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Inspire to Spread Kindness with Judy Tan of tanQ

February 15, 2011 by Sarah Clise | Comments (0)

Judy Tan is a Portland native graphic designer who began her career as a color/graphic designer for apparel and footwear at Nike as well as a branding designer in Columbia Sportswear. After many years working under a corporate lifestyle, she felt her life wasn’t quite fulfilled yet. Judy believed that her talented graphic designs skills could be used in a positive way to impact others. And she did just that, this past September she took a leap of faith and launched her first business, tanQ. Each month, Judy designs a t-shirt for a non-profit organization and donates 100% of profits from the sale of the shirts directly to the organization. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet and chat with Judy Tan and learn about the positive impact tanQ is having on the Portland community. Read on and learn more about her business and how you can spread a simple act of kindness every month!

tanQ is obviously the start of something great for the Portland community, but what are some of the core values behind tanQ?

We want to make a positive impact on the world by fostering hope and encouragement through the use of creative graphic design. Through the use of stimulating graphics, we allow people to promote the causes that are important to them and support them financially. Our goal is to bring people closer together by creating common threads and encouraging individuals to become involved in their communities.

How do you choose which non-profits to support each month?

Each month, tanQ selects a deserving charity to support, combining our efforts with each group’s major fundraising effort whenever possible. For example, last September during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we supported the ‘Candlelighters for Children with Cancer’. During November, the month of Thanksgiving, we worked with the Oregon Food Bank. We partner with each non-profit to promote the sale of their shirt to their community database as well as at art shows and other public events throughout the Portland area. Our shirts are also available online at our website and hope to be in local stores and boutiques very soon. We continue to build our brand awareness through Twitter, Facebook and our blog.

So tell me a little bit about the creative process for you t-shirts designs. What goes into the design of each t-shirt?

We want people to wear the shirt. It’s not just a branded shirt; it’s an expression of the core message of that month’s non-profit organization. So we research to discover the core essence and mission of each non-profit. We then conceptualize a design and a direction to communicate their core message in an eye-catching and appealing way. Each limited edition tanQ t-shirt comes with a greeting card that displays that month’s design, a mini button, and a tag indicating its edition number.

Since the start of TanQ, have you noticed more non-profit organizations wanting to be the t-shirt of the month?

Yes! A lot of local non-profits are now starting to reach out to be a part of tanQ. A lot of the non-profits that I work with don’t have the budget to support creative services. TanQ is a great opportunity to garner more money for their organization in a creative way.

What are some of the setbacks and challenges you’ve had to face with owning your own business?

One of the hardest things I have had to learn since the launch of tanQ is learning how to be the conductor of every aspect of the business. I love to design and would love for that to take up most of my day, but over the past 5 months I have learned the art of time management to keep tanQ running and successful.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?

There are so many! I think one rewarding aspect would have to be seeing the successful results of each month’s shirt. It feels good to know that I designed a t-shirt that just helped support a great organization and a good cause. Also, bringing people closer together and encouraging more individuals to be involved in the community and become aware of local organizations is very fulfilling!

Why do you think Portland is a great place for women to start their own business?

Portland is a great place to start your own business because everyone is so supportive of creative new ideas. That support system and energy helps inspire others to start something unique and flavorful on their own.

What advice would you give other women seeking to start their own business?

There are a lot of people that say women can’t do this or can’t do that, but just do it anyways. Ignore the naysayers, do what you believe in and don’t give up!

What does the future hold for tanQ?

We are founded on the belief that kindness is contagious, and that even small, humble acts such as buying and wearing a t-shirt can inspire others to take charitable actions of their own. It is my hope that the humble acts of generosity of tanQ will travel like a wave, washing over thousands of people, nudging them toward happiness and charity, like a ripple effect of kindness.

Contact info

Website: http://tanQ.us
Twitter: @_tanQ
Facebook: tanQ
Email: contact@tanq.us

This post was written for the CRAVE company by Katie Watson.

Risk Taking: Should You Dare?

February 1, 2011 by CRAVE Blogger | Comments (0)

We’re ringing in the new year at CRAVE with a question for all you women business owners out there… Do you dare? Is 2011 going to be a year of taking risks with your business, holding back, or a combination of both? To help you strategize, we are dedicating the month of January to the pros and cons of risk-taking across the board. Our business chat and blog entries will be brimming with juicy stories of risks gone right or wrong as well as advice from our CRAVE experts on when to know to take a leap of faith or to simply sit back and let life fall into place.

We knew this would be a hot topic when Melody wanted to know what her Facebook followers ask themselves before taking a risk and got SO many amazing responses. Check them out and prepare yourself for an exciting month of risks and rewards!

What do you ask yourself before you take a risk?
Just curious? before you take a risk? a leap to something new? start a new project? WHAT DO YOU ASK YOURSELF? do you write down the pros and cons? do you just do it and ask why later? how long do you ponder? do you end up jumping? or do nothing? tell me!!! what is your risk taking style?

	Suzette Sommer Oh… wow. What is a “risk?” That is one four-letter word that I have seemingly never known.
	Sydney Chavez I ask myself what I would lose if I didn’t take the leap.
	Nicole Francois before i take a risk i ask myself: why i am interested in taking the risk, what i hope to gain from it, what the result will be and who’s going to be with me? then, i outline my plan and jump!
	Maria Ross Before I take a risk I ask myself if I will regret it more if I don’t take it than if I do. I weigh pros and cons, seek advice from those I trust….and then go with my gut! At a certain point, if it feels right, all the data in the world doesn’t matter.
	Sonja Silver The first thing I ask is “what is the worst thing that can happen”? If I can live with the answer, I go for it. The biggest risk is to not take one!
	Elise Kloter same here, Sonia…puts the scary stuff in perspective
	Melody Biringer lovin all you risk takers….keep it coming! as i get older i seem to take risks slower and more cautious. i want to be naive again!
	Lauren Bacon These days, more and more I check in with my gut. I highly recommend a little book called “Make Light Work” by Kate Sutherland that has helped me enormously with listening to my intuition. (It’s cool and non-flaky, I promise.)
	Michelle Michael what’s the reward…? is it personal or financial? maybe a little of both. go for it, and surround yourself with those that support your dream!
	Lyndi Thompson My first thought: Risks can often be re-labeled as adventures. I tend to dismiss risks that I don’t feel I have good access to supportive people around me. However, most of the time I can find at least two people. I try imagine best and worst case scenario, while always keeping in mind I know I make pretty good decisions and in the end things always end up OK.
	Mary Boisselle I usually don’t ask any questions…I trust my intuition then I take a huge leap and bungie jump off the bridge or I don’t. There is a reason why opportunities come, so I can find the gem inside, whether it’s a pearl or a piece of glass.
	Larisa Goldin I try to check in with my guidance. i believe that risks are just opportunities in disguise, the only question is whether they are part of the intended path or are a test (a distraction). So based on what I get back from my inner guidance (does it feel right?) I take the risk or not.
	Rupa Wickrama Feelings of Anxiety = don’t take it. Feelings of Anticipation or Excitement = this warrants further exploration!
	Sydney Chavez I CRAVE Risk Taking. : )
	Traci Barnum Jump and figure everything else out later. Unless of course, you have a really smart husband who demands that you make a plan before you jump and break into your retirement fund for that risk. It’s a great balance. : )
	Carrie McIlveen Middlemiss It’s typically a gut feeling. I usually think it through and if it still feels right I go for it. Especially if it is something I’ll enjoy and it makes money.
	Jennifer Saphier Whitman I have to step away from the decision for a few days. It always pops back into my head while I am doing other things during the day. If every time the idea pops up I get a sick feeling, I know it isn’t the right choice. If I get excited every time I think about it, it is a definite go!

We hope these comments get you thinking about your own risk-tasking strategies for the year and that you’ll stay tuned to our blog over the next month and share your own daring deeds in the comments! And of course, have a Happy New Year from CRAVE!

Interview with Entrepreness Shannon Conley of Urban Waxx

November 9, 2010 by Tina | Comments (0)

Shannon is a powerhouse of energy and tenacity that instantly draws you into her world. She’s the proud owner of Urban Waxx, a local waxing salon that promises you’ll experience, “the best wax you’ll ever have, seriously.” Shannon has been a licensed esthetician for over 14 years, and since then has waxed thousands of clients and specializes in Brazilians and Brow Design. She’s expecting a new baby boy early November along with her husband Cody and daughter Stella. I had the pleasure of interviewing Shannon after going to Urban Waxx for over two years. Read on to find out more about Shannon and fabulous culture of Urban Waxx!

The motto of Urban Waxx is, “The best wax you’ll ever have, seriously.” Why is this message important to you?
This message is important to me because it creates a high standard for my business and my customers. I want my customers to expect high quality customer service when they walk through these doors, because that’s what I truly want to provide for them. Getting waxed should be a fun, comfortable experience and I want people to enjoy their time while they’re here.

How did you develop the Urban Waxx brand and culture?
I started this business because I wanted to create a great waxing environment for people to enjoy and feel welcomed at. I began my career as an esthetician and wanted to create a salon that I wanted to come to as well, which led to our motto, “The best wax you’ll ever have, seriously.” I make sure that our girls are always ready to welcome you, provide refreshments, and make you comfortable before your service.

What do you love most about owning your own business?
What I love most is being able to create a joyful environment that is pleasant and makes everyone from my customers to my employees happy. I love being involved in every aspect of my business and hearing from my employees and customers on what they enjoy about Urban Waxx, as well as what can we improve.

What do you find most challenging?
It’s challenging when there is a constant list of things to do, and daily activities are non-stop. I love the activity, but yes, managing lots of tasks can be difficult at times.

Speaking of managing tasks, how do you manage multiple locations and a team of 18 employees?
I’m a constant list maker. I love writing tasks down then crossing them off when I’m done. With my team, I make sure to always check in with them and ensure to be accessible as well. It’s important to me to encourage open communication within my team so that needs are met, and confusion is clear. I hold monthly meetings with my team to make sure that we’re all on the same page. I try to be there for my team as much as possible, even if they call or text me at 11 at night!

How do you balance your personal life with your business?
I always make time for my family, and ensure to draw a clear line between my business and personal life. I’m fortunate to be able to spend a lot of time with my family, and preparing for our new baby boy in November!

“Unacceptable for us to be average.” I like how you mentioned this in your blog post. What advice would you give to other entreprenesses who are starting and/or having trouble with their business?
Find what drives you. Focus on one thing and excel at what you love to do. With great risks come great rewards, and I truly believe that.

You’ve built this culture that sets you apart from other waxing salons. What are some key tips to build a strong foundation?
Staying focused on the mission of Urban Waxx has helped shape our business in many ways. It’s important to keep yourself and your team focused on what’s important – such as creating a great customer experience, being present, consistent, and humble to your people. With any thriving business, and life in general, you don’t have time to be scared. If you find what you love, run with that idea. If you love what you do, building that foundation will come naturally to you. Most importantly, have fun!

Connect with Urban Waxx!

Website
Twitter
Facebook

Locations:

Urban Waxx NW
1036 NW 18th Ave‬
â€ȘPortland, OR 97209‬
â€Ș(503) 219-9299‬

Urban Waxx – Tanasbourne
2368 NW Amberbrook Dr.
Beaverton, OR, 97006
(503) 372-9505

Interview with Entrepreness Amy Sandoz of Ready Set Go Kits

October 22, 2010 by Cecilia D. | Comments (0)

Interviewed by Tina Le

After volumteering for the Red Cross for four years, Amy Sandoz, a graduate student at Portland State University realized how difficult it can be to create your very first disaster kit. Amy saw the need to educate people about creating disaster preparation kits and therefore started Ready Set Go Kits.

Read our interview with Amy!

I’ve never created a disaster kit or owned one before. What should a basic survival kit include?
You always want to prepare for a situation of whether you’re going to be forced to evacuate or whether you’re going to need to stay in your home. A basic kit should be able to provide you with supplies to last for at least three days. Make sure you have food, water, sleeping bag or mat, first aid kit, a radio to hear the news around you, light source, medication, clothes, shoes, toiletries, and financial documents.

How would you position preparing for a natural disaster in a way that doesn’t scare people?
Depending on whom you’re talking to, position different levels of disasters. A great example to use here in Portland is the ice storm. When you’re talking to someone about prepping for a disaster, you can say something like, “Remember last year’s ice storm and how we were stuck at home for a week? Let’s prepare a kit so that we don’t have to walk two miles to the grocery store again in the snow.” Once you position a situation that had already occurred, people won’t want to experience being without food, a radio, or any crucial resources needed to make that experience a little easier.

Do you have goals to further develop Ready, Set, Go Kits?
My goal is to get more people to talk about preparing for disasters, and make a plan with their loved ones in case a disaster does occur. Raising awareness about disaster preparation is important to me so that we can avoid rescue situations such as what happened with Hurricane Katrina. If people were more prepared for either evacuating or being trapped within their home for three days, more people would have survived until rescue teams came.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your job?
The most rewarding aspect of my job is the liberating feeling you get when owning your own business. You don’t need to ask permission from anyone, and you’re able to make decisions on your own. I also love creating my own schedule where I can work when I need to, and attend class if I want to. It’s empowering to be able to make those decisions.

What is the most challenging?
The most challenging aspect goes along with my most rewarding aspect – making decisions on your own. Difficult choices do arise regarding my business. When they do arise, I’m the only person that can evidently make that decision and that can be intimidating at times.

What did you learn about yourself as you became a business owner that you didn’t know before?
With my business developing quite quickly, I’ve learned to make decisions faster and become more confident in what I decide to do.

What else would you like our readers to know about you and Ready Set Go Kits?
I won a contest from projectrev.com where they provide expert advice on effective marketing programs that will work for my business. I’m very excited about this project because they will be helping me thrive my business by providing marketing insight, creating a website for Ready Set Go Kits, and so many other tools that can help develop my brand!!

Connect with Ready Set Go Kits!
readysetgokitsdisasterplan.com
readysetgokits.com

Email: info (at) readysetgokits (dot) com

Mail:
Ready Set Go Kits
Muse Creations LLC
6107 SW Murray Blvd. Suite #349
Beaverton, OR 97008

Phone: (503) 217-4073

Twitter: @ReadySetGoKits
Facebook: ReadySetGoKits

Interview with Entrepreness Monika Reed of Favor Jewelry

October 15, 2010 by Cecilia D. | Comments (1)

Interview by Emily Carlyle.

Favor is a jewelry design and production studio founded by Monika Reed as a way to offer delicate, timeless, and sentimental jewelry, inspired by the shapes, stones, and metals found in the natural world.

Lets begin with the basics; tell me about your love for jewelry.
Well, I’ve always been pretty creative and jewelry is just something I’ve always done. I remember making bead bracelets when I was little, so I don’t know where it actually started but I’ve always been interested in it and I worked in bead stores throughout high school and after that I worked with jewelry designers. That’s where I became really interested in the business aspect of it. I had never really thought about going into business for myself before that. I kept thinking that it was something that was really accessible. When I moved to Portland it was originally to go to school and the business was what I did on the side. Over time it grew and I had to make a choice. I chose Favor.

How did you decide to start your own business? Was it something you had always planned or did you have an “aha” moment somewhere along the road?
It was sort of an ‘aha’ moment, not one exact moment but just working with the other designers, seeing what the process was and thinking, “that’s what I want to do”.

Sustainability and ethical business practices are something you are extremely passionate about, how big a part does this play in your business?
Definitely. I was studying cultural anthropology and I was really interested in the actually applied aspect of it, so looking at the big issue and then finding little things you can do to make everything just work better and to make people happier and just more fair towards everybody and everything. When I really started thinking about how it actually was applied to my life, ethical business just seemed really like the next step.

Does your commitment to following these guidelines make your job harder?
Yes. I mean, you do have to think about it a lot more and really analyze all the pieces. Every time I find a new supplier, I need to research them and ask all the necessary questions, so it does get more complicated. But, I can sleep better at night.

What is the hardest thing about owning your own business? What’s the most rewarding?
The hardest thing would be time management. I work at home, so it’s really difficult to separate my time. To have that feeling that you are home and relaxed doesn’t really exist anymore. The best part would be owning the vision. I can really make sure that everything is how I want it to be and well, the buck stops here. So it’s just really fulfilling to see it fall into place the way you want it to.

What’s the biggest mistake that you’ll never make again?
I really don’t think there have been any yet. I have only been full time since April 2010, so I am relatively new. There have been setbacks but I think that I have been able to learn my lesson and just move on. I really try and focus on all the good parts! Optimism has been the cure.

When choosing jewelry for yourself, what do you look for?
I like it wearable and not fussy. It has to be something you can put on and kind of forget about but you know its still going to be there at the end of the day, like it won’t just slip off. I also really like clean and minimalist and I like things to feel good too, even just in your hand. I spent a lot of time just trying to find the right chain to use, I use the same chain in all of my designs and that just took forever. Some would feel too heavy, too light, and too bendable. I really just like the weight in your hand.

Have you ever had ‘designer’s block’? How do you overcome that?
Not yet! I keep a sketchbook going. I don’t design as I go; I come up with a collection and then just edit it down. I will have like a week where I just design and make things. If I have any problems during that time I will just go back through all my sketches and get back on the right track.

Where do you pull inspiration from when you are having that period of design and creativity?
I really like just kind of balanced positive and negative space. So, I am drawn to shadows and handwriting. I read once that when men doodle they make really hard lines and corners, sharp shapes and when women doodle they are more soft and flowy, like spirals and things like that. That’s what I do. I translate those soft, spiral shapes into jewelry.

What is a valuable piece of advice that you were given that you think others should also receive?
To be optimistic! Betsy Cross, from Betsy & Iya told me once to “float on the good stuff, and let the bad stuff disappear”. It has been excellent advice.

What does the future hold for you and Favor?
Well, I want to continue to expand wholesale accounts and I want to be all over North America and maybe even expand to Europe after that. In the short term, I am really looking forward to doing some trade shows and retail shows.

Discount code: Enter ‘CRAVE’ to get 10% off until the end of October at FavorJewelry.com

Interview with Entrepreness Johnna Wells of Benefit Auctions 360

September 17, 2010 by Kelly | Comments (3)

Johnna Wells is the founder of Benefit Auctions 360, a company that creatively and effectively assists companies with fundraising auctions and events to maximize success and fundraising potential! In addition to being the founder of the company, she is also the principal fundraising auctioneer and consultant for non-profit organizations at her company. We saw Johnna in action at the 2010 Boutiques Unleashed fashion show and benefit for non-profit, Dove Lewis. It was quite a success and Johnna was amazing. Benefit Auctions 360 works with you from start to finish to make sure your event generates results and you are able to build lasting relationships with your supporters. Read our interview to learn more about Johnna and the art of fundraising!

WOW! Where do I even start, how did you decide that auctioneering was the career for you? Did you always plan to follow in your parent’s footsteps?
NO! Not by a long shot! My parents were great, I grew up in an auction family, but they always supported my brother and I in whatever it was that we wanted to do. I guess you could say that they gave us both roots and wings. When I went to college, I decided to pursue a degree in art and design and it wasn’t until 2001 that I decided to go to auction school. From there, I got connected with a company that did specifically fundraising auctions. Through my experience working with this company, I was able to see that the auction method was a really powerful fundraising tool.

What brought you to Portland, specifically, to start your business?
The company that I was working for at the time wanted to slow things down a bit, so from that both parties involved decided that it was a good time for me to start my own company in 2005. This natural progression allowed me to then present what I thought was important in work and in business.

What do you think is the most challenging aspect of running your own business?
It is something my dad told me when younger, actually. Growing up I had this notion that because my parents were self-employed they should have more time to do things for pleasure. I would ask my dad, why don’t you have any time off? He would say, I do because I only work half of the day, meaning that (12 hours are in a half a day). This has been one of the greatest challenges for me also in owning my own business. The work never ends, literally. I work around the clock. No matter the time or day, I am involved in every aspect of this business, whether I am on vacation or it’s a Sunday morning, I am at the reigns to take care of whatever needs to be addressed.

Along the same line, how do you combat setbacks in your work?
That’s a good question. With any setback I take the same role in both my personal and professional life- when one block is presented, I just reorient myself and take a different course to get to the same point. This method translates across the board. Be it a daunting schedule or whatever, if I can’t climb the barrier, I find a way to go around it.

What are some of the most rewarding things about owning your own business?
In terms of business in general, it’s rewarding to have some flexibility in my schedule. There is a certain level of pride that comes with knowing that you and your team have built something and can be proud of it. It is rewarding, also, to be able to use my inspirations and creativity in my work. Being your own boss, there are times when it is nice having the ability to call the shots, at the same time, you are also responsible to kick yourself in the butt and get going when you need to. In my personal business focus on the non-profit auction method of marketing, working alongside incredible organizations across the country is really awe inspiring and I feel so blessed to be a part of what they are doing.

How do you set yourself and Benefit Auctions apart in the Portland Market?
In all reality, it’s how we operate as a company. There are lots of good companies that provide exceptional service. So, I go out to just do the best job possible and recognize that it’s not just a job, but that the partnering organizations are relying on our services to reach their organizational goals. Auctions are often the primary revenue generators for many of the organizations we work with. So, having the weight of their goals on our shoulders makes me very cognizant of the fact that this is not just a job. Using our knowledge base, we strive to present excellent service because we want to help create an event that the organizations can be proud of and provide them with the money necessary for these organizations to operate for the entire year. Our philosophy is focused on giving back to the community. Benefit Auctions makes a special appeal (or direct cash giving) contributions of some level to all of our customers to show how honored we are to be a part of what they are doing. Not only do we want other people to support the charitable organizations, we ourselves want to support them as well.

If you could use only one word to describe the goal of your organization, what would it be and why?
I would like to hope it’s inspiring. Through the work we do it is my personal and ultimate goal and hope that other people will be inspired to participate as well. By inspiring with hope, we aim to instill in others a sense of obligation to continue to contribute in ways that are meaningful to them. Whether that’s a donation, an auction item, or volunteering, we aim to integrate different ways to inspire an audience and have them feel that they are a valued part of the collective group helping the non-profit’s mission.

What is your favorite auction that you have ever done?
They are all so fun, I can’t pick just one! My favorite thing about what I do is that each event is unique. Benefit Auctions has done everything from work with grassroots groups like Growing Gardens, an organization that works with under-served youth and families to help them grow their own food; to events like the one called Veggie Ball where the guests dressed up as veggies, to million dollar productions that are black tie events decked out with corvettes, no matter what, it’s fun to see that people are able to put their own stamp on the event. All of the events we do have a different scale and scope, but seeing what each one is able to accomplish is really fun.

It’s really cool that you have been able to fuse your love for auctioneering with your passion for non-profit work. What was your inspiration behind targeting that market segment?
The inspiration was really in being able to comprehend the magnitude and strength that auctions can be when used as a fundraising tool, using auctioneering as an asset opened my eyes. Especially now with economic climate, many groups are in need of funding. Some need it to maintain their level of involvement and some are blessed that auctioneering can be huge catalyst and great tool for their organization. When put together in advance, auctioneering can be used to create success for these groups and help raise the funds necessary to keep them in operation.

What is your vision for Benefit Auctions long-term?
In November, we launched an expansion of the company, now with 4 auctioneers and 2 consultants working throughout the country. Over the past five years, most of our business has been here in Portland, but we would really like to see, and are working diligently to develop, an auctioneering template for organizations that can work across the board. Something mainstream that can be used effectively everywhere. My Dad is actually now picking up auctions all over the place, from New York to New Orleans, to Idaho. The bottom line, however, will be to continue to provide heartfelt services. Our goal is for the non-profits to know that we partner with them because we believe in the work that they are doing and we want to see them through with right resources to keep them going so they can continue to keep doing work in the community, that’s what we’re passionate about.

You mentioned that you are a mommy-to-be; do you feel like that has changed your outlook on your career at all? What advice would you give or what message do you hope your child would take away from all of the dedicated work you do professionally?
I think as a mom to be I would of course, want to have it all. To be an incredible mom and be a very strong leader professionally in the auctioneering community I know these elements are easier said than done. In terms of an ideal, knowing that I am having a daughter, I want her to know that anything is possible. Nowhere is it stated that we can’t be dedicated professional women as well as dedicated daughters, mothers and role models. I hope to leave her with the inspiration that in whatever she chooses to do following your passion will cause her to end up on the right path. In being true to me and my heart, I will continue my work with Benefit 360 and strive to be the best mom in the process.

What advice would you give to an aspiring entrepreness?
Hands down, I would say if you are thinking about starting up your own business, it is the best decision you’ll ever make. Following the course of being an entrepreness is far and wide, although this will probably change once I have my daughter, being self employed is the greatest joy to ever know. Implementing an idea and seeing it through to fruition, and continuing to grow and nurture it in the ways that you see fit is so awesome and exciting! I can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s rewarding to follow your passion and ideas and use it as a launch pad for your own business.

Interview with Entrepreness Megan Clark of Hi, Friend

September 10, 2010 by Megan J. | Comments (0)

Megan Clark is the co-owner of Hi, Friend, an online boutique specializing in fabulous stationary, too-good-to-open gift boxes and the cutest invitations and ribbons. Megan also runs her own personal design studio Clark and Co. Read our interview to learn more about Megan and her experiences as a female business owner!

So, tell me a little about your background and how you came to start “Hi, Friend”
I studied design in school, and I worked in an advertising agency for a few years here in Portland and one of the account managers at the Ad Agency and I worked really well together. Once we both left the agency we were really sad that we weren’t working together anymore and meanwhile I had had this brainstorm of an online retail company that was more focused on what I was trained in but would be a little more free form and fun. So, I approached her [Jennifer Mele] to see if she was interested in partnering up with me on the side because she had her day job and I still had my design studio. She totally loved the idea and together we started this new adventure of “Hi, Friend.” It has so far been really fun! It was in the works for at least a year before we actually launched because I had to do the design for all the different pieces and the volume of it is massive.

I was actually on the website and was so impressed by how much variety and diversity there is at “Hi, Friend!”
Totally! Well, and we kept getting delayed thinking that we were going to launch at a certain time but it never did. So as it happens the more we delayed I was able to produce more to put on the site; but there is always more to be making and more to add, which is a big challenge. We ended up launching in April of this last year and we took a huge deep breath and were like “Ok, this is it, we’re launching!”

What have you learned since the big launch?
A lot of it is actually boring technical stuff, like how to run a retail site and how to capture payments, how to deal with emails breaking down and how to actually build a website. I had dealt with the design of the site, which I do for a lot of my clients, but I had never designed something like this for myself, so I ended up being involved 100% which usually I hand off the design and someone else does the technical side. So now I’m like the user and the creator, which is a different story, so I mainly learned the technical stuff that goes into building a retail site. Then there’s also how to deal with customers, but luckily my partner does most of that stuff! I get to do the design work and she handles all the ordering and billing and all that fun stuff. I don’t have to do much once we get it up on the site, but we’re definitely still in it together. The decision making is always jointly done, we share all the finance stuff, which can be tricky but we’re really transparent with each other. Jen is really great at what she does, she handles all the people side of the business, because when we first started I was thinking “if I’m going to do this little brainchild, I need Jen’s help.” It’s great because I can’t do what she does and she can’t do what I do, so there’s a great balance.

So tell me a little about your creative process. Where do you get your inspiration from? How do you deal with no creative limitations, which is sometimes creatively more difficult, than having a client give you parameters. How do you self-edit?
Jumping into it I was thinking how cool it was that I could do whatever I wanted! But then a second later I realized how overwhelming it is! So, it can be really overwhelming and really hard to focus. In the beginning we were all over the place with the designs, so what we did is we met with someone who looked over everything and then told us what they thought and what advice they had and they suggested that we categorize everything by style and create a personality from each style which is how each of the girls where created, from that conversation. So, we created these fictional characters that works for the shoppers as well as for myself. Shoppers can go directly to the style that they are most interested in and find what they need to find, you don’t have to go through those portals but it makes it easier to look for things within the site. But, it works really well for me because they serve almost as muses, so I can think “I need to design a wedding invitation for Lila..” and now I can wrap my head around what to design. Each girl has something written about what they are to us on the site, so I can go back and look and know that if Lila was getting married that this is what she would swoon over, so that’s where I get my inspiration.

That’s really cool! Because I’m sure there are so many styles that you enjoy so it’s hard to narrow it down to just one.
Exactly, but it still can be really hard because I don’t have that other brain there to tell me what they want and what they don’t want, which is what you have when you’re working with a client. But I do find that I pay more attention when I’m out and about, I have a tendency to catch things that I think I should incorporate into certain pieces. I do that all the time for my clients, but it is especially helpful with Hi, Friend because it keeps it me generating new things. It also helps that I have my own studio stuff to do too, because when I’m feeling confined by client stuff I can jump over into Hi, Friend and be inspired and vice versa.

Each persona you’ve created are all so different from one another but there is a sense of cohesiveness, where do get the inspiration within each character?
I think a lot of the cohesiveness comes from the fact that it is just me doing all the designing so ultimately I get to make all the creative decisions. But when it comes to what inspires me, I am really inspired by photography. Also, if I’m online, I have a folder on my desktop that is titled “scrap” so when I find a picture that is really interesting I put it in there, so it becomes a kind of archive of all these things that I have find interesting. I’m also really drawn to old stuff, there is a vintage shop right down the street from my house and they have the coolest things. They actually have old can labels that never got used so now they are preserved in these plastic sheets, so I’ll go buy a couple and throw them on my desk as something cool to look at. I have never mimicked that style directly but I have found compelling color palettes and other things from those pieces which I’ll use in random projects. Like, if I find a killer color combination, it can work with so many things on Hi, Friend, whether its stationery or wedding invites.

I have found in the past with myself, that when I’m working on a project I start noticing different aspects of that project elsewhere. Do you ever notice or pay closer attention to stationary and invitations now that you’re designing them?
Ya, I do but I try not to actually. Because although I notice silly things about stationary I try not to focus too hard because I don’t want to be influenced by other peoples work. Sometimes once you get something stuck in your head you copy it without even realizing that’s what you’ve done which is what I try not to do. But, one thing that I have noticed is that a lot of people are relying on screen printing or letter press, and there are some people who do this excellently but there are some who rely more on the process than the actual design and it turns out kind of disappointing.

Where do you see Hi, Friend going in the future?
Well we definitely want to venture in further into wedding invitations. There is a huge market for that, and we really are interested in designing things for milestones in a woman’s life. So we want to design wedding invitations, baby shower stationary, etc..

Do you ever think that Hi, Friend will have a store front?
You know, probably not. We had talked about it and there is just so much overhead that goes into having a store and with online retail our overhead is relatively low.

Ok, so because this is CRAVE, what is it that you’re craving right now?
Oh wow! That’s a hard one! I think a good book….and a vacation!

Interview with Entrepreness Karen Beninati of WeVillage

September 3, 2010 by Elijah | Comments (6)

As many of the ladies in the CRAVE community know, WeVillage is a great place for busy moms to drop their kids before a night on the town, a last-minute meeting, or even a class at The Bar Method. Located in the Pearl at NW 11th and Flanders, is a convenient stop for urban moms living, working, and playing in the Pearl or downtown. Owner Karen Beninati has used her own experience as a single mother to create a thriving business for all parents to appreciate.

You come from a film background. How did you apply that to something that’s as different as childcare?
Film production is really just putting pieces together and that is kind of what you need to do to start a new business, so every film is kind of like a new business. I’ve started many, many new businesses, in that sense. This is different in that it doesn’t end whereas with a film, there’s a beginning, a middle, and an end to it. This is different than that.

You also have a background in branding. How has that helped you as a small business owner?
I worked for Nike in brand marketing as a producer. I just have an overall sense of design and style and brand. I get what you need to do to develop and implement a brand. I’ve done all the branding for WeVillage myself, so I’m very particular about it. It’s easy for a brand to get picked apart; it’s amazing how quickly it can get picked apart and disassembled, so it’s hard to keep that up.

You’ve partnered with many other local businesses to enhance your services and theirs. What has that process been like for you?
It’s been great. The entire idea of WeVillage is creating a community, so we’ve done that by helping other businesses with our service and vice versa. It’s been great and I’ve met so many great people and we help each other out. They came to me before we were even open. They had heard about us and came knocking on our door and were like “PLEASE.” Otherwise, they would have had to build a childcare area at their facility and that would have been a very big cost for them. They wanted it to be done right, so they were very, very excited that we were there.

Does the name “WeVillage” come from that sense of community that you’re trying to foster?
Yeah, it’s about we as a community of kids and parents and family and friends and grandparents. We all have an obligation and a part in taking care of each other, and it really does take a community to support a family, a child, a business, an individual. You can’t do it on your own.

How was your own son influential in the way that you set up your business?
He’s the whole reason WeVillage is here! When he was born, I just knew there was a space that could be created for families to go that would exceed their expectations. We’re not there yet. Our space is great, but it’s nothing like it’ll be when we have real money to build out. It’s great for now. I just wanted to create an environment where I would take my kid, so I created what I wanted. He donated all his toys, his Wii, he’s been amazing in the whole process.

What are your long-term dreams for WeVillage?
Franchise. We’re opening another one in Bridgeport Village by December, so we’ll see how that model works there. Then we’ll put our franchising package together, and I really want them all over the place so it’s easier for people. Everyone wants one in their neighborhood or in their city. My long-term goal is to take it to other cities and, eventually, other countries– places like London and Paris and Rome– places that people travel with kids. Not everyone brings a nanny with them, it’s expensive, but everyone needs a time out. I mean, you’re traveling with your kids and it’s super fun, but everyone needs a time-out. How great would it be to go out to dinner, but what do you do? Where do you go? We develop the brand so they’re familiar with, then when they’re overseas they’ll feel more comfortable.

How involved are you in the day-to-day operations of WeVillage? When do you think it’s important for a business owner to step back?
I’m very involved. I’m there for twelve hours a day. You have to be there. You have to be the face of your business for at least the first year. Anikka, the director, handles the childcare, but I’m there as a representative of WeVillage and making sure that things work with the business and the marketing and the development. And cleaning and maintenance and bill-paying.

Leaving your children with someone obviously requires a lot of trust. How do you earn that trust, both as someone who cares for children and as a businesswoman?
I think once they see that we actually take the time to create something that’s so different and so unique, that we care, and that we’re licensed and certified and criminal-registered and CPR-trained, and then they come in and meet me and they either get it or they don’t. They see how I am with my child. they see how involved I am, they see how I really care about their kids. You can tell that they love it and are totally taken care of. It’s not a traditional childcare center. We laugh, we play, we do all these different things. We take them on walks. it’s very spontaneous; it’s not very rigid and structured. Although there is a structure to it so that they feel safe, they’re all free to explore and see that life isn’t about rigidity.

Childcare is a fairly regulated industry. What’s it like having to jump through all those hoops?
I’m very free-spirited, so it’s a lesson to have to follow the rules. It’s hard. It’s like to a T that you have to have everything for the fire marshal and health inspections. It’s pretty intensive. And then there’s hiring the right people.

What do you think is the worst business decision that you ever made? What did you learn from it?
The worst business decision I ever made was hiring people too quickly and not spending enough time really working with them. You interview them, and that doesn’t just mean talking to them a couple times. You bring them in, see how they work, take time. People talk a big game, but then they don’t deliver. We have a pretty lengthy hiring process now. I need to spend some time with these people before I let them in. The kids get close to them, my son gets close to them, and then I end up firing them. I don’t keep people who don’t have high integrity and who aren’t willing to work. It’s a brand new startup, you have to be willing to do everything.

Do you think hiring the best employees is crucial in all industries, or just one as sensitive as yours?
All industries. I really recommend that business owners take the time to find out who they’re hiring. Employees are your greatest asset, but they’re also your greatest weakness. They can brand assassinate, they can turn around and claim things that are crazy: the things that employees can do are really scary. I’m very, very blessed to have totally amazing employees.

Working with children all the time, you must have tons of really fun stories. What’s one of your favorites?
That’s very hard. There’s so many; every day is a story. There’s one though in particular: walking down the street with a three year-old and having something come out of her mouth that was so advanced for a three year-old. I just stopped and looked at her. The things that come out of their mouths are astounding. They’re so smart, and they’re way more smart and articulate than we give them credit for. They do get it. Those are my favorites: listening to them talk.

Do you have any additional business advice?
It’s really important for business-owners to really stick together and help each other out as a community. I really, really advise people to reach out to other female business-owners because we’re all so willing to help. A lot of people stay in their shells because it’s hard– it’s scary. Be tenacious, and be open and true. People will see that and they’ll want to help.

Photos by Jessica Neuman Beck

Interview with Entrepreness Sandra Colton, multi-talented artist making her mark in the Northwest.

August 27, 2010 by Tina | Comments (0)

An artist, dancer, singer, publisher, author and more – this woman does it all! Sandra Colton, native of Las Vegas and current resident of Portland is a former Laker girl, finalist on the FOX show So You Think You Can Dance?, former backup dancer for Rihanna, author of Book Me!, founder and member of more companies and organizations than we can count on one hand. Did we mention she’s down-to-earth and very personable as well? Read our interview with Sandra as she talks about her multi-faceted career and about her upcoming projects to connect dancers all over Oregon.

Hey Sandra! So great to see you again! I first met you at our CRAVE business chat, Local Inspiration a few months back. What have you been up to since then?
Hey! Since then, I’ve been busy teaching and putting together Dance Track Magazine, a magazine that will debut later this fall! I just finished teaching the Thunderbird Dance Camp where kids from Alaska, Washington and Oregon attended and were taught dance skills and routines. I’ve also been teaching dance four times a week here at a local studio.

You published a magazine in 2008 called Original Girl, which highlights lifestyle, fashion and music tips for young women. What will make Dance Track different from Original Girl?
Dance Track Magazine will be more focused on the commercial dance scene and the career paths dancers can take that is influenced by dance. For example, I interviewed a dancer who became a photographer because she began assisting the photographer on set. I also interviewed a dancer that became a hair stylist because he was so great at styling hair for his friends. Dancers are so creative in many ways, and I want to encourage dancers to try on other hats and apply their creative skills in other ways. There are many opportunities for dancers to be successful and I want them to take advantage of that.

Would you say Dance Track in a way is a reflection of your career? You’re a professional dancer who has toured with Rihanna, danced for the Lakers, writing your book, Book Me!, publishing a magazine, teaching and the list continues

Dancing has always provided a strong career foundation for me as well as open up amazing opportunities along the way. Each project has led me to another, and each dancer has such a unique story that I want to showcase in this magazine. My end goal is to inspire others to go out there and do what they want to do. Also to take advantage of every opportunity that is given to you to see where the road takes you. My background had also inspired the foundation for my book, where I discuss how to become a successful professional dancer in Hollywood.

Speaking of your background, can you tell me about where you came from and how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Des Moines, Iowa and was raised in Las Vegas. My sister and I were dancers and we were on Star Search when I was 12-years-old. We won that season and that was one of my favorite moments of my career because it was my first exposure to the spotlight. Throughout high school, I was a cheerleader and was very involved with student council, and other activities as well. My sister and I would perform at hotels in Vegas as opening acts as well. I was very involved and active in my school and community, which carried on to my college career as well. I went to the University of Oregon in Eugene and made it on the cheerleading team there. That was such a great experience! I majored in Sociology and minored in Journalism instead of the arts because I wanted to try something different and challenge myself.

After college, I moved back to Vegas and landed a job in the XFL, an offseason football league founded by Vince McMahon. Here I was the Communications Coordinator where I had the opportunity to see what it was like on the other side of the business. I would coordinate events, and plan game time events and promotions to get the audience engaged. It was fun and fulfilling to learn the business aspect of what the cheerleaders, dancers, and players were doing rather than being the one performing.

After Vegas, I temporarily moved to New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle before I moved here to Portland. I lived in New York for a few months before I realized that New York wasn’t the place for me. In Los Angeles, I focused on dancing for the Lakers for one season and didn’t take advantage of networking as much as I would have liked to. Seattle was appealing to me because I love the atmosphere of the northwest. In Seattle is where I started Original Girl Magazine and heard about the show, “So You Think You Can Dance?” where I auditioned and became a finalist. From the show, I was blessed with the opportunity to tour with Rihanna among other gigs, which inspired me to write my book and led me to Portland today.

When I first met you at our CRAVE Biz Chat, you mentioned you wanted to get all of the Oregon dancers in one central location to get them networking and collaborating. Currently, Oregon dancers are scattered all over and don’t have as strong of a presence as they could. What are your ideas for changing that?
I created Oregon Dance Network to bring all of the Oregon dancers together and connect them with each other, job opportunities, and dance studios/companies around the state. Eventually I want to open a studio where all dancers are welcome to come learn, practice, and meet in a central location here in Portland. Right now, most of the dance studios are independent and I’m encouraging them to collaborate one another to get the Portland dance scene out there and exposed. I would love to plan events to get EVERYONE in Portland dancing, such as bikers or families for instance so that we ALL can have fun, whether you’re a pro dancer or not.

You have such an inspiring career, where you make your mark and in return help others do the same! As a busy entrepreness, what inspires you to keep going? What has helped you be successful?
Well, I don’t sleep! (Laughs) My boyfriend is forcing me to sleep now so that is eventually getting done. I think for me I have a drive that constantly keeps me going, keeps me fueled to work and try out new ideas. I have so many ideas in my head that my body can’t keep up with me at times. I’m constantly brainstorming and executing these ideas. It’s rewarding to see the final results and that inspires as well. The difference between people who make it and don’t is that those who make it take action while others don’t. If you have an idea you want to happen, try out for American Idol, or land that dream job, the least you have to do is try! Like I always say, “Make your mark, don’t just stand on it!”

www.sandracolton.com
http://twitter.com/sandracolton
http://www.dancetrackmagazine.com/
http://oregondancenetwork.com/

Interview with Entrepreness Jessica Neuman Beck of CouldBe Studios

July 30, 2010 by Megan J. | Comments (0)

Interview by Megan Jarosak, CRAVE Portland

Jessica Neuman Beck knows what it’s like to run your own small business. Her and husband Matthew Beck are a designer + developer duo who believe that good design should be within everyone’s reach. They started CouldBe Studios in 2006, which focuses on web design for very small businesses. They make the most out of services that are cost effective to keep their customers happy, because they understand! Jessica shares her experiences as an entrepreness as well as working with other small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Tell me a little about yourself and how you came to start CouldBe Studios.
Well I have a background in art and design, I have an art degree from the Art Institute Online. And when I was home with my kid right after he was born, —-I was starting to go crazy because I couldn’t use my brain! So, finally my husband and I started talking about it and we had always wanted to start a business, and I had always wanted to do design stuff and this was really a perfect time. So we started out really slow, like while he was just napping, and after a while it just grew! It turned out that I love it and it’s completely what I want to be doing.

So does CouldBe Studios mainly design websites?
In the beginning we had all these grand ideas and it ended up that web design was our main thing, and we really only work exclusively with small businesses. Things that people do out of their homes, small online shops, pretty much anyone who couldn’t normally afford big huge design studios, and that actually been really great because we’ve been able to provide this full service of designing logos, packaging [etc.] but when they get the website it’s kind of this whole things.

Sounds like you have a little niche market!
Yes, exactly. We just kind of stumbled upon it, and you know on a personal level it kind of makes me sad when people have bad or ugly websites. Especially with small businesses, people are going judge you in a second and if they go to your website and it’s bad then their just going to leave and a lot of really small businesses just don’t have a fighting chance and that’s where we come in.

What is it like owning a business with your husband? How is it working together?
What we found is that when he had his day job and I was more of the face of CouldBe Studios, it became pretty clear that when I had a project for him, I would give him the thing and he would do the thing. But when he quit his job and worked full-time, we weren’t really butting heads but we weren’t really picking stuff up the way we should be. I didn’t necessarily want to delegate to him and he didn’t want to step on my toes. So we decided to internally to split the business to where he does the development and I do the design.

Any unexpected challenges when it comes to working with your husband?
Well, we’re both really independent, we don’t need a lot of management, but I think we expected things were going to fall into place a lot easier and we wouldn’t have to set roles. But having to set roles and having a clear idea of who was doing what within the company was really necessary as it turned out, even though it’s just the two of us.

Do you have different styles?
Definitely. I do really minimal stuff and he just has a much more bold style than I do. He comes from a development background, so I’ll notice stuff more. Like sometimes I’ll notice that I want a graphic here or I want a cuter button, but he just looks at it like “it’s a button, just press it!”

What are your future plans for the business?
Sort of just going with the flow, business has been slowing down a little due to the economy. We were really busy and it’s just recently started to slow down. I’m trying to focus more on learning all that I can about the new stuff that’s going on development wise so we can incorporate that into our new websites. I think that focusing more on mobile sites, and making sure people can see the websites on their mobile phones is really important. Especially with the whole iPhone craze.

You are definitely more of an art person before you became a computer person.
Oh totally! I was almost a little opposed to stuff done on the computers for a while! And I’ve completely turned around.

Where do you get your inspiration?
Other websites, other designers. I follow hundreds of RSS feeds and every time someone does something really cool design wise I’m very inspired. That and I love looking at vintage posters and labels. I have a lot of those on my computer as well.

As a small business owner, what have you learned since opening? About yourself or about the business world in general?
I’ve learned that I’m a complete workaholic! I think my biggest challenge is figuring out how to balance my off time when I’m working. Because apparently left to my own devices, I’ll just work constantly! I’ve been making myself set hours and when emails aren’t super important to wait and answer them during my work hours.

Any advice for future business owners?
I think being willing to sort of just jump in is really necessary. It can be really scary to change the direction you’re going or finally doing that thing that you’re always thinking about. A lot of our clients are really small businesses so just committing yourself to it is really the trick. Just deciding that this is what you want to do and figuring out how to go forward, it can seem like taking little baby steps is the way to go but that didn’t really work for us. Until we said “OK this is what we we’re doing” but we [didn't have the direction we do now]. How do you want to identify yourself with your small business is really important. Jumping in is the way to do it.

Any other tips for entrepreneurs or business owners?
Setting boundaries for sure, having a clear delineation between personal life and business is so important, which I’m still not very good at! And also just remembering that you can say No to things that clients are asking for. If I can’t do something or it is just beyond the scope of the project, or out of the client budget my first reaction is to say “ well you need it so I’ll just do it” but I have to learn to say “No I can’t do that” or “ I’m going to have to charge you extra for that.” That’s very important.

On the very little off-time that you do get, how or what do you do to de-stress?
Reading, writing, I have a few unpublished novels that I work on…

Do you have any indulgences? What do you CRAVE?
SHOES! Shoes and Bags! There are so many fabulous designers in Portland! Queen Bee Studios owns my heart, I could just live there!

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