Business Cards in the Age of Digital
Has digital networking taken over? Does your carefully crafted Business Card stand a chance against Instagram? MOO definitely thinks it does.
Networking. What that meant ten years ago has now taken on a whole new dimension. Where once you might have handed Tristan from Seattle a Business Card, you now exchange LinkedIn information, or maybe even Instagrams – so, are Business Cards still relevant?
It’s easy to think the importance of Business Cards has diminished in the era of digital. After all, why would anyone take the time to fish out your card from the dozens they receive when your information is neatly stored on their ‘connections’ list? Because, just like those dozens of Business Cards, you’ll have hundreds of digital connections to contend with. That’s precisely why Business Cards are still relevant – it’s the old-fashioned ways that work best. Of course, they work even better if you have a Business Card design that’s impossible to forget.
The Importance of Business Cards
The online community is a powerhouse of marketing possibilities, and you should certainly be tapping into it yourself with some solid omnichannel marketing techniques. Still, even with 100 images and endless status updates, a simple business card can rival them all when it comes to making impactful and instant impressions on customers and clients alike.
LinkedIn is great, but everyone’s profile looks aesthetically similar. With Business Cards, the only limit to your creativity are the dimensions of your rectangle (well, unless you try our Square Business Cards), so that even in a single glance, you can tell people what they really need to know about your business, right down to your color palette.
Perhaps one of the key reasons Business Cards are still relevant is because they demonstrate professionalism simply by existing. They’re not a free social media account that’s been hastily set up, an email address quickly scribbled on scrap paper or just another phone number listed under a first name. The importance of Business Cards comes from their status. They are proof that you have invested time, money, creativity and passion into your brand, and serve as a physical token to cement it into reality. Plus, taking a card from your Business Card Holder and handing it over is an unparalleled gesture of professionalism, so long as the card is sleekly designed, of course.
The Importance of Visiting Cards
Alright, so maybe visiting cards went out of fashion a few hundred years ago, but your Business Card can play a similar function. Whether you’re placing stacks of them in local bars and cafes to inform regulars of your brand, slipping them into letterboxes or handing them out on the street, your Business Card lets your brand be present in spaces where you can’t be.
Your Business Card introduces you without a face or a handshake and helps extend your network without a single word. Even the Instagram influencer with 3+ million followers understands the importance of Business Cards, because making an impact in the digital world still requires a strong first impression in the real one.
A Pocket Portfolio
Unlike a name and number, your Business Card serves as a brand portfolio that shows off your aesthetics (feel free to be quirky with Mini Business Cards) or even your beliefs (100% Recycled Cotton Business Cards keep things green), while also keeping all your key contact info handy.
However, if you ask us at MOO “are Business Cards over?’, our answer is a resounding ‘No’ followed by: ‘Have you tried our NFC Business Cards?’
NFC Business Cards
MOO prides itself on staying ahead of the game when it comes to all things printed, but we know the world of digital is hugely important too. That’s why, for people who just don’t want to separate the two, we’ve created our Near Field Communication (NFC) chip cards.
A little bit old, a little bit new with a touch of magic, these Business Cards can be read by NFC devices like smartphones to automatically trigger a function when scanned, most commonly the opening of your website in the phone’s browser – pretty incredible, right? If exchanging Business Cards is about making lasting impressions, then this is the product that ticks all the boxes.
So, are Business Cards over? Not at all, in fact, at MOO, they’re living their best lives.
A good branding agency can help you transform your business and reach new markets and customers. But how do you choose the right one?
Why work with a branding agency?
Let’s be honest – hiring an agency is a significant investment. And the returns on that investment won’t be immediate. But it can still be a move worth making, even in the early days of your business. Here are some of the reasons an agency could be the best option for your company.
- Expertise and efficiency
An agency can do things faster and more expertly than your in-house team, because they do it every day and have it down to a fine art. - Keeps business-as-usual ticking over
By hiring an agency, you’re reserving your in-house resources for the everyday tasks they do best. - Market knowledge
Agency professionals have an incredible breadth of knowledge – they’ve met and worked with a wide range of businesses and have learned from all of them. They’ll have a balanced overview of what’s out there and what works best for different kinds of companies. - A fresh perspective
An outside party can recognize things about your business that nobody inside it can. They’ll have a clear view of your strengths, weaknesses and opportunities, and their observations could positively impact your whole business strategy.
So if you’ve decided that hiring an agency is right for you, here are some key pointers for how to do it.
- Be proactive, not reactive
The decision to hire a branding agency should be one you make strategically. Of course, that’s in an ideal world. Typically, the question of whether to hire a design or creative agency comes in response to a specific need. It could be that you’ve made the decision to rebrand, you’re ready for a shiny new logo, or you’re rolling out a new product with a lot of potential. But even though it might be triggered by an event, make your decision based on the needs of your whole business.
Consider whether the agency will be able to work in partnership with you beyond the short-term objective of your current project. Can they contribute to your regular marketing activities, for example by managing your social media presence? Do they have a range of services you could see yourself using as your company grows? How about their communication – is it easy to get on a call with them when you need to?
- Consider location
Sometimes, a geographically local agency is the best choice because it means you can co-locate and work together in person with their team. Then again, some businesses prefer agencies to work remotely, so that they can take advantage of the specialized skills available in large cities, or because the agency is in the same place as the company’s target market, giving them a natural advantage in having a shared culture.
. - Know where to find branding agencies
Finding an agency used to be a matter of reputation and recommendation, with partnerships developing through word of mouth. But these days it’s relatively simple to find an agency using nothing more than your smartphone. You can find lists of creative agencies for hire through online portals like AgencyFinder, AdForum or DigitalAgencyNetwork, to name just a few. That said, word of mouth can still be extremely valuable if you have a network to tap into. As we described in our article on rebranding strategy, there’s value in taking recommendations from other businesses you have a strong relationship with, or reaching out to companies whose branding and creative approach you admire to see if they can make an introduction.
How to compare different branding agencies
Being unique, fresh and different is definitely something an agency should be able to excel at, and many agencies pride themselves on being one of a kind. But a lack of common terminology and service descriptions can sometimes make it tricky for potential clients to compare offerings and choose between different agencies. Here are some ways to make sure you’re not comparing apples with oranges.
- Price
Ask the agency about their billing model to see how prices are calculated. Many use a day rate, where a fee is charged depending on how much time is spent. There may be one blended day rate for the whole agency, or a higher day rate for more senior and skilled staff members such as creative directors.
The day rate may be used to calculate a quote or an estimate for the work which you and the agency agree on at the outset, or it can be used on a ‘time and materials’ basis, where the amount you spend is left open-ended so the scope of the project can evolve over time.
Another way of billing is to charge a fixed fee. This is where a product or service always costs the same, and it usually indicates that the agency has a well-established process that they use for all their clients.
- Skills and team composition
Many creative agencies offer a broad range of services, but often they’ll have some abilities that are core and some that are new and developing. To get a flavor of where an agency’s strengths lie, try looking at the individuals making up their team.
Look at the agency’s ‘about us’ page on their website, or review their personnel profiles on LinkedIn, and see what kind of skill-sets are represented and how many staff are employed within each specialism.
For example, are there a lot of senior-level coders and developers, but only a single copywriter or designer? This may indicate that the agency’s strength is design-and-build or app development projects rather than creative ones.
- Awards and associations
Has the agency won any awards? If so, they’re likely to be displayed proudly on the website or social profiles. Awards generally categorize agencies, for example ‘best social media campaign’ or ‘best small agency’. The same goes for associations and professional bodies the agency may be part of, which tend to group together types of business according to their specialisms and interests.
While it’s not an exact science, looking at awards and affiliations in conjunction with the other tips above can be a helpful way to narrow down your choices.
Found the agency of your dreams? Here’s how to get the most out of working with your branding agency
A poorly prepared Business Card can doom an international meeting before it begins. Read our top Business Card etiquette tips for success.
We’re sure you’ve created stunning Business Cards that speak for themselves, but if you’re headed overseas, you might want to brush up on global good manners. The last thing you want is to commit a faux pas that stops your card from getting the reception it deserves! Here are our top Business Card etiquette tips for around the world.
Asian Business Card Etiquette
Respect and rank play a larger role in Japan and China than they do in the West. Prepare to be judged on every aspect of your Business Card etiquette, from the way you present your Business Card to how you store it. Don’t be afraid to over-estimate how many cards you will need, either, as giving the whole office (or, in Japan, just about anyone you meet) a card is seen as the done thing. You should also make sure a Business Card Holder is top of your packing list, any other storage method just won’t cut it.
Chinese Business Card Etiquette
Business etiquette in China is based on the efforts you have made to understand and adapt to the local culture. For example, presenting a Chinese associate with an English-only card will likely cause catastrophic damage to your relationship..
When creating your Chinese translation, ensure you have localized the script correctly. Simplified Chinese is used in mainland China and Singapore while traditional Chinese characters are used in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macau – presenting a translated version in the wrong script can be interpreted as disrespectful or ignorant.
Your information should include your name, business title and usual contact details. You can also be a little free to boast here – if your company is the largest of its sort in the US or the one with the longest-running history, this is considered significant in Asia, so add it in.
Try and introduce a little color to your China-bound Business Card, red is seen as lucky. MOO even lets you add chic accents with Luxe Business Cards so you can have a flash of fortuitous color without changing your main design.
Business Card Etiquette in Japan
While a translated Business Card is not as crucial in Japan as it is in China, Japan is arguably even bigger on respect and Japanese Business Card etiquette is something of a ceremony. Make the effort to ensure your new colleagues can comfortably read the card you provide. They should be printed with Chinese/Japanese on one side, English on the other.
Cards should be taken with both hands. It is not uncommon to keep both hands drawn up and ready to receive, even after you have offered your card. The exchange should be accompanied by a bow and a vocal introduction of who you are and your job title. You should also confirm the name of the person as you read it, to assure them that you will not soon forget who they are.
Business Cards should always be kept out, either on top of your holder, facing your colleague, or – in the case of numerous cards – set out on the desk in the order of the colleagues opposite you, to help remember names if nothing else!
Manners Matter
The presentation of your 100th Business Card that day should be done with the same respect as you demonstrated with card number 1. So don’t imply that the card you are presenting is just one of many. For example, setting out a stack of cards and handing them out like dealing cards, or even holding more than one in your hand at a time, could be seen as rude.
On that note, your first card should always be presented to the most senior staff member, working down the hierarchy after that. Business Cards should be exchanged on meeting. You should be standing, and never hand it over with just one hand – hold it out with both, translated side facing up.
The Business Card is a representation of a business, so take the time to read and appreciate the card you receive, don’t just put it away. Carefully place it in a case or keep it on the desk so you can refer back to it.
Business Cards in India
If you are heading to India, Business Card etiquette changes once again. You should not necessarily bring a translated Business Card as English is widely understood and accepted as the language of international business, but you should be sure to hand over your card with the right hand, as is custom. You might also want to add your alumni and college degree as academics are highly prized in India.
Middle East Business Card Etiquette
Business etiquette in the UAE and the Middle East is a blend of Asia and Europe. There is much less ceremony about the exchange, but you should aim to have two-sided Business Cards in Arabic and English. Like in Japan, Business Cards should be given out freely as a friendly gesture to both clients, colleagues or fellow business visitors you meet during your trip. You should hand out cards with your right hand.
Don’t be disarmed by the relaxed mood that your meeting may have, as many business people in the Middle East see business as a chance to foster personal friendships.
European Business Card Etiquette
Handing over your Business Card in Europe is not unlike doing so stateside, but there are little things that give the exchange a bit of continental flair. While a carrying case isn’t considered the be-all and end-all of card storage, it will help sharpen your professional image.
- Unlike the UAE and Asia, in Germany, Business Cards are seen as a way to deliver prized information – that is, your personal contact details. As such, you should not hand them out to everyone you meet, but give one to the associates who need direct access to you.
- In France, a translated Business Card will be greatly appreciated. Your surname should also be written in capitals to be more visible.
- Italians also appreciate translated cards, and information on your college degree should be added, too.
- The UK is relatively relaxed when it comes to Business Cards, which can be exchanged at any point in the meeting, usually towards the end as a way to exchange details and bring the meeting to a close. In the interests of politeness, never give out your card without first asking for the card of your associate.
Ready to go global with your brand? Make sure to stock up on Business Cards that are world-class with MOO.
More and more of us are turning to pen and paper to keep our work lives in order. Here’s how to turn your notebook into a productivity goldmine.
We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again – learning how to be more productive is one of the best ways to invest your time, whatever profession you’re in.
There’s a wealth of knowledge out there, from time techniques like the Pomodoro method to psychology hacks like habit-stacking and temptation-bundling. Need a daily organizer? A notebook will get you sorted.
What if a simple notebook and pen could revolutionize your personal productivity levels?
Say hello to the analog productivity trend
There’s a growing movement of people who are shifting away from apps and digital productivity solutions and embracing the world of pen and paper. From luxurious notebooks and stationery to the enjoyment of the hand-written word, there are plenty of reasons for choosing to add a good old-fashioned notebook planner into your modern lifestyle.
For one thing, as our lives become more entwined with technology, going analog answers the need to switch off. Working with a notebook productivity system is a neat way to perform a digital detox without putting your life on hold. There’s no blue light, so you can update it at night without risking your sleep hygiene. And it’s a great way to focus for a period of time without the interruption of notifications or the temptation of more-ish mobile games.
Digital or paper? Pros and cons
The pen-and-paper lifestyle has an undeniable appeal. But is it right for you? To help you decide, here are some of the ways paper productivity solutions are different from their digital counterparts.
- Space and capacity
A digital productivity organizer, such as a to-do list app or Kanban board, isn’t limited in terms of the space it offers you. You can add as many tasks or sections to it as you like without having to buy a new one.
However, a paper product only has so many pages, which means you need to choose a format that’s got all the room you need or to have more than one volume of your notebook journal. For those who enjoy stationery or love to ‘collect the set’ this can be a definite advantage. (Did we mention there are 6 colorways of our gorgeous hardcover MOO Notebooks?) - Deleting mistakes
If you make a mistake on your smartphone, computer or other device, it’s simple to hit the backspace key and try again. Nobody – not even you when you read it again – needs to even know you didn’t have it right first time.
On paper, there are ways to undo what you’ve written such as rubbing out pencil or erasable pen marks, or scribbling out words written in ink. But there’s usually an indication you’ve made a change. This isn’t a drawback necessarily, it just means you need to be comfortable with a more mindful approach to note-writing, or with embracing little imperfections when they come up. - Uniqueness
Digital information can be backed up, replicated or stored in the cloud for access on multiple devices. Your notebook planner is one of a kind, the only copy in existence, which makes it a precious possession. Accidents do happen, so if you’re using a notebook, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of photographing your pages regularly so you have a digital backup of your information. - Personality
A notebook planner becomes a little world all of your own, as creative as you want it to be and completely personalized. There are so many ways to express yourself, from your choice of page layouts to your ink color to the little doodles you make in the margin. Then there’s your choice of notebook, the kind of paperstock you favor and whether you go for lined or dotted rule.
An app might have different customization options like color schemes or calendar layouts, but it’s never going to be as personal as something written by your own fair hand. - Availability
Having a notebook planner around gives you a physical reminder of your schedule and your commitment to yourself to be organized and productive. It’s right there on your desktop or in your bag, unlike an app or software tucked away inside your phone. It’s also really easy to get an overview of what’s current and to flip the pages and find out how far you’ve come since you started – great for building motivation.
5 tips to help you plan your life on paper
Who needs a life planner when a Notebook can do the trick?
1. Mix up analog and digital
We’ve explored the differences between paper planners and online or digital tools. But who said it had to be either or? Why not take the best from both worlds and combine digital and paper tools in a way that suits you?
For example, you could set a daily alarm on your phone to remind you to update your journal. Just set it up as a daily recurring event on your calendar app. Or you might run a digital to-do list alongside your notebook planner. Organizing your daily planner this way could be a promising option if you often have tasks that have a component online. For example a link to your Maps app for directions to an event, or to your best friend’s Amazon Wishlist when you’re planning for their birthday.
Tip: use a special symbol in your paper planner next to these tasks to show that they’ve also been added in your app, so you can cross-reference the two.
2. Embrace the beauty of bullets
The appeal of the notebook planner is obvious when you take a look into the online world of bullet journaling (#bujo). Fans of this trend, which was developed by Ryder Carroll, fill their blogs and Instagram feeds with inspiring page spreads from their creative and productivity notebooks and use luxurious stationery and tools to create planners that are functional works of art.
We’ve delved into the bullet journal trend previously, but now it’s time to get into the nitty gritty of bullet journal productivity.
Anatomy of a bullet journal
A typical bullet journal starts with an index page, which is a numbered contents page for your productivity notebook. After that there are a series of logs, or lists. These are usually based around time periods, like month, week or day, although you can also have ‘custom logs’ for specific tasks or events such as wedding planning or vacation research.
The language of the bullet journal is ‘rapid logging’. It’s a way of noting things concisely, and as the name suggests it’s pretty speedy. Unlike writing long-hand, it condenses your journaling into the shortest possible time, so you’ve got more of your day available to get work done. According to the Bullet Journal website, Rapid Logging has 4 components:
a) Topic
Short, informative titles for your pages, such as “Vacation Checklist” or “January”. They make it simple to keep your thoughts organized and to group your tasks on a page. Use your Notebook for planning, doing, and dreaming.
b) Page numbers
These are important because they map the pages of your bullet journal to an index at the front of your notebook, so you can find what you need at a glance – another time-saving win.
c) Short sentences
Unlike a regular notebook or journal, a BuJo is about saving time, so sentences should be short and concise. Instead of “Today I need to take my dog to the vet”, write “dog to vet”
d) Bullets
The heart of the bullet journal system. There are a few kinds of bullets that help you plan your time and record your progress.
- Dots (.) indicate a task
- Dashes (-) are notes
- Circles (o) show open tasks
- Crosses (x) are completed tasks
- Stars (*) are priority tasks
At the end of your day, week or month, you can choose to migrate the tasks left open to the next page of your notebook, or discard them by drawing a line through them. That way you’ve left a record of how you prioritized your tasks which can make future planning more efficient.
3. Try a new notation style
There’s no question that the bullet journal is the definitive 21st century productivity journal. But it’s not the only analog notation style in town. There are other options too, such as Strikethru. This system is interesting because it shares some characteristics with the Kanban board, a digital to-do-list focused on moving tasks from one place to another.
With Strikethru, your notebook is divided into 3 parts:
- Live list
Your current to-do-list, which will live in the front part of your notebook. Each day, fill a new page with a list of tasks, which you get to cross out (hence the name) when they’re complete. - Vault
The middle section of your notebook, which contains longer-term goals or ideas which can be moved into the Live list when you’re ready to tackle them. - Dump
The back third of the notebook, which is reserved for quick notes, ideas you need to jot down in a hurry, phone numbers, doodles and whatever else you like. If you’re using one of our MOO Hardcover Notebooks, the heavier-weight colored pages in the centre would be the perfect place for this section.
You can also include a calendar section at the front or back of the Strikethru notebook to help you keep track of important events, anniversaries and deadlines. And of course, there are no rules saying you have to adopt just one system and stick to it. Why not combine elements of the bullet journal and Strikethru in a way that suits you? It’s your notebook after all.
4. Schedule your notebook planner time
One of the biggest challenges people seem to face with productivity notebooks or planners is actually using them.
Notebooks that were started with enthusiasm can end up gathering dust on a shelf unless you’re able to successfully form the habit and stick to it. Regular use will also maximize the benefits of the process, as you’ll build up a record of your activity over time.
Routine = habit
Call it notebook, planner, organizer… The point is to shape your life the way you want. Adopting a regular journal schedule is one way to make sure the journal habit sticks with you. Decide on a ten-minute window each day when you’ll sit down with your notebook planner. It may be first thing in the morning while you drink your coffee, or last thing at night when you’re concluding your day and thinking about your goals for tomorrow.
For the best chance of success, pick the time of day you usually feel most alert and engaged, and make sure you have enough uninterrupted time to get the job done.
5. Get creative with the notebook format
You don’t have to be a crafting genius to physically transform your notebook and extend its productivity powers. Here are a few simple hacks you can make using everyday items from your stationery drawer.
- Dutch door
A smart way of looking at two pages at once. Dutch door modifications involve cutting or folding some of your pages so that you can see the other pages behind them.
Some people make a horizontal dutch door spread that allows daily pages to be turned while a weekly or monthly spread stays visible at the top. Others do it vertically, by either cutting or folding a single page in half down the center so it forms an insert within a weekly or daily spread. - Pocket
Just attach a piece of stiff card on three sides to the inside of your journal using glue or washi tape, and you’ve added a handy pocket. It’s great for safely storing business cards, stamps, coupons or whatever you like. By the way, our MOO notebooks come with helpful stickable pockets included, so there’s no need to do any DIY. - Bookmark
Save a few moments finding the right page with a handy bookmark. You can take advantage of the built-in ribbon bookmark in your MOO notebook, or attach one with tape to the spine or inner cover.
Feeling the pull of paper? Explore our range of showstopping Notebooks and Planners.
Creating a profitable and successful business is both challenging and exciting – you need to have a clear brand vision with a firm understanding of the product you’re creating, marketing and selling.
Sarah, Director of Geo Heaven has found her niche. She creates beautifully unique, 3D printed, geometric jewellery. Whilst the idea of geometric design may not be new, the process of 3D printing is. In the space of 4 months, Sarah has created a product, branded her business and is now selling her products online and in stores. We caught up with Sarah to find out how she got her unique, 6-11 business off the ground.
Why did you decide to start creating jewellery?
I knew for quite a few years that I wanted to set up my own jewellery company – I work in education and that wasn’t really filling my creative needs. I had lots of ideas but I felt as though each one I was coming up with wasn’t original and unique enough. I was driving home from the midlands last year, and suddenly decided I wanted to make 3D printed jewellery, I knew what I wanted it to look like and what I wanted to call the company – it was a definite lightbulb moment.
Take us through your creative process – how did you get to the final product?
I knew I wanted to make geometric jewellery and I knew I wanted to 3D print it. People are drawn to geometric shapes because they occur naturally within nature, with this in mind, I knew that I could make something timeless. As I was 3D printing, I wanted to create 3D structures. I loved the wire frame look of the structures and the shadows they created, which is where my first collection came from.
I create all of the designs using a CAD computer package – my husband is a computer programmer, he taught me how to use the CAD package, allowing me to bring the designs I had in my head, to life. There’s a lot of maths involved to create perfect symmetry. After I created the initial prototypes I began exploring dyeing techniques, ultimately bringing me to the products we have now.
How do you prioritise your time, running your 6-11 alongside your 9-5?
It’s difficult having a full time job as well as running a business – I’d love for my 6-11 to become my 9-5. Most evenings are spent working on the jewellery and I schedule and prioritise my time accordingly. I might be out with friends for dinner and receive some orders. Once I’m home I’ll stay up putting those orders together so that they can be fulfilled the following day. As long as you’re committed, you can do it.
How did you build your branding and why do you feel it’s important for your branding and products to work cohesively together?
I spent a lot of time behind the scenes deciding on the brand vision. I knew that when I launched I wanted to have a very clear and cohesive brand and I’d received a lot of advice on the importance of having a strong brand identity. I wanted to have the word “geometric” in the brand name, hence Geo Heaven.
My branding was designed by my friend Steph who runs a company called Donut Press – she’s a creative genius. I put a mood board together of things that had inspired me, Steph looked at this and created the branding from there.
I think it’s really important for your branding to represent the product as it helps people to invest in the brand. I put lots of thought into the colour pallet – all of the colours in the branding also feature across my jewellery range. I believe that you have to invest a lot of time and effort into branding if you want to be taken seriously. I initially had a go at creating my own logo and it didn’t relate to the product whatsoever. I’m so glad that I outsourced to a designer who lives and breaths branding.
3D printing is still a relatively new medium. How do you market your product and overcome people’s objections and suspicions of 3D printing?
A lot of people don’t understand the process of 3D printing at the moment. There’s loads of 3D printers that you can buy and keep at home but they have an inkjet nozzle with a filament, which means the printed layers are thick and not very good for jewellery as they don’t have a smooth finish.
I use a process called laser contouring – there’s a bed of nylon powder, which lasers are fired at fusing the nylon together as it hardens. I’ve got a large section on my website about the process and techniques used in making the jewellery. I also include an information slip in the boxes explaining the process to help customers understand what’s gone into that particular piece that they’ve just bought. It makes them truly appreciate it.
What inspires your jewellery range?
I’m inspired by every shape I see, whether it be 2D or 3D, a drawing on a piece of paper or a building on a street. This collection was definitely inspired by a trip to Krakow in Poland. We went to MOCAK, the modern art museum. There was this bright red, gigantic geometric structure that you could walk around, which I think sparked my idea for Geo Heaven.
What are you doing to build and promote your brand, and how do you use MOO’s range of products to support you with this?
I advertise through social media primarily, promoting my website and stockists through Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. It’s working really well for me – it’s actually how some of my stockists initially approached me.
Each of my stockists have some of my Luxe Business Cards which they’ll hand out to people – everybody comments on the quality of the business cards as well as the coloured edge. I also use Stickers to brand plain bags, and wrapping. I even pop a sticker onto the Jiffy bag when I post out the jewellery – I love the idea of my customers being hit with the brand as soon as they get the parcel.
What are your tips for aspiring jewellers looking to develop their hobby into a 6-11 business?
- Take your brand seriously – understand your brand identity and vision. If you don’t, others won’t either.
- Social media is powerful, particularly for small indie businesses – it’s an amazing platform. You should put a lot of thought into how you want your feeds to look so that they’re cohesive. For example, I like to use a concrete background in all of my product shots. People spend around 4 seconds on your feed before deciding if they want to follow your or not, so you’ve got to grab their attention!
- Lastly, invest in quality when it comes to marketing and promoting your brand. As I mentioned, I use the Luxe Business Cards – they aren’t the cheapest cards, but they’re called “Luxe” for a reason – you get what you pay for – they really reflect my brand and I always get complimented on them!
What’s next for you?
The next collection is going to explore the properties and layers you can get by using 3D printing, so printing something within something! Watch this space!
Explore the Luxe collection
Kia Cannons is one inspirational hero – an artist who was told she wasn’t allowed to paint, she’s grown her style, her business and a community of adoring admirers all through her own persistence (helped along by a healthy dash of humour).
In rural Surrey, you’ll find a leafy village called Farnham – the unlikely scene of an artistic idyll – the studio of abstract artist Kia Cannons. Kia, who goes by the name of Sticks and Ink invited us to her garden workshop to find out more about her remarkable talent – and how she, who as a student was told she wasn’t allowed to take art classes at school, has built a hugely successful living as an artist.
Kia! You’ve become huge on Instagram, known for your distinctive style and gorgeous palette. How did you get started?
I’d always wanted to do something creative. I was doing project management and admin for years to support my husband, who was setting up his business as a graphic designer. When we finished uni he knew what he wanted to do and I didn’t. So we said I’d support him while he was doing that, then we’d swap and I could do whatever I wanted to do after that.
I knew I wanted to do something creative, but I didn’t know what. When I was at school, I was told by the art teacher that I wasn’t allowed to pick art, because she said I couldn’t draw. And as a child, I absolutely took that on and fully believed it.
I was always waiting for permission – I don’t know who from – and I remember always walking past the art department window. If I got to go in there to see a friend or something, I would see all the paintbrushes in jam jars on the windowsill and it would make my heart race with desperation to get in there. I spent years looking longingly at studio windows.
What was the catalyst to get going?
It all came about when my youngest, who’s now 5, was 2 at the time – I was at a local arts venue doing a sewing cafe with a friend, and there was an exhibition on there. I was so unarty, I hadn’t ever really been to an exhibition. There was all this abstract art and I immediately felt like… “I think I could do this! And I think I want to do this!”. My friend suggested I take a course or something.
I was still telling myself “oh I can’t draw, it’ll just be a waste of the materials.” And then when we were leaving we picked up the prospectus for the venue and it had all these experimental classes in it.
It was starting in September when my youngest was about to start pre-school – for the first time in about 5 years I hadn’t done anything for myself, I’d just been a full-time mum. So the thought of dropping my youngest off at school and going off to an art class just felt so decadent!
From then on, I fell in love with it very quickly – 2 months in they were having an exhibition and I put a few studies in. As a test, I priced them as high as the value was to me – and a piece was bought. So that was the catalyst for me. I told myself I had 2 years to make this work because I just didn’t want to go back to the city, to admin and project management!
Your style combines this gorgeous, gestural style with hot wax batik – where did you learn this technique?
I learned the hot wax batik method in that experimental drawing class and just loved it. We learned all kinds of techniques there – weaving, painting botanicals and I got to the end of this course and learned that really it was paint and brushes I wanted to work with. So then I started experimenting there and discovered that I just love painting instinctively with big, gestural strokes. And in fact, not even with brushes, I like painting with blades.
Then I got to know Instagram and discovered there were lots of other abstract artists around. I didn’t ever want to end up looking too similar to what’s going on with the masses. I knew I needed to find something really distinctive. The hot wax batik had never left me – so I thought I need to see if I could try and combine the two.
So – that’s where I began. I’d learned my painting style is gestural, I still love hot wax batik and I’m inspired by nature: mountains, lakes, the sea and the weather. Over the last 18 months, I’ve melded those things together – and this is what’s come out of it!
Your palette’s so consistent and so distinctive – where did that come from?
This is a benefit of having no experience whatsoever! I went into an art shop halfway through this course and just thought ‘well, I want to paint.’ I knew nothing about the difference between oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache, NOTHING! I thought instead that I was just going to buy what appeals to me – what I’m drawn to.
I really like pastels, they were lovely and oily, like butter, so I picked up a few of those. Then I went to the acrylics and found I really loved all the colors. When you start art classes you can buy a big palette with everything in it, but I was looking at them and thinking ‘well, they’re all primary colors.’ And subconsciously I was just a bit repulsed by those so instead I just walked round and picked up what I liked. Then I looked down when I’d got to about 6 of them, and I thought ‘these go together so well, I don’t even need to look further. This is it!’
I’m sure at some point I’ll move away and start using other colors but I simply just love them. So that’s the first reason I’ve kept it so consistent, and the second is for Instagram. I was looking at how people get really beautiful, aesthetically pleasing feeds. In the early days, I was posting things I was painting in my classes and then realized that I didn’t like it – I wanted to make a beautiful feed, because I wanted to inspire other people to paint.
I get so many people following me saying that my work inspires them to paint too. So I feel like making a beautiful feed is key in doing that for them.
Instagram’s been such a big thing for you in developing your work – how did that come about?
So, I was thinking I wanted to be able to showcase my work, to see it visually together. As the most visual platform, I went with Instagram and then spent evening after evening researching everything involved: hashtags, the algorithm, how to do the best photography… and I spent probably a whole year turning up to webinars in China at midnight to listen to someone who might know something I didn’t.
I literally spent a year geeking out and learning everything I could because I thought if I’m going to sell my work, and use Instagram to do it rather than a website or anything else, I’ve got to know everything there is to do it. So then I started, and as my engagement started increasing and my follower count started increasing, I started selling work. About once a week or so, I was posting something and saying it was for sale, and in 3 minutes it’d be sold.
At that point, that was about 6 months in, that everything came together – my style came together, my feed started looking beautiful, I knew how to engage with people and create great-looking content. Around then, I started getting lots of people DMing me to say “how are you doing it?”
You’ve also written a really successful ebook to share your expertise – where did that come from?
I found I was spending quite a lot of my day telling people there was so much I could tell them, I’d need to write a book to get it all done. So in the end, after saying it so often, I did.
This is what I’m all about – finding what you love in life and doing that. Because I’m so passionate about it, I’ll meet a complete stranger and want the same for them. So I’ve written this ebook in the hope that people will have the same growth that I’ve had, and also so I’m not going to end up tying myself up emailing all the time when I should be painting.
I wrote it in small increments. I was travelling a long way once a week to visit a specialist physio. I was always terrified of being late and missing my appointment, so I’d turn up really early, sit in a coffee shop and write this book instead. And very quickly it just came together – I felt like I’d put everything in my head onto paper and it’s still selling really well. It’s basically been a year’s worth of advice, all in one place. By selling that, it means I can keep concentrating on my painting.
Is your audience made up mainly of people looking at your art as potential collectors, or looking to you for inspiration for their own art?
It’s a challenge to look after everyone as I do have a real mix – potential collectors, lots of artists that are in an earlier phase in their career but also creative small businesses who’ve seen how I’ve grown, stumbled across me and thought ‘ooh, how’s she done that?’
Every Sunday I do tips and tricks – it’s just a little bit of information and help for people. I get people that follow me from that point of view. I get lots of messages from people saying they think of me as a mentor – that’s why I call myself an accidental Instamarketeer because I hadn’t really planned to do it like this!
Tell us about your MOO cards!
MOO’s been with me the whole way! I was offered a solo exhibition in a bar, in the really early days. As soon as I knew I had an exhibition coming up, I knew I needed Business Cards! I knew I needed to brand my paintings because if anyone bought them from the bar and I wasn’t there, they’d be taking home my details too. So, I gold-taped a Business Card on the back of every piece.
Then, when I started selling online I wanted to put Stickers on my packaging to make them really beautiful and exciting to receive. Next, I did a pop-up so made and sold Notecards in packs, together with other cards that I trimmed and made into gift cards. When I sell a big painting, I’ll also handwrite a thank you card to go in the package too. So MOO’s always with me.
You’ve just recently moved from working at home into a studio space – how do you manage your work-life balance?
I’ve been saying for ages I wanted to paint large-scale – but I was quite literally limited by the size of my dining table. I had stuff all over the place, falling over on chairs and so I knew I really needed a studio. Luckily, through The Maltings, an arts space in Farnham, I found this space was available – so I called up and got it straight away.
The hardest thing is that with my work, the hot wax batik layer has to be done flat, you can’t do it on an easel. And as it takes so long for each layer to dry, I tend to work on up to 20 pieces at once. Which, if they’re small pieces of paper or canvas it’s one thing, but on large ones it’s almost impossible in a small space. So I’m not sure what’s going to happen – but I really need to find a bigger space!
In terms of balancing my time though, I’m very serious about the fact that I’m either an artist or a mum. Once my children are home from school, that’s it, I’m just mummy again. I tried to do both, but I realized I want to do both well – but that means they need to be separate. But as soon as they’re in bed I’m back on the webinars and things because I’m always learning – I always want to keep an eye out for the next thing!
Photos by Paul John Bayfield