Any handmade, small business adventurer will tell you the hardest thing about start up is choosing a name and choosing a brand. Although I found my name almost two years ago and am still quite pleased, it’s been a process finding the visual language that is appropriate for the product, appropriate for me, and can be used in multiple ways to accentuate not just one product, but many.
There are more than a few Etsy shops that have a visual language that they stick with that truly works for them. Two of my favorites (and Etsy superstars who also happen to be part of the “MaineTeam“) are Rocky Top Soap Shop and Long Winter Farm. Just visit those links and you’ll know what I’m talking about.
So when I was preparing displays for a craft show last week a big, fancy light bulb went on above me and all of a sudden I knew it! It had been right there all along. The finish on the back of my bottle caps is a dappled paint in a variety of colors meant to complement the image on the front. If photography and that pattern exist side by side in my product why wouldn’t I feature it in my background? Yes! So I spray painted some tins from the holidays and set them up to sell last weekend with considerable success, since it was a super nice day and not a lot of indoor craft shoppers were milling around.
Then, this weekend when I sat down to shoot some more product to put in my Etsy shop I was pleased to discover the tins work just as well as a background! Observe:
Milwaukee's Finest Set of 2 Barrettes - $10 at Little Eye Designs on Etsy
Beasts of Burden - Set of 2 Barrettes, $10 at Little Eye on Etsy
The Good Samaritan - Set of 2 Barrettes from Little Eye on Etsy $10
So, see? I think it works. The cool thing is I can spray paint new backgrounds to change with the season and the items themselves as needed. Really looking forward to playing more with this, but I finally feel like I’m on the right track with my shop ‘look’ and branding.
I would love to know what you think!
Little Eye Designs 