of kinks and what-not. There are a few things that aren't ready (some of the project links) but they will be soon.

:D

Friday, September 2, 2011

Entrepreneurial Blog #1: Why were you attracted to the entrepreneurial studies component of the MFA PNCA + OCAC program and what do you hope to get out of it?


The entrepreneurial component of the MFA in Applied Craft and Design program was very appealing when applying to PNCA + OCAC. After studying psychology and unhappily working in the field, I finally admitted to myself that, instead, I wanted to work with my hands and create objects through a creative and thoughtful process. With this, I had also come to terms that I would probably be paying back student loans into my retirement years and living off a modest salary.

Having never taken a business class before, this component of the program is incredibly essential to my idea of a successful future. I want to be able to support myself with whatever I end up making, which, of course, is to be determined. I don't want what I've learned in this program to become a side-operation (maybe at first) but rather to be a full-time endeavor. I hope to learn how to develop my own unique image, how to market my work, how to write grants and proposals as well as where to find them, and whatever else I stumble upon in the course. I am interested in collaborating with others as soon as this year, and not necessarily other artists (can I call myself this yet?!).

Finding funds to travel and study is also an important aspect of my “successful future” that I am hoping to learn more about in this course. I imagine that by talking with the instructors/entrepreneurs as well as outside businesses I can get schooled on how they developed themselves as successful and ask for any suggestions they may have for getting started.