I'm packing like a madwoman for the upcoming ACC-Baltimore show. Do madwomen pack? This one does!
As I go along, I'm discovering the maddening little things I've forgotten to take care of along the way. But even while struggling to deal with these details, I'm learning.
Business cards... I thought I had enough, but now that pile looks kinda skimpy. Do I have time to order more?
My artwork is so hard to explain, I've found using business cards with a color photo of my work is a godsend. At 7 cents a piece, it's an effective and inexpensive way to SHOW someone what I do in five seconds.
I've used the same company (Great American Printing Company, or www.gapco.com) for years. They're good, inexpensive, fast. They might even have my templates still on file!
I went to their website. Nope--my files are gone. I'm going to have to start over. But I can't figure out their website's custom ordering process without help.
I started trying to call them Friday evening. I called Saturday, Sunday and all morning today. No answer. Not good.
So I called a new company this morning--www.vistaprint.com. I spoke to a very patient man on the phone who walked me through a custom template.
My very patient husband uploaded a digital image so it could be immediately downloaded. As I watched my computer screen, Cardell laid out the text I wanted on the card template. We tweaked the design a little here and there.
Then I hesitated. It wasn't the very best image I could have used. Should I wait and do it perfectly?
Nah. It was good enough. The cards will be used up within the next six or eight months, and then I can buy my next "perfect" set of cards.
Move on.
Within an hour, my design was made up, my order for 2,000 business cards was entered and paid for ($70 total) and I was on my way. If all goes well, they should arrive at my doorstep next Monday.
I will now have inexpensive and effective little marketing tools for less than 4 cents each.
Ain't the internet great?
As I continued to pack, I realized I could not find my little silk bean bags I use for displaying jewelry and netsuke figures. That reminded me....
A store owner had actually called Saturday, commenting on the American Style article on me and congratulating me. (More on that.) She said a customer wants to buy a little horse netsuke WITH the little bean bag I'd included in her order last year. Would I be willing to make more?
I actually thought that was a good idea, and said yes. But when I hung up, I panicked.
It IS a good idea. In fact, I should probably make some for the ACC show.
OH NO!!!! Now I have to stop and make bean bags!
But then I thought again....
No, I don't.
I was automatically thinking I had to make EVERYTHING.
Do I want to be known for my jewelry/sculpture/netsuke?
Or do I want to be known for my bean bags?
It IS a good idea, but I can have someone else make the damn bean bags. If they get done for the show, great. If not....next time.
What did I learn today?
Sometimes a new company CAN do it better. And faster. And cheaper.
Sometimes "pretty good" is good enough.
Sometimes "better" can wait a little longer.
And sometimes, someone else can do it.
