Etsy Interview Repost: Neil Slorance

Since I interviewed him in 2012 Neil Slorance has started making comic books!  So here is the interview again for those of you who didn't see it.

I "met" this guy through one of my blog friends on Twitter and he is awesome so I interviewed him about his Etsy shop, which you should all check out.


1. Tell me a little bit about yourself.

Hey! My name's Neil Slorance, I'm an illustrator from Glasgow in Scotland. I'm 25 and have a pet tortoise.

2. Tell me a little bit about your shop.

My etsy shop is where I put up my prints, pictures and other bits and bobs. I set it up about 2 years ago and so far it's been ticking over nicely.

3. How long have you been making art?

Since I could hold a crayon really. I spent most of my school days doodling in jotters and making wee comics about superheroes I'd make up. I really wanted to be an artist although I stopped for a good while in my teens while I was pursuing music but got back into it around the age of 19/20.
 

4. How long have you been selling art?

I started selling about 5 years ago, I remember I took my painting to a market stall in a library. I remember feeling totally chuffed when I sold my first painting, I guess because I wanted to be an artist when I was a kid and this was me taking my first step.

5. Why did you start making art?

I guess everyone starts making art as a kid and then as we grow up for whatever reasons some of us stop. I've kept going mainly because it's the best way I've found to communicate my ideas and thoughts, and where as I'm not a great talker and I stumble on words my pictures have given me a voice.

6. What inspires your art the most?

Life? Any part of life I feel strongly enough to make a picture about. Aside from that just when I get excited about something e.g I've been playing a lot of mario so I made a mario picture.

7. What advice do you have for new Etsy sellers?

Try and have a wide range of products, especially little things, they are your bread and butter. 

8. What advice do you have for aspiring artists?

Don't be afraid to show your work, even the stuff you're not proud of.

neilslorance.com
flickr.com/photos/osm_art
twitter.com/osmart

This collection contains all four of the issues of Neil's comic book Dungeon Fun.  I haven't read it yet but I really want to!

So be sure to check out all of Neil Slorance's stuff. If nothing else, definitely visit the shop and his Flickr stream.  He draws so many amazing things!

And definitely leave me a comment letting me know if you have an Etsy shop and would like me to interview you.

My Biggest Business Mistake

Today I was thinking about my business, Honeybee Alley, and trying to figure out ways to improve it.  I started to think about my abundant use of coupon codes.  I have a problem and it is that I create random sales all of the time, like every other week or even more often.  Tonight I have been reading a bunch of small business related posts that I Pinned and put aside to read someday.  I came across one post in particular that explained why having sales all the time might actually be hurting my business.  The post is about why mainstream marketing tricks aren't good for small businesses.  I felt like giving out coupon codes was a good way to make sure people would keep up with my posts, on Facebook or Google+ or this blog.  I have the tendency to want to give people great deals but my products already are on the lower end of the price spectrum, so not only am I cutting into my profits but am also "giving off the vibe that [I have] a cut-rate brand."  The blogger, Arianne Foulks, also explains that "if you put things on sale with any kind of regularity, customers will feel like they should never have to pay full price at your shop, and will wait for the sale."  I need to keep in mind that I have set my prices at what they are for a reason.  That is what my time, effort, and supply cost is worth.  If I'm always offering discounts people might think my product isn't worth the full price and maybe it's made with poor quality materials or just not well-made.  So this is me realizing that my prices reflect my work and I need to save sales for special occasions and not make them a weekly thing.

Where to Shop in Seattle: Valley of Roses Boutique

I have been shopping at Valley of Roses Boutique (located in the University District at 4748A University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105) for a few years now.  The original site of Bruce Lee's first Ju Fan Gu Fu Martial Arts Studio back in 1963, Valley of Roses Boutique carries unique products including new and vintage clothing, vintage books and records, and products (such as jewelry and bath and beauty products) made by local artists.  It's like a super easy treasure hunt and if I am just window shopping it really does take all of my willpower to keep from buying something.  I especially love the vintage hats, canvas bags, and the rocks.  During my previous trip to Valley of Roses Boutique I bought a really cool looking rock which I recently learned is desert rose selenite.  I can rarely resist a pretty rock.  I also bought some cool metal buttons, two of which I'm getting ready to make into a pretty cool necklace.  If I had to choose what the best part of Valley of Roses Boutique is I would have to say it's Mary, the proprietor.  I have never had a bad experience with her.  She is always super sweet and friendly and loves to hear about her customers and what they like.  She is really the nicest lady and I would recommend going to the Boutique just to talk to Mary even if there wasn't a bunch of cool stuff there.  I always leave in a good mood and, more often than not, with some cool purchases.  The second best part of the Boutique is how low the prices are.  Vintage is not cheap and you would expect to pay some high prices for vintage pieces that are clean and in good shape, but not here.  These are some great quality items for way less than you would expect to pay for vintage, usually even lower prices than Goodwill.  If all of my gushing hasn't convinced you that you should go to Valley of Roses Boutique, maybe these pictures will.

those yellow polka dot wedges are going to make someone very very happy

one of the pretty plates of pretty rocks; I love that pyrite and the pink crystal

I am in love with this shot, so dreamy.

some of the hats I love; that brown one in the foreground is perfection

a whole spectrum of plaid

the prettiest chandelier in all the land

So to recap Valley of Roses Boutique is super cool and has a super nice owner named Mary who you should all meet, is full of pretty things everywhere, and has amazing prices, and you should all stop by when you're in the area.

Making Work Fun

I love running my Etsy shop.  But I have always loved actually making the jewelry, but not photographing it.  That's why I always end up with an overwhelming pile of unphotographed jewelry.  And because it is so overwhelming, I usually just make more jewelry until it is even more overwhelming.  Yesterday I decided that I would find a way to make shooting product photos fun, and therefore something to look forward to rather than dread.  I decided that the best way to do this was to be as creative as possible.  I tore apart my room to find everything that could possibly work as a photo prop.  Then I figured out how to arrange things to go with each piece of jewelry.  It was really fun.  I took 127 photos.  Also when I say I tore apart my room, I really mean it.

I also just had to take some photos without jewelry in them because I was struck by artistic inspiration.  So here they are.

This one is an abstract dreamcatcher made out of found stones and shells and store-bought feathers.

I haven't edited the jewelry photos yet.  My camera does this fun thing where the exposure setting makes the photo look super dark on the camera but everything looks underexposed on my laptop.  I have been setting the exposure higher and higher every time but I haven't found the sweet spot yet.