blog love: 3 blogs about blogging & business

Looking for some help with your business or your blog ... or your blogging business? Check out these three  blogs by three inspiring women.

First up:  Edit and Post, by Ami Price of Elizabeth Anne Designs, covers the business and blogging. Ami has an MBA and delves into the nitty gritty with topics like "debits are not additions and credits are not subtractions." The clean and clear look of this site is echoed in her straighforward writing style, which makes even difficult subject like accounting seem simple.

Second: Creature Comfots Guide for Better Blogging, by Ez of Creature Comforts. The name says it all. This series of informative posts is for the beginning blogger, advertiser, professional blogger, and everyone in between. Ez has also set up a forum, where readers can ask questions and interact. I highly recommend making a pot of tea, grabbing a snack, and finding a cozy seat before sitting down to this one.

Third: The fabulous Biz Ladies series, gathered by Grace of Design Sponge. This series of posts is invaluable to anyone starting out in business. In fact, whenever someone emails me for business advice I point them to this series and to the book Craft, Inc. and tell them to come back to me after studying them if they still have questions! Topics range from tips on writing a business plan, to tax info for small business, to social media tips, to how to shoot product photography. Even if you already have a successful business, the tips in this series have a lot to offer and can inspire you to grow.

Fourth (not shown): Back Stage by Abby Larson of Style Me Pretty. It's a place to "talk shop." Although Abby doesn't update it very often (she is busy with a toddler and a huge business to tend, after all), the posts that do go up are thought provoking and inspire great conversations. On this blog be sure to read all the comments. It's a great read!

Just imagine if you took one hour out of your work week every week to focus on building your business via education? I often get caught up in the daily grind of running a business: preparing quotes, updating proofs, running errands, answering emails, returning phone calls, sketching new logos ... that I don't leave time to challenge my brain, learn and grow. Today I'm taking an hour to catch up on the latest posts on these blogs.

Let me know if you recommend other blogs about the business of being creative. I'd love to hear from you.

Happy weekend, everyone!

designers belong at the big kids table



Nike CEO Matt Parker discusses the importance of design and innovation to the success of his company. (via Fast Company).

bookshelf: often wrong, never in doubt, by donny deutsch

For the past few days I've been reading adman (and maybe one day NYC mayor) Donny Deutsch's book, "Often Wrong, Never in Doubt." Not that it's a surprise (you have seen his fantastic CNBC show, The Big Idea, right?), but the book is stellar. Every chapter I find myself learning something, nodding in agreement, annoying John by reading something aloud. So many things in the book are quotable, but a few I just read are really sticking with me

On putting clients first: "'What would I do if this was my business?' How going over to the other side will better your own bottom line."

And on fear: "You can't be crippled by the fear of failure; that truly is in the definition of not succeeding. If you do nothing, your failure is guaranteed."

And one more, because I can't resist: on women and "The doctrine of female superiority": "Women are superior beings. It's that simple. Give me a choice between a woman and a man with the same talents, I'll take the woman every time."

On it's face, this book is about a simple question: "Why not me." But it's really about going beyond believing in yourself, and doing something about it. It's about action. It's also about the crazy ad world (the behind the scenes insight is entertaining and enlightening, to say the least). It's about how to be a great boss. How to deal with clients. How to deal, period. It's about facing fear, not backing down, being bold. Being authentic. Yes, it's inspiring, but beyod that, it's motivating. It's a call to action. Oh yes, and it's about branding, too. I highly recommend this book to anyone in business, not just creative types.

By the way, sorry, Donny, that your face is covered up by a sticker ... silly librarian. What were you thinking?

branding: anthro's key to success

top photo by Delphine. just a reminder: you can click on most any image on this blog and it will enlarge in a new screen.

A friend of mine works for Anthropologie, in the visual merchandising department in NYC, where the design concepts are worked out for all the stores. When I was in NYC a few weeks ago she was describing the new windows that she had just finished working on, involving recycled water bottles repurposed into flower displays. A few days ago I visited "my" Anthropologie to see if the new windows were up yet, and the team had just finished installation. I took the photo above for her to show her how "my" local Anthro (in Carlsbad, California) applied the design she worked on to their windows. Each store has its own visual merchadising team, which works from corporate directives, but each team is able to interpret the "orders" in their own way.

It got me wondering ... are there other photos of Anthroplogie windows online? Ummm hello! More than 50,000 results for the image search "anthropologie window display." W O W. Most of these photos are photos like mine: fans who love the windows and then post them on our blogs. That is amazing, is it not? It's such an amazing success story of how branding and visual merchandising connect with buyers.

I visited Anthropologie's corporate website (URBAN Outfitters Inc) and found right on page one, the key to their success:

"Our established ability to understand our customers
and connect with them on an emotional level is the
reason for our success."
~ Urban Outfitters Inc.

This company gets it. I cannot wait to see what they come up with next.

small business tips

Here at Delphine we are truly honored to have been chosen as a featured vendor on Abe's Market. Besides being a great concept (eco-friendly goods all in one spot!) and having one of the cutest logos around (a shopping bear!), Abe's Market is run by a super team (smart and nice!), determined to help each of their vendors rise. Last week John and I tuned into a webinar hosted by Abe's Market during a lunch break from the NYIGF floor. The speaker, Perry Abbenante, is the former lead buyer at Whole Foods Market. He had lots of great stuff to say, but I am so thankful that he threw out this gem:

"It's simple: spend the money on great packaging. You won't regret it." I wish I could put that little snippet on tape and play it at the beginning, middle and end of every meeting with a design client!

Pictured above: some of my personal favorite examples of fantastic packaging design: MOR Cosmetics and IZZE soda.

quoted: marketing + business

I read Tribes, by Seth Godin while I was in New York for NYIGF. It was the perfect book to read while attending a gift show. While on the surface the book is about leadership, it's full of lots of super insights on marketing. The overarching themes I took away from the book are that it's okay to question the status quo ("be a heretic") and that change & innovation are keys to success.

I have to return my copy to the library, but I'm already planning a visit to my local bookshop to pick up my very own copy.

quoted: design + business

QUOTED is a new column that I'll be posting from time to time, with quotes from business and graphic design books I've read.

I'm reading "The Game Changer," by A. G. Lafley and Ram Charan. It's an insider's look at innovation can drive growth (Lafley is the chariman and ceo of Procter & Gamble; Charan is a leading business consultant). I particularly identified with the quote (above) about design. Just a few days ago I updated my portfolio and wrote that a major goal of good design is to create an experience. I was thinking particularly about design as it relates to branding retail stores, and I think that Lafley's statement is exactly what I was trying to describe.

How would you define good design?

sad day for magazine lovers

It's a sad day for magazine junkies, brides, and the wedding industry. The New York Times reports that Condé Nast will close Elegant Bride, Modern Bride, Cookie and Gourmet magazines. I wish I could say it isn't so. I'm heartbroken to see more magazines go. I still miss Domino.

business advice: craft, inc.

The just released "Craft Inc. Business Planner: the Ultimate Organizer for Turning Your Crafts into Cash," by Meg Ilasco, is a must have for anyone thinking of starting a creative business. The original book, Craft Inc., offers tips from experts who successfully turned their creative hobbies into careers. This workbook is full of advice and worksheets to help guide creative entrepreneurs as they pursue their creative business dreams.

Here at the Delphine studio, we get dozens of inquiries every month for business advice. My first piece of advice: buy these books!

weddings: bridal couture by matthew christopher

gowns by matthew christopher

I wish I knew whom to credit for these fantastic photos! I was reading the latest issue of Your Wedding Day magazine and these photos stopped me in my tracks. I think it's a great example of how wonderful photography can truly make an advertising/marketing campaign. Matthew Christopher's gowns are unique, but, lets face it, it's another white dress in a magazine full of white dresses. Without this great ad campaign I probably would have skipped over his beautiful gowns!

I do think he could use a logo redesign, however. The scrolly monogram (you can see on the website) doesn't seem to fit with the innovative gowns and the uber-cool photo campaign.

books: talent is not enough: business secrets for designers

Shel Perkins spoke at the Y Conference a few days ago and he was just wonderful. For someone like me, who has a minor panic attack any time an Excel spreadsheet appears, it was nice to get some advice that addresses the practical side of running a business -- all without scary charts full of numbers.

in the press: Charleston Weddings Magazine

It's hard to explain what this press clipping in Charleston Weddings magazine means to me. Charleston is my "hometown" (in quotes since technically I'm a Yankee: I was born in NYC).

My first great work experience was as an editorial intern at Charleston magazine. Though I was an editorial intern and most of my duties included writing and editing, I found my real passion in the art director's office. Melinda Smith-Monk was so kind to me. She let me watch her work, she let me help out at photo shoots, she let me ask a zillion questions, she let me make mistakes, she let me pick the ink color for a cover, she let me model. And she made me think about a career in design.

All the editors I worked with at Charleston are long gone, and while Mel is still art director, I'm not sure she would even remember who I am (it was many years ago!). I am eternally grateful for the experience of working with such great talent, and it is a supreme thrill to have my work grace the pages of a magazine so near and dear to my heart.

Oh, and the invitations in the clipping were inspired by Charleston, too.

happy weekend

contracts and stuff for freelancers

Pricing and Ethical Guidelines

photographer's toolkit

Lets face it, most creatives do not have a penchant for writing contracts. As a small "creative business" owner who has been around for more than five years, I get lots and lots (and lots) of requests for advice on running the business end of a creative business. I always tell freelancers to HAVE A CONTRACT FOR EVERY JOB, and point them toward the Graphic Artists Guild's must-have book, Pricing and Ethical Guidelines. The book has sample contracts for just about any occasion and will give you great peace of mind as you prepare paperwork for your clients.

I was really pleased to hear that John Mireles, a fabulous local (San Diego) photographer and business coach, has a website, Photographer's Toolkit, geared toward helping his fellow photographers with "business stuff." Advice on marketing, sales, contracts, and business in general is aplenty on the site. He also lists free resources that are helpful to any creative, not just photographers.

public art and press room visit

photo by delphine photo of the macarthur muni station

Last week John and I had a chance to visit with the super fabulous Cardstore.com peeps in Emeryville, California, and get a tour of their facilities. We loved seeing their press rooms, their fulfillment/shipping center, and their fun loft-like workspace. The press rooms were pretty quiet (we visited in late afternoon), but we were told that all the presses run nearly 24 hours a day around the holidays in order to keep up with all their orders! We were also beyond thrilled to find out that one of our holiday photo cards was one of their top sellers this holiday season.

One of the greatest moments of the tour was seeing their Heidelberg press, which they have converted into a die-cutting machine. It was completely surrounded by bright yellow safety bars. Our tour guide seemed wary of the machine and gasped when we told him that delphine uses the same type of machine to letterpress (only without all the safety modifications)! Many thanks to Matt and all the peeps at Cardstore for the fun tour!