Creative People To Inspire Your Next Steps: Alana of Etta + Billie

If you had a chance to read over the newest Etsy article about Etta + Billie, you'll know that Alana started her company in 2009 and steadily grew her business until she was able to quit her day job about a year and a half ago. Her story is inspirational, motivating and just down right awesome-sauce. 

I've been watching her business grow for the last 6 years and she's always been such an inspiration for me - like, seriously - she's so ultra-cool. Her passion behind her business is clear, she's super nice, her brand aesthetic is stunning & you'll find that she's got a great business savvy about her. Also, she's a riot! Her warm personality fills a room & I just love her dry sense of humor.

Alana recently moved into her own larger studio space from her home garage - and about 3 weeks ago, we finally met up for some fun. She let me into her studio to make some soap with her and learn more about her technique. You can read about that on my own personal blog... Ylang-Ylang, Etta+Billie & other Curiosities

But, she also let me ask some questions just for SF Etsy & our community to help inspire you to follow your passions & expand your business towards the next step. Plus, I got curious and asked some questions about her products that I think are fun to know for future SF Etsy trivia nights. 

FAVORITE SCENTS, PRODUCT INFO & MORE, OH MY!:

Have your favorite scents shifted since you were a teen or do you find yourself still attracted to the same things?

My favorite scents have definitely shifted since I was a teen. I was very drawn to citrus or ginger scents (or a combination of both) when I was younger and now I love richer, earthier scents like patchouli, cedar and geranium.

What's your favorite product that you sell right now?

My current favorite product is my Bath + Body Oil. It's the perfect multi-purpose product. I use it instead of body lotion, I put a few drops in my hair as a leave in conditioner and use it at night on my face as a facial treatment. I ALWAYS travel with a mini bottle.

BERGAMOT GINGER SKIN BALM

I know my favorite product of yours rotates (because they are all awesome!). Right now I'm digging the Bergamot Ginger Lotion. What's the current customer favorite? 

Customers are LOVING the skin balms right now. Because it's cold and dry, our hands, cuticles, elbows etc are getting extra roughed up. The skin balm works wonders to soften and soothe dry skin.

How often do you test out new products? 

Not as often as I'd like!! About 3-5 times a year. I want that to become a monthly experience.

How do you keep yourself inspired to keep making and producing your product?

Recently, I've been working on collaborations with other makers to keep me inspired. I love learning more about others crafts and figuring out how to create something that captures the essence of another brand.

(you can check out a few of her collaborations with local companies on her website here: Ritual Coffee - Speakeasy Beer - T-We Tea) Also! Her Pumpkin Beer DRAFT Magazine last summer - how cool is that?!

RITUAL ROASTERS COFFEE SOAP

EXPANDING YOUR BUSINESS:

So many of the makers we know struggle to take that first step into wholesale & consignment opportunities. You're a true inspiration to those who are looking to expand their business into that direction... Knowing that you sell all over the US, can you tell us how you found most of these spaces?

That's correct, I do sell all over the US. A large percentage of stores have found me through craft shows such as Renegade. Others have seen my items on Instagram, SF Made and the San Francisco Green Business website. I've also participated in the SF Gift Show.

Display of Alana's products within Egg & Dart

For those looking to move into their own studio like you did to expand their business beyond their garage or home office - what is the most valuable lesson you learned that you wish you had known before you started the search for your current space?

The most valuable lesson I learned is that you have to be very proactive about finding space and have a clear list of must haves. It will make the process a bit smoother and make it a lot easier to say no to certain spaces. At a certain point in my search, I started to feel really desperate which caused me to consider spaces that truly weren't the right fit.

COMMUNITY & FAMILY:

Since the name of your business was named after your two grandmothers - how does your family play a part in your business today? 

My family is incredibly supportive of my business. Whenever they are in town, they are always happy to wrap product, help me make soap or do whatever is necessary around the studio. My dad also is my un-official Southern California coastal sales rep.

Do you have soap boxing parties during the high-volume seasons? 

Every holiday season for the past 3 years has had a weekly soap/product boxing party. It's a lot of fun. We wrap soap, eat a great meal and drink some wine. I'm always looking for people interested in wrapping a few 100 bars of soap in an evening. ;-) (hint hint)

Community is a huge part of the marker scene here in San Francisco - how do you participate? 

I love that my craft has created such an amazing opportunity to connect with other makers throughout the city. I keep connected to other makers through my membership in SF Etsy, participation in events and through a mastermind group of makers called the Creative Business League.

WHAT'S NEXT?!:

What shows are you going to be part of coming up so that the team can meet you in person?!?

I'll be a vendor at the first ever Summer West Coast Craft in June and hopefully get to vend again at Renegade's summer show in SF.
Are your teaching any classes soon so that people can learn some of your awesome tricks?

I have a natural cleaning products class at the Handcrafted Studio School in early May and will likely teach a lip balm or bath product class at Workshop SF in the coming months. Check both sites for dates and details!

WHERE TO FIND ETTA + BILLIE

Her Official Website
Her Etsy Shop
Search for a Retailer Near You
Facebook!
Read about my fun day with Alana here
Her blog features interviews with shops her products are sold in plus totally yummy recipes!

Side note that I'm just SO grateful that our community here at SF Etsy has people like Alana to inspire us to keep going after our passions. Thank you to Alana for taking so much time with me over the last few weeks - I am forever grateful!

Alana in what I like to call her Mad Scientist Attire! 

UPDATE: April 30,2015 
SFetsy is Proud to Announce that Alana Rivera from Etta + Billie is our 1st endorsement as Kiva Zip Trustees. Share or Contribute to her Campaign Here  https://zip.kiva.org/loans/13757/i/jnr

For More Information about SF Etsy and Kiva's partnership: http://sfetsy.blogspot.com/2015/04/we-have-some-very-very-exciting-news-to.html

---

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, visit Our Team Page about joining SFEtsy!

SF Etsy goes STUDIO! (Gallery, that is.)

Last weekend, our team celebrated our first gallery show with a delight-filled opening reception at Studio Gallery.  Read on for a glimpse of the fun!  If you missed out, your next chance to participate is our upcoming Artist Trading Card making and trading evening this Thursday-- we'll be making and sharing ATCs on the spot!

ATC "Life is a Party" 

networking/making/trading/celebrating goodness!

at STUDIO 1825 Polk St.

Thursday, May 24th 6-8pm

The blog post that explains it all~

(Team members who would like to arrive early and help set up, please contact Rochelle.)

photo by J. Astra Brinkmann of AstraTakesPhotos.com

I loved seeing all the families and friends and art lovers' responses to the works.  With 65 artists, a bake sale, and a chance to win work in the raffle, it took me an hour just to make one lap of the gallery!  Along the way I heard how impressed and excited the neighborhood was about hosting our team, talk of making this an annual event, and lots of introductions as people placed artworks to artists and families and friend circles overlapped.  

As a jewelry maker, I was really appreciative of how our hostess, Jennifer, gave each jewelry artist a lovely display.  My favorite 'new to me' work was made by Carla Madrigal.  Her embroidered bracelets and zip pouches were a perfect mix of uniquely modern while holding the air of mystery of ancient heirloom.  

Can't remember who made what?  A great sample slideshow of many of the artists' work is up for viewing at the Studio gallery site.

Some Big Thank Yous:

Thanks to Katy for the spark that started it all

Thanks to Jennifer Farris of Studio Gallery for hosting us

Thanks to Steph, Katy, and Andrew for donating pieces for the raffle

Thanks to Astra for photographing the reception

Thanks to Rochelle for baking her own amazing treats (rose marshmallows and more!) AND running the bake sale with grace and welcome!

This was a juried show and I'd like to also honor those who were not selected to participate this time around.  Congrats also to our brave team members whose work wasn't on show.  I asked our team in attendence to share their impressions of the show and reception.  Enjoy and please post your comments below.  See you on Thursday!

~Even

photo by J. Astra Brinkmann of AstraTakesPhotos.com

From Sarah Friedman

T-H-A-N-K Y-O-U to our amazing team and team leaders for the opportunity to show our work together.  It was so great to meet some of the team and see so much talent and work in person at the gallery.  I almost think we could open an SF Etsy Bakery, that back corner sure was tasty!  My daughter had an especially hard time choosing her treat.

The pieces that stuck out in my mind were the oh-so-fantastic yarn bombed chair and the fabulous painting by Lisa from Tickle and Smash.  I wanted badly to bring both of them home, and add them to my artsy treasures collection.

From Heather

This was my 3rd gallery show, all of them being at Studio Gallery. The receptions are always really fun and the wine and cheese flow like wine and cheese. My point of going to the opening was to meet my SF Etsy teammates that I usually only "see" on twitter, facebook, and the google group.

Jen is a champion of great work. She knows her audience and has the open and inclusive personality to propel artists forward in their progression. I always leave her gallery feeling like the world is a really awesome place.  David Fullerton is my new favorite artist. I'm envious of anyone he's shared a cubicle with. 

photo by J. Astra Brinkmann of AstraTakesPhotos.com

From Taryn Bilstein

The opening was great, lots of people and such a great idea. Its nice to see all us Etsy people in one place and in a Gallery. Thanks again.

From Karen

Jennifer is awesome!  Witty, helpful and fun!  Thank you to her for hanging my work so beautifully and sharing belly laughs - fantastic event.

photo by J. Astra Brinkmann of AstraTakesPhotos.com

From Terri Raphael

The idea of an SF Etsy team show in a real gallery was - and still - is amazing. The gallery, which specializes in local color and local artists was a welcoming place to artfully present a wide range of creativity.

A special aspect of the experience for me was bringing my work to the gallery for Jennifer to decide - in person and while I was standing there! - if she would include an array of ceramic vases in the show. Being able to discuss my work with an experienced gallery owner was invaluable: with take-aways about pricing, presentation, and what interests her customers. And, as it happened, several of her customers who came in while I was there chatted with me about the pieces. One even came back when the show opened and bought several!At the reception, I enjoyed meeting other team members -- putting faces to names and shops -- as well as lending a hand with the dessert table. And, there was the extra comfort in numbers of being with friendly artists and their friends.

photo by J. Astra Brinkmann of AstraTakesPhotos.com

From Co-Captain Katy Atchison

What was wonderful about the art opening was that shops were connecting face-to-face and the community bonded together through the art and talents of it's members during the opening. I enjoyed getting to meet so many members that I had only interacted with previously online.  There was an almost overwhelming sense of SF Etsy Pride during the entire event. It was fun to hear team members talking about the friends they have made, shops they admire and talent that they see in the work of others. When you go to a craft show, people tend to talk about value as well as talent - whereas, the talent, technique and admiration were the main topics during the event.

I'm really happy with the amount of members who reached out to participate. One of our many goals this year within the leadership team is to connect local members to each other and create a stronger sense of community outside of Etsy. Each of us live and work within such a small distance of each other... we want to make sure that the support we give each other can grow and blossom into long-lasting friendships and business connections. Events like the SF Etsy Art Show and other craft shows, business groups, meet ups and workshops that we organize and attend help to bond our team together in a special and unique way. "

For more photos of the art itself and a list of all our team member participants check out the prior blog post.

---

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Katy or Steph about joining SFEtsy!

Coming Up~the Vagabond Indie Craft Fair~April 30th

I'm honored to be one of the SF Etsy team members showing our creative wares at the newest event from Urban Bazaar~the Vagabond Indie Craft Fair.  Please join us on April 30th from 11am to 5 pm in the sweet back garden for local treasures including handmade soaps and perfumes, yoga and knit soft clothing, hand printed cards and journals, gorgeous floral and feathered hair pieces, delightful ceramics, hand carved rubber stamps, vegan treats, upcycled slim wallets,  soy candles, modern crochet accessories, playful silver jewelry--the list goes on!

I'm looking forward to finding some Mother's Day and Graduation gifts as well as some spring renewal for myself.  I'd love to buy these printed yoga pants or a custom stamp for my letters!

Songbird Yoga Pants by missionthread

Hand Carved Stamps by brownpigeon

Urban Bazaar is our local fair trade and artisan market in the Inner Sunset near 9th and Irving.  Owners Brandi and Briana have been actively promoting SF Etsy artists through their shop and the wonderful Winter Wonderland Bazaar held last winter. The Vagabond Indie Craft Fair is the second garden event and aims to be a repeating seasonal affair. They also offer Thursday night "Bring your own Beer" craft nights and host GogoCraft for all inclusive crafty evenings.  In other words, these amazing women and their shop are a fantastic resource for our community!

Samantha of note.ify created our event blog, sharing artist profiles and photos. There's also a facebook page for RSVP and spreading the word!


The artists~

Emily Wurtz
Meagan Lewis
Charlie Corriea
Dorothy Reinhardt
Chanda Beck
Danae Verret
Heather Logsdon
Amy Danehower
Even Howard
Torsten Haselmann
Derek Mia
Samantha Barsky
Jennifer Caine
Marya Zoya


Questions? Comments? Post in the comments section or contact Brandi@urbanbazaarsf.com
See you there! ~Even

---

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!

Market SF - More than just another craft fair

In this busy handmade nation, the phrase "craft fair" is tossed around as a great way to get some sun, meet some folks & make money on a weekend. The defining detail that differentiated Market SF from all the rest was that it was an artist market: a venue in which to weekly showcase different artists to a community ready to appreciate the treasures they have to offer.

Jenn Meyer (left) & Christina Richards (right) share a laugh in front of the Blue Macaw.

Conceptualized and founded by Jennifer Meyer of Romey Designs, the beginnings of Market SF were based in a pop-up store in the Mission during the 2009 Holiday Season. Looking to introduce a new collection of handmade wares to the public, a pop up store offered the perfect short-term solution with a temporarily empty retail space and her start up needs. While featuring local talent in her pop-up store, Jenn befriended Christina Richards of Finch Design and Daniel Robb of Daniel Robb Design. With their shared passion for art and desire to want to do more to help local artists emerge into a marketplace becoming more and more appreciative of handmade goods, they decided to forge a business partnership.

Market SF opened their doors anew at the Blue Macaw (2565 Mission St, between 21st & 22nd) on the 19th of June, 2010, to a sunny afternoon filled with over 25 hand-picked vendors, a DJ and $5 drink & French sandwich specials all day!

Another unique aspect of Market SF was that not only was it a place to view local art; it was a gathering place to get to know local artists and their stories! On my trip to their first show, I was greeted warmly and instantly felt like I'd found something different. The music wafting through the air and the smiles from behind the tables let me know everyone was having a good day.

This customer (who was travelling from Australia) commented that he'd never known anything as unique as StudioKin's Scrabble Tile pendants! He couldn't believe all the local talent we've got in San Francisco and couldn't wait to share it with his mates back home!

One of Jenn's goals is to make Market SF a San Francisco staple to find fresh talent with superior products, much like Portland, OR features Saturday Market under the Burnside Bridge every weekend. Said best in their mission statement found on their website:

"Market SF specializes in helping artists find patrons... and patrons find art they love. By marketing the artist's work to galleries, stores and independent buyers, Market SF takes the 'business' out of the creative cycle and allows artists to continue doing what they do best... creating art."

And artists get a chance to do the fun part of business: make lasting connections!

Even if there's a lull in traffic, the artists feel completely comfortable getting up and going to talk to other artists about their work and show their support. Aimee of Aimee Diane Designs (from our very own SF Etsy Team) said of her time at Market SF:

"I met several other sellers... as well as other SF Etsy team members just out shopping for support. There (were) positive comments from customers as well as support from other sellers and SF Etsy folks. Although I didn't make any sales, several people saw my face, saw my stuff, took my card, and made positive comments so it's encouraging and reminds me not to give up... and that some tangible good will come of it at some point."

Aimee Diane Designs worked on amazing wire & beaded earrings throughout the artist market, demonstrating to an audience how much work goes into crafting artisan jewelry.

But it's not all-business-all-day! The indie tunes pump their way through the venue and drink specials (along with some local favorites on tap) keep on flowin', Market SF has a fantastically fun vibe - whether it be at the bar, talking art with new friends, or up front on the sidewalk, trying to draw in the Saturday afternoon shoppers.

Jenn Meyer does her best to draw the shoppers with the greatest crowd-pleaser around - The Running Man!

Mentioned not only by awesome sites like 7 X 7, Little Paper Planes and Daily Candy, Market SF is supported by the artists who vend at the shows! Lots of our own SF Etsy Team members have featured the collection of talent on their blogs! Abigail from Jargonhead Studios talks about her experience on her blog:

"The organizers of Market-SF are excellent people and very interested in promoting local art. We had a lot of traffic in from the street. This is the first art fair I have ever been involved in where all the work was fantastic. Every vendor had excellent work, and excellent prices. Although the economy is bad right now, it is so important to support local artists. Market-SF is a perfect example of how to do that."

With sun streaming in through the entryway, Abigail from Jargonhead Studios smiles & greets new customers at her table with her prints.

Since Market SF is a fairly new show, vendors being proactive in event promotion is an excellent way to draw traffic. Jenn, Christina and Daniel have done a lot of promotional activities, including speaking to PR reps and taking out Google Ads, but the richest experiences have always been from folks that have been personally invited to come & have a great time.

DIY tactics of marketing have been relatively well-received, since they're catered to the Mission's overall aesthetic: canvasing street corners, leaving flyers at local coffee houses, putting up signs at local businesses and even sidewalk chalk messages with arrows (an excellent tip picked up from the recent SF Etsy Trunk Show) help draw traffic.

One way that I've found that helps vendors be proactive in promoting the show they will be showcased at is by making a themed Treasury!

By doing something as simple as making a treasury, we create a free & easy-to-use marketing tool that allows vendors to display their work (and that of other local artists!) to their fan base on different social media pages. Nothing is more flattering than when someone comes up to your booth and says "Wow! That's the item I saw on site that made me want to come out today!"

A lot of people have asked me if I was part of the Market SF team, but the truth is that Christina just e-mailed me one day to ask me if I would like to be featured. Having never done a craft show before, the main selling point was how they tailored the market to my business - as an artist, as a crafter, as a vendor and as a person. The hands-on support that I received from them throughout the show made me feel so comfortable that I couldn't help but want to tell people about it.

The spirit of Market SF breathes new life into the handmade movement of our generation. In our little corner of the world, we can say that artists are making a difference; not only getting seen, but being appreciated & celebrated. The more that we're able to support local handmade and sustain small businesses the way that Market SF does for its community, the better the chance that we'll have at making a difference. Market SF is more than a craft fair; it's a move in the right direction.

If you're an artist and are interested in doing a show, feel free to check them out at Market-SF.com!

---

Steph Cortés from nerd JERK is the Roving Reporter, one of the newest members of the SF Etsy Blog Team. She enjoys going out to new crafting events and supporting the handmade movement. Look forward to more reports on her artsy shenanigans in weeks to come. Feel free to email her comments & tips on shows anytime.

---

If you're an Etsy seller in the San Francisco Bay Area, contact Jen from Mama's Magic Studio about joining SFEtsy!