Turn your hobby into a business
Whether it’s shooting pet portraits or making mean gin cocktails, there are few greater accomplishments than turning an interest or second career into a successful full-time business. Make a start by following our guide to entrepreneurial success.
Prepare for Takeoff
We won’t lie—starting a business isn’t easy, so you need to be sure that you can deal with the lows as well as the highs. It’s best to ask yourself early on whether you’re prepared to take on the challenge. Expect a lot of prep work up front. It may feel as though you’re trading in your art for a desk job at times, but we promise you, every hour you invest now will make for smoother sailing (and sales) down the line.
Line them up
Before you don that dashing entrepreneur hat, be sure that you have enough work lined up to sustain you until you can generate new business and referrals. The most profitable small businesses are those that launch with several paying clients waiting in the wings so get some Business Cards and get networking. Knowing that you have some orders to fill from the start can do wonders for your confidence, too.
Get online
Your website and social media channels are the face of your small business online and are absolutely vital, especially since you may not have the capital to invest in advertising off the bat. When posting photos to your site or social media, choose ones that convey what makes your work special. On your website, include images of all the product options available to buyers in order to show your range. If you don’t want to splash out on costly web developers or designers, there are some free off-the-shelf website templates and hosting services like WordPress.
A little about you
Creating a personable online profile on your social networks of choice can go a long way toward building awareness of your service and brand. With eyes glued to screens and face-to-face interaction on the decline, it’s important that your profile feels “human.” Keep it brief, but include how you can help your clients, what makes you different and a few fun facts about yourself.
Remember, you are a brand
Create both your online profile and your portfolio with your customers and clients in mind. Keeping your brand consistent across everything that represents you is crucial! People should be able to recognize your services regardless of whether they’re looking at your Instagram profile or your Letterheads.
Don’t forget your print materials: business cards, full-color postcards, flyers and personalized stickers. A digital presence is a must, but there’s nothing like premium paper stock in the hand to make a potential client take notice. To ensure that your marketing materials stand out, choose a distinctive color scheme and typeface, MOO has lots of design options for you to choose from.
Pitch your pricing
You may rather be designing handmade gift wrap than fleshing out a contract, but it pays to give careful consideration to any business pitch and be clear on your pricing strategy. Set a realistic price for your products and services, and be firm— people may get dubious if you set them too high or even lower your price too eagerly to get the work.
As you head off to make your business dream a reality, remember that old adage about great efforts producing sweet rewards. With a strong strategy in place, you’re well equipped for success. Good luck!!
Sometimes, it pays to get creative while trying to land new business. That’s exactly what Phoenix Creative Studio did. The small Montreal-based ad agency created survival kits to help workers through the tough times, from overtime slogs to terrifying pitches, they’ve got you covered. We caught up with Phoenix to learn how the big idea landed them in the Cannes Lions Advertising Festival.
The Overtime Survival Kit
No matter how late you stay, you’re taken care of with Colombian coffee, a stress ball, a USB cassette loaded with 24 inspirational songs, and The Little Book of Calm to help you relax.
The Power Outage Survival Kit
Phoenix’s Power Outage pack is kitted out with an LED flashlight to help you see, a deck of cards to keep you entertained, and wool socks to make sure you don’t die of frostbite.
The Presentation Survival Kit
Forgot about a big presentation for a client? Or have a pitch to prepare for? Don’t sweat it. The Presentation Survival Kit— filled with a laser pointer, snazzy bow ties, deodorant, and more. So you’re ready to face the audience.
Be creative in ideas, be creative in design, and show how you can execute a project.
The Big Idea
Phoenix originally only sent these Survival Kits to large advertising agencies as a way to promote their services. “We wanted a clever way to approach big agencies to show them that, if they have a lot of work, we can be there to give them a hand,” says agency president Fouad Mallouk. “We wanted to show how far we can bring a project.” In fact, the survival kits went way further than even Fouad expected. Soon, not only were the designers at Phoenix getting hundreds of requests for the kits, but they were also landing big clients. Looks like thinking outside the box— or inside the box in this case—really does pay off.
These survival kits were so popular that the folks at the Cannes Lions advertising festival asked if Phoenix could make a similar promotional package for attendees. Of course Phoenix said yes. After all, one thousand delegates from some of the biggest marketing and design agencies in the world would be there.
Just like the others, everything in the Creative Agency Survival Kit is custom-designed, from the selfie-friendly moustache to the pack of cards.
Get creative to land your next client
If your company is struggling to land its next big project, take this advice from Fouad: “Be creative in ideas, be creative in design, and show how well you can execute a project.” Who knows? Maybe you’ll be competing with him for Best Small Agency next year.
MOO’s survival kit would include a pack of Business Cards and some cake, because you never know when you’ll need it. What would be in your kit?
Written by Jillian Richardson
Here at MOO, we know it pays to get creative when it comes to promoting your work and standing out from the crowd. So we met Angie Crabtree, a Californian-based artist whose Business Cards are making a lasting impression. Etched with her sparkle and a premium finish using our Super Business Cards.
So Angie, can you tell us about your work?
Sure! My paintings consist of photo-realistic diamond facets that are enlarged 1,000+ times. Viewers experience the small, powerful object in an up-close and personal way. I donate a proportion of my earnings to The Greener Diamond Foundation. It’s a charity that runs a 100-acre farm in Sierra Leone that houses, employs, and educates child soldiers who left the mining industry.
What design and artistry techniques do you use?
I use oils and reflective glazing techniques. So the kaleidoscopic shapes create a hypnotic brilliance similar to the real thing. My work aims to challenge the standard American idea of beauty and objectification: symmetrical, proportionate, soft, striking, and sexy.
How do you mainly promote your artwork and projects?
Instagram is big for me right now. I have 37.5K followers so it’s a really good way of getting my work noticed. Networking events and getting yourself out there is also a must. The fact that I can have many different designs on my business cards is super at grabbing people’s attention too. I also chose to produce a collection of stunning Square Business Cards using MOO’s Super High Gloss finish.
Brilliant work Angie! And boy, do the Business Cards shine bright. If you need a touch of inspiration or help promoting your project or business take a look at how MOO could help.
And don’t forget to follow Angie on Instagram @angie_crabtree.
Discover our Super Collection
Launching a new product? Throw a party. A launch event is a great chance to share your brand’s message, gauge your customers’ interest – and eat cake while you’re doing it. The key to being remembered is to be concise with your planning and get creative with your execution. Here’s the need-to-know:
Set your budget
Managing Director at Story Events, Sarah Kay, insists that a successful launch “is all about the ideas and the details, not just about spending money – people won’t really notice if it’s Prosecco and not Champagne,” says Sarah. Make a list of all costs in order to set yourself a budget for the event and then work backwards from there. “You need to know what your limitations are when it comes to budget,” says Jodie Shepherd of independent fashion magazine, Noctis. Whatever you’re launching, set yourself a realistic budget and consider all extra costs like venue, catering, entertainment and installation charges.
Delight your audience
“Considering what your audience expects is really important,” says McDermott. Amplify partnered with five young creatives to turn an abandoned warehouse into a creative hub and gallery for Converse: aligning brand and audience values. Think about who you want to engage with your brand and what will most impress them. Get creative, it’s a good opportunity to surprise them by offering something different. To celebrate the launch of The Wurst of Lucky Peach, the latest book by Lucky Peach editor Chris Ying, guests were offered souvenir Postcards and Flyers that worked as bookmarks, a super simple way to add some delight.
Invite smartly
“One of the biggest mistakes that people make is that they compose their guest lists far too late in the process,” says Sarah. “Plan in advance and have your guest list at the very beginning – that way, you can hone your concept from invite right the way through to the event execution.” This allows you to plan ahead and send printed invites to those special guests too.
It’s not only about who you invite, but also how many says Sarah, “Always invite 50% more people than you expect to arrive, there will always be people who can’t make it and that way you don’t spend too much on food and drink.”If you’re inviting press, remember that they receive a high number of invites so sending them something that stands out like a printed Postcard that is more likely to lure them to your launch.
Craft your concept
A launch event can be anything from an exhibition, a panel conversation, a Q&A with interesting people connected to the brand, screenings, book readings or even an interactive webinar that is available globally on the Internet. “Your concept should always be true to your brand,” says Mark at Amplify. “Don’t try to be something you’re not. If you’re a really high-end luxury alcohol brand, a hip East-London style club night for your launch may not be the right fit. Stunts don’t always equal long-term consumers or advocates.”
Promote your products
Once the event is in full swing, make sure that guests have plenty of chances to find out all about your new product or service. Brief all staff working at the event to be ready (and able) to answer questions about what you do and print some materials for people to take with them. These days, one of the most common questions you’ll get at any event is ‘What’s the wifi code?’ so rather than trying to remember it every time, why not get it printed on some MiniCards and make these available to guests? It’s a great opportunity to promote any event-related hashtags too meaning guests can snap and share shots from the event using the official tags – #Winner.
Choose the venue
Your venue is one of the key aspects of the event and one you should consider early on, alongside your event concept. Remember, you must have a clear idea on your audience and size to begin choosing a venue. Ace Hotel’s Downtown LA rooftop bar was the perfect venue for the Lucky Peach book launch as it attracted some of the city’s coolest foodies. Look for a venue that will best suit your needs – from its size, travel connections and concept. If your business is based in a physical space, consider whether it’s appropriate to host the event, this would save you lots in venue hire fees.
Follow-up
The launch festivities don’t just end once you’re all wrapped up and tidied, in fact this is where great things start to happen. Think about how you might want to follow up with your attendees after the launch as it gives you an opportunity to thank them for coming and perhaps send them an exclusive discount for your product. “An easy way is to ensure you have everyone’s email addresses when they confirm their attendance, that way you can reach them with a post-event email send-out,’ says Mark.
So there you have it – running a memorable launch event isn’t just about bagging the most impressive venue or a guest list full of VIPs – it’s about knowing your audience and paying attention to the finer details. Hopefully, you’ll see those details after the event through the nostalgia-tinted hue of your guests’ Instagram filter…
Written by Anastasia Miari
One of our favorite things ever is seeing you share your #MOOcards all over the internet. So imagine our joy when we spotted your MOO Stickers on there too. Here are three designs that, erm, really stuck with us.
1. Soft-Gold Co
Dianna Gendron is the maker, designer, and creative behind Soft Gold Co. She produces a collection of made-by-hand of modern, design-centric jewelry so the details really matter to her. “I got new ring boxes in and needed a fresh way to brand them–so I used a MOO Sticker as a hinge! It was definitely an “aha!” moment for me, which resulted in functional, effective, and uniquely branded boxes.”
“The print quality and the shiny, durable stock are of course wonderful, but what I love most about my MOO Stickers is the convenience of getting 4 designs on one sheet, and all in one order. This means I can easily mix up my branding elements, and use a different sticker for my jewelry boxes, invoice envelopes, and shipping box without having to order 4 different boxes of Stickers.”
Follow Dianna @softgoldco.
2. Ginger Thread House
Kate creates felt brooches and decorations which she sells via her own Etsy store as well as craft markets. We loved the way that she used our Stickers across her packaging and product presentation. “I use my Stickers in lots of ways! I pop them in orders as a ‘freebie’. I decorate parcels with them. I use them to seal my tissue paper in parcels (like in the photo). I also use them to brand my paper bags at craft markets.”
“I love how versatile they are! They’re a great alternative to business cards, and I love how it makes branding easy and cheap for someone who can’t quite afford their own branded items.” Says Kate. “I recently had an Etsy review that complimented me on my packaging that I was really happy with! And at the end of the day, who doesn’t love a Sticker!?”
Follow Kate @gingerthreadhouse.
3. Ashley Bunten
German-based artist Ashley Bunten founded her agency this year. Part design studio and part online shop Ashley creates custom invitations, cards, art prints, hand-painted stationery and original watercolors. Once again, details matter and her logo looks great on the Stickers.
“I use my Stickers on my textile packaging and to seal envelopes when mailing my paintings. I love the quality and size of my Stickers”.
Follow Ashley @ashleybuntendesign.
Do you want your brand to stick in your customers minds? Design your own Stickers now.
If you’re stuck for inspiration, don’t worry, explore our existing designs.
Remember to keep sharing your MOO cards (and Stickers) with us by including #MOOcards in your posts!
Are you looking to improve your daily commute AND become more successful while you’re doing it? Well look no further, say hello to Australian success story, Rushfaster. The company is a niche online retailer that is focused on products and information that fall into the categories of everyday carry and lifehacking.
The brand has become one of Australia’s most talked about niche shopping platforms, cofounder Dan Clark explains “Our products improve your daily travel or leads to a more successful, organised life”.
Clark and his cofounder Joe Vuong have together built a community of amazing founders, creatives, designers and professionals through products and knowledge, looking to help this community get on with building the things they’re passionate about. The company launched back in 2004, with Clark and Vuong completely bootstrapping the venture from day one. The million dollar plus company is also completely profitable and is therefore able to fund its growth plans, while staying profitable.
To attract customers to the platform, Rushfaster uses techniques such as customer experience marketing. A classic example of their grassroots style can be seen over at the site’s YouTube channel, which reviews bags, clothes, and accessories for the publication and garners thousands of eyeballs in the meantime. Essentially, Customer Experience Marketing is really just about putting your clients at the forefront of your company’s marketing strategy.
The days of listing features and benefits of products to make a sale are gone. Customers expect an experience when they shop online or otherwise nowadays; a personalised one. For that, the brand uses Business Cards and other materials. They also boost their networking by using our Printfinity technology which allows up to 50 different designs in each pack of cards, “when our team members hand out their cards everyone loves them and comments on the unique photo that’s on that back of each and every card” says Dan. In addition to Business Cards the company also prints other branded materials like Letterheads and Postcards.
We’re so happy our products are part of Rushfaster’s success!
This post has been produced in partnership with Startup Daily.
Featured Image : Rushfaster Founders | Source: Supplied
Great pre-listing packs are more than a stack of sheets about a property’s highlights and snazzy downlighting, I’m being totally serious. In fact, the real purpose of a pre-listing packet is to sell you as a credible realtor people can trust, not just sell the property. Here are the 6 essentials for your pre-listing pack.
Before you start, think of the questions your pack needs to answer for that potential client. For example, Who are you as an agent? What’s your business like? What expertise do you have? Will you sell that can sell their house quickly and for the best price?
According to Realtor Magazine, you should mail your pre-listing packet to potential clients a few days before you visit their home. Providing so much information in advance makes it easier for clients to list with you.
Be sure to include these essential documents:
1. A cover letter
Here’s where you introduce your company, your selling experience, and your skills. Don’t forget to include contact details, get creative and personalise your stationery with our Letterhead stock.
2. Personal marketing brochure, Business Cards or Flyers:
Emphasize the unique reasons for people to choose you. For example, note how many houses you sold in the past year, what type of property you specialize in, and the kind of advertising and marketing you typically do.
3. Testimonials
Positive reviews from past clients go a long way to establishing credibility. Build up your testimonials bank by bringing up the importance of reviews early on, and remind customers at the end of the sales process. If you’re relatively new on the realty scene, offer an incentive such as a gift card to a home goods store like Pier 1 or Home Depot – and provide it whether or not they write the review, otherwise you’re in the shady territory of having paid for someone’s good word. Printing these on Flyers are a great way to get the message across.
4. Area Guide
Show off your knowledge about the neighborhood by including surveys on, say, low crime rates or great school rankings. Your pre-listing packet should also include your standard listing agreement, as well as other selling forms required by your state.
5. Digestible Sales Process Description
The selling process can be complicated for homeowners. Simplify it by giving your potential sellers a step-by-step flowchart.
6. Pricing breakdown
The list price of a home can be a huge cause of disagreements between realtors and clients. Set expectations from the start by including a sheet on how you’ll evaluate the list price. If you have room, give some insight into the pricing process, such as how market conditions inform the selling price.
Discover our Real Estate Business Card designs
Written by Jillian Richardson
We’re on a mission to find out about your latest projects, dreams and business schemes. So we met with Light and Lotus, a brand making brightly colored, meaningful jewelery with heart. They added a lot of feeling to their Super Square Business Cards too by using our Soft Touch finish.
Don’t just see it, feel it
Light and Lotus is on a mission to inspire us. From their base in Boston, Jessica Sage designs beautiful jewelery that’s made by hand in the United States. She takes a spiritual approach to her business and believes that the jewelery we wear serves as a symbol to remind and inspire you. Their original approach to business starts with their brand name, “In times of hardship we can recall the lotus to remind us that we will soon come out on the other side stronger and more beautiful. The word light symbolizes what many of us are searching for on our journey- peace, meaning, love, freedom”.
This spirit is behind everything they do, and they say each piece is infused with love and positive energy. “It’s important for us as a brand to make a connection with our customers, it’s about how they feel”. Their collection of beaded bracelets and other beautiful creations also supports animals with ten percent of their profits going to the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
Light and Lotus aim to offer their customers a multi-sensory experience with their products and they have applied the same thinking to unique Super Square Business Cards on our Soft Touch finish.
We’re on a mission to find out about your latest projects, dreams and business schemes. So we caught up with blogger Kelsey to hear about her story so far, and learn how MOO is helping her celebrate the Megsy-Jane brand.
Why did you decide to start blogging?
I’ve always had a love of cosmetics ever since being a young girl, so I started to explore natural products and was disappointed with the range of all-natural makeup and cosmetics at my local health food store. So I turned to the internet and started to discover lots of new beautiful brands. The choice, the colors, the luxurious packaging. A whole new world was opened up to me. And the ingredients were all squeaky-clean.
Just like that Megsy-Jane was born?
Yes! I began the blog as a way to share all of the wonderful brands and products I have discovered in the world of natural, organic and green beauty. I’ve had a love of cosmetics and beautiful things ever since I can remember. It’s always been my passion.
What happened next?
I needed to get my blog out there. So I used a social media and word of mouth to network. Friends and family shared my posts and I got some Business Cards printed. I started to hand them out to everyone. Absolutely everyone.
Can you tell us about your Business Cards?
They’re floral-inspired Business Cards. I picked the Soft Touch finish across my cards, adding a tactile quality to the card to be different and stand out. And my love of beautiful packaging inspired my Business Cards. I hand them out a lot. It’s important to be able tell people about my blog wherever I go.
We think Kelsey has the flower power! See how our Soft Touch finish can give your cards a softer edge over your competition and share your stories below!
The teeny-weeny details will make a great lasting impact when promoting your business or project. So we met a textile and surface designer who chose to print her nature-inspired designs on our soft touch paper to add that extra tactility to her MOO Business Cards.
Hi Patricia! Can you tell us about your work?
Hi! I’m a graphic designer who specializes in textile and surface design. My work takes inspiration from nature and I transfer this to anything from curtains to cushions and kitchen tops.
How did you come up with the idea for your business cards?
I believe that creativity and uniqueness is what sets us apart in an industry full of talented designers. You need to stand out from the competition. The textile and surface design industries are interested in far more than design; people want to know how your designs will actually feel to the touch – it’s important to create a sensory experience wherever you can.
We‘re fans of they way the delicate and detailed designs look on the surface of your MOO business cards
Thanks! I chose to print my business cards on MOO’s our Soft Touch finish in order to add that extra tactility to my designs. In an industry that’s not all about the way things look, this extra touch really helps my business stand out.
Fantastic work Patricia! If you need a touch of inspiration or help promoting your project or business take a look at how MOO could help.
Discover our Super Collection.
Here at MOO we know it pays to get creative when it comes to promoting your work and standing out from the crowd. So we met Roope Sirola, a talented photographer whose (very) shiny new Business Cards got us feeling more than a little reflective here at MOO HQ.
Gain exposure
The enigmatic Roope Sirola simply describes himself as a photographer and explorer. His love of exploring is clear throughout some of the breathtaking landscapes of his Finnish homeland. He showcases his talent for capturing the more human moments through his collection of music and event photography. The shots capture moments in time perfectly and create a connection with the viewer – it feels like you are there in that moment.
Make the connection
It’s not only Roope’s photographs that caught our attention, his minimal logo fit well with his reductive approach to his brand and his Super Business Cards are designed to evoke a feeling by being printed with a high gloss finish.
Discover our Super Collection.