Analog Passion & Craft in an Economic Downturn: How I Became a Small Business Owner (and Why it Was a Good Idea)

Talk given in Seattle for a July 2012 Creative Mornings talk about analog passion during an economic downturn. Sara and her husband, Brad, run Constellation & Co., a boutique design and letterpress studio in Seattle. For the audio/video of the talk, visit: http://vimeo.com/45731912

Transcript

1. ANALOG PASSION & CRAFT IN AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN: HOW I BECAME A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER (AND WHY IT WAS A GOOD IDEA) Sara McNally, Co-Founder of Constellation & Co.
10. HERE’S A BIT OF HONESTY, followed by a lot of honesty. (Because without honesty, all we have are pretty pictures.)
11. BIRTH Everyone has one. It’s a thing. (Those are pants on my head.) JAN. 1987 1st SEATTLE TRIP Loved the design culture of the city, fell in love with the PNW. Totally hooked. THE COMPANY (A DAYDREAM) GETS A NAME INTERVIEWING Week long Seattle job interview trip (during which we got engaged!) JAN. 2008 MARCH 2009
12. GRADUATION Ringling College of Art & Design BFA, Graphic & Interactive Communication MAY 2009 EPIC ROAD TRIP From Florida to Washington State. Mount Rushmore, Yellowstone, Wall Drug JUNE 2009 ARRIVE IN SEATTLE Big hopes, big plans, in love with this city! The job hunt begins! We’re upbeat! JUNE 2009
13. UNEMPLOYMENT WEDDING Sara & Brad, meet Recession. So thaaaat’s what they were talking Sarasota, Florida The day I married my best friend. SEPT. 6, 2009 UNEMPLOYMENT Plus, student loan payments start! Now we really know what they were talking about. SEPT - DEC. JUNE - SEPT. MORE
14. ODD JOBS/BAD JOBS IT’S A RECESSION, STOP COMPLAINING! Secretary, production designer, retail salesperson, unpaid and/or hardly paid this & that, because: WITH A FEW THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE
15. REALIZATION: Hating my job isn’t working for me. I would rather work for free doing something I love than make money and hate my life. APPRENTICESHIP Learning the ropes, working a ton, taking on everything I could... joyfully! DEC. 2009 to DEC. 2010
16. A RESOLUTION In the new year, we’d find a space, purchase a press, and set out on our own. DEC. 2010 REALIZATION: Why wait to get started? No money? Start one dollar at a time. Write a business plan. Adjust it as needed. ANOTHER
17. OUR 1st STUDIO >200 sq. ft. of glory in the doomed 619 Western building in Pioneer Square for $325/month JAN. 1st, 2011 MOVED A PRESS BOUGHT A PRESS Approx. 1,000 lbs., from White Center to Pioneer Square, assisted by friends & the homeless. 8x12 Chandler & Price New Style platen press from the early 1920’s for $500. JAN. 10th, 2011 JAN. 10th, 2011
20. LESSONS WE LEARNED: Start with what you can handle. Make your space home. Produce: quickly and often. Expect change. It’s coming.
21. NEW STUDIO (Our current location) 400 sq. ft. in artists’ studio collective, 1890 brick building at 1st & Cherry OCT. 2011 EVICTION THOUGHTS: We can complain or take this opportunity to grow. No risk? No reward. Growing pains. We have to put these printing presses somewhere!
24. HIRE FOLKS Find the right people and put them to work! Train the enthusiastic. Be honest with them. MARCH 2012 STUDIO GROWS New 200 sq. ft. across the hall to make space in the press room for more people & presses! JUNE 2012 A NEW PRESS Approx. 1,200 lbs., from Bellingham, up the stairs, with the help of family and friends. JULY 2012
28. Why am I doing this? Have a good reason. Where am I? Know your city, be a part of it. Who are my clients? Know what they care about. How can I educate my clients? You’re their teacher. Who are my peers? How can I collaborate with them? What do I have to offer? Be different, be you. QUESTIONS I’M ALWAYS ASKING:
29. SO WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE RECESSION?
30. QUESTIONS?
31. WE’RE ON THE INTERNETS: CONSTELLATIONCO.COM E-MAIL: HELLO@CONSTELLATIONCO.COM @CONSTELLATIONCO @BRADMCNALLY @SARAMCNALLY