I had the opportunity to sit down and ask a few questions with some of the business owners in the Adventures in Business Program.
What is the best part of owning your own business?
Dyvonne:
I learned to learn how to respect other people and be kind.
And making money, to build up my business account.
Naomi:
I’m going out and selling things and being proud. Being proud to have a business.
David:
Wanting people to like my work and telling them about my work and just owning a business is great. And sharing my art with other people.
Rebekah:
Being independent and doing it for myself and my confidence. Knowing if you have somebody that’s going to be there and you can depend on them. I would say also having sales is great, but I would say the best thing for me is having somebody come to my booth. And enjoying their product and coming back maybe to the next show and saying they use the cup all the time and they smile each time they use that item that they bought 3 months ago, two months ago. That’s what makes having a good business. It also makes me proud that I have a business and I am the owner of my business.
Frank:
I meet people, and some people always make a comment about my work.
What is the hardest part about owning your business?
Dyvonne:
The hardest part is to be careful and to learn how be confident of yourself and respect yourself.
And be kind to other people.
Naomi:
Getting money to buy things for my business. And making new things. It’s tough to keep on top of everything.
David:
Keeping up with things, doing more and more prints. Because sometimes I sell a lot of prints and I just have to make more and more and it’s not easy.
Rebekah:
I would say being accountable for your own things that you do. And having a good mentor. I know Jennifer has been the best mentor since I have her now, and I would say it’s always hard to make up new items. But I think I do a pretty good job with making new items because I always look at different art shows and that’s how I get new ideas.
Frank:
Number one getting older.
Trying to figure out what to create that people will buy.
Where do you get your creative ideas?
Dyvonne:
For my creative ideas, I’ve learned how to do all my creative ideas before I started working with the business. I used to do centerpieces, going to different church conferences, and I would take all my craft stuff to different conferences, and I learned it on my own. I went to Shasta college for four years to get my certificate.
Naomi:
My mind and looking at pictures.
David:
I usually go on Google and look up artists like Paul Klees and Picasso.
I just like impressionist art. And I get my ideas by going to art museums like the De Young Museum in San Francisco, the Palace of Legion of Honor. I get a lot of art ideas from other artists and get a lot of inspiration.
Rebekah:
I like nature, the mountains, the trees, and the water. I like doing animals like dogs and cows. I just love doing art because expresses who I am to the public and lets people know that you can do anything you want in life and if you love it, you should do it and don’t stop if you love it and enjoy it. And that’s me, that’s how I get my inspiration.
Frank:
I get ideas from going out and looking around at different places. Like when we went to the Tree Farm I came up with all kinds of ideas as we walked around. Also if somebody tells me what they would like to have a photo of, I go out and create it.
What is the best part? And then conversely, what is the worst part of craft fairs?
Dyvonne:
The worst part of craft fairs. Like sometimes when people come by your booth, sometimes they can be rude. They move stuff and don’t put it back in the right spot. I love craft fairs because you meet and you greet people. You meet a lot of people, you go to different booths. You go to different tables, you meet a lot of different people, and then you pass out your Flyers to other business owners.
Naomi:
People say it’s good work. People buy things.
And then the nice people.
People say they’re gonna buy and walk away to the ATM and they don’t come back.
David:
Just sharing my art talent with other people and just wanted to share what I’m doing as a block printer and do prints and drawings. Sometimes when I have to use the restroom and I have to go really bad. And I can’t leave yet. And that’s not easy.
Rebekah:
Meeting lots of different people. That’s the best thing for me at an art show.
And the worst thing would be.
I would say it does get disappointing when people say they’re gonna buy something they don’t come back. But you always want to have a good attitude and smile. Because at the end of the day, you never know, you might make that one sale that might pay for your whole booth.
I would say having a good day and a bad day really doesn’t make too much of a difference for me. Knowing that I meet people and my name is out in the community, that’s always the best thing for me.
Frank:
Meeting people and getting to know them. The bad part is the wrong kind of people, the people with an attitude, they don’t talk to you nicely. But you just have to suck it up and ignore the comments that they make.
What advice would you give somebody else who wanted to start their own art business?
Dyvonne:
You would help them out with their paperwork.
Naomi:
Get a good art mentor. Make sure you have a lot of pictures to sell.
David:
Be positive about yourself and believe in yourself and your gonna do just fine.
Rebekah:
If you love it keep on doing it and don’t let anybody say anything different about you because an artist is always a true artist no matter what. Having a bookkeeper is great. And having a good mentor that’s another thing that’s great and it’s going to help you out in the long run.
Frank:
Keep your personal appearance and booth looking neat and professional.
