Announcing Wholesale Distribution of Piddix Collage Sheets

Years ago, when interviewing agents to represent my artwork, my licensing fairy godmother gave me some of the best business advice I've ever received: picture yourself sitting next to this person on an 8-hour flight. Would you get along with them? Would you enjoy the flight?

I keep these questions in mind frequently when choosing a wide range of business partners. That, combined with mutual respect for one another's work, impeccable integrity, quick responses to questions, and an impossibly high standard of quality are what often lead me to say yes to some and no to others.

Which is why I couldn't be happier to announce the official distributor of piddix printed collage sheets: Product Performers. Believe it or not, this relationship has been four years in the making, from the very first tentative email I sent to their president, Ken Petersen, to seeing 63 piddix collage sheets arrive in their online store.

At every step of the way both Ken and Dana (Director of Purchasing) have been the most professional and lovely folks to work with. I'm beyond thrilled. And yes, I'd totally sit on a cross-country flight next to them, and probably enjoy every minute of it.

First-Time Tradeshow Round-up

                                My wholesale catalog of printed piddix collage sheets.

For the past two years I've been hard at work on a line of printed collage sheets. A couple of stores have tracked me down and carry the line. The collage sheets do well, but for some reason I've been scared to branch out. All the "hard" work is done (design, paper sourcing, printing, etc.). But still, I sit on them. I have a lot of fear around cold calling companies, "selling," rejection, and so on.

So the question is, do I take jump in with both feet for wholesaling? I was seriously looking at the Craft & Hobby Show this February. But after talking with the lovely Katie of Tradeshow Bootcamp, decided to postpone it for another year. (I'd be 35 weeks pregnant, and Katie, having done similar shows very, very pregnant, kindly suggested to wait if possible.)

But while debating whether to sign on for the tradeshow, I found some tips online for other first-time trade show participants that might be helpful. In no particular order:

Katie Hunt of Tradeshow Bootcamp writes about a "First Timer's Perspective at the National Stationery Show." I especially like her day-to-day summary of events. I also sprang for a couple of her classes and found them very, very helpful.

One of the blogs I most enjoyed on attending tradeshows was by Fig2Designs. You'll have to hunt around a bit to find everything in the right order, but it's worth it. I literally started at the very beginning and read every post in chronological order. Love all the lists (that's how I work, too).

Here's a simple, straightforward article summarizing Eight Success Tips for Your First Trade Show Booth.

And finally here's a ton of articles on tradeshows from Designing An MBA. I can (and did) spend hours and hours reading articles just on this one site.

For a detailed process of exactly what to bring to a wholesale tradeshow, I may end up getting Megan's ebook (from Designing an MBA) Guide to Wholesale and Trade Shows. I also need to re-visit the tradeshow section in Craft, Inc. (if I can find it somewhere on my shelf).

Now that I've decided to postpone the tradeshow until February 2013, I'll actually have time to prep everything and do it right. Wish me luck!

Printed Collage Sheets Available in Stores

When I was in Minnesota recently I visited The Bead Monkey to check out their set-up of printed piddix collage sheets. They carry about 60 different piddix sheets and have a whole section of the store dedicated to them, along with crafty examples and pendant making supplies.

If you're in the Minneapolis/St Paul area it's definitely a fun store to swing by. Or if you're elsewhere, they also have the printed piddix collage sheets available in their web store as well as a great selection of online free tutorials.

If you would like more information about carrying piddix collage sheets in your retail store, send me an email for all the details.

This is What 2,000 Collage Sheets Look Like

I am thrilled to announce that after six months of product testing, research, design, and waaaaay too many late nights, the piddix line of printed collage sheets is finally here. They're printed on a the most amazing paper (which also happens to be FSC certified with recycled content) right here in Portland, Oregon at a 60-year-old family-owned print shop.

These little treats will only be available in retail stores. You can find the full line of 60+ collage sheets at The Bead Monkey in Minnesota, with other locations and details to be announced soon. Swing by their Minneapolis or St. Paul location and tell them piddix sent you.