Owen Says Blog

National Stationery Show 2011 Coverage

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:03:00 +0000

Don't miss all of the sneak previews and show coverage over at the Crow and Canary blog! I'll be co-piloting for Carina to keep her 2011 coverage website packed with up-to-the-minute goodies. You can also stay in the loop over on the Crow & Canary Facebook page.

New Card Designs: Halloween, Christmas, and More

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:59:00 +0000

I am very excited to announce the new series of designs for my Owen Says greeting card line.

The entire line is available to order this weekend at the California Gift Show in the LA temporary showroom or in my online catalog. Crow and Canary representation is in Booth No. 807. View more of my new cards or Read the LA MART sneak peek on the Crow & Canary blog.

View more of my new cards

National Stationery Show - Hot topics: Press Kits, WiFi, and Taking Payments

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:52:00 +0000

via @CarriePony
Who's doing press kits for #NSS? How many are you bringing?

via @emmajCARDS
QUESTION #nss- Is there WiFi in Javits? Can we bring laptops?

via Denise
What is your opinion on payment....since we are small....we do not have the ability to do credit cards....do buyers....write checks there....what is the protocol on that....or do they make an order....then send payment?

My Replies~

Press Kits
I suggest bringing as many as you can create, if that is 5 or 25! Keep a few in your booth because inevitably you will find an opportunity to hand them out. In the past I have have brought 15 or so (the most I had time to put together) and they were always gone when I returned to the Press Room to see if any were left behind. Drop them off early, because everyone always has a list of last minute to-dos in the morning. I cannot claim to be an expert on Press Kits, but I have dug up a few links that are helpful from the always resourceful Design*Sponge Blog:

Internet Access
The Javitz Center does have Wi-Fi Internet access.. for a price. I found it slow. My hotel wasn't much better. Between the two I wished I had an Internet enabled phone and went immediately out and bought one when I got home. Now I couldn't live without it, my phone is my second computer, my camera, my everything. {sigh}

Payments
Buyers will expect to write the order at the show only. Payments are handled later. The buyer will either provide you a credit card number (to be run at the time of shipment) or request NET 30 terms to be paid by check. When providing terms, an Invoice should be included in the package at the time of shipment-with the terms starting from ship date. Another option is COD (check on delivery), and it is worth noting that there are extra fees associated with COD--so make sure you include that in the shipping charge on the Invoice. If you are running a "Free Shipping show special", my policy is that extra fees, rushed shipping, international shipping do not qualify.

I cannot urge everyone enough, get setup to take credit cards. It is much easier than you expect and the fees are worth it to protect you and ensure payment. Cashflow in a small business is fragile, and to accept a credit card for an order means that you charge the card BEFORE you ship the product. If the credit card doesn't go through, you don't ship the product. Then you never have to worry about trying to get payment later--because you already have it. There are many credit card merchant services out there, and as long as you can enter and run the credit card without the other party having to confirm anything (sorry, no PayPal), you are good to go. I'm sure others can suggest some services they use. I use Authorize.net and accept only Visa and Mastercard (not AMEX).

Of course the devil is in the details, and in this economy it is not uncommon to have at least one instance where the credit card will not go through and the store does not respond to you... kind of a "back door" way of canceling orders. So my reps always tell me to fill immediate orders as soon as possible after a show--first to charge gets the order. Sounds terrible I know... but it is a lot better than sending product with terms and never getting paid and having to spend countless hours being frustrated and making unpleasant phone calls. Don't be surprised to get orders that are months out from the ship date. Do not ship these orders early or charge their cards more than a few days prior to their requested ship date.

Got a question or a great suggestion? Contribute in the comments below or chat me up on Twitter! @owensays

National Stationery Show - Pre-Show New Vendor Question & Answer

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Sun, 10 May 2009 00:07:00 +0000

Denise asked-

First timer this year at the show....alot to do....but does anyone have advice on how to handle the shipping cost associated with a sale. Do you just set pricing...Order $25.00- $50.00...shipping fee is $10.00 for example. Any help on this would be so great! Thanks.

My answer- Hi! Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog! Different companies are allowed to handle this differently, however there are some trends that buyers like to see at the show- normally I would add the cost of shipping regular ground (via any carrier) to the invoice BUT during the show I have had success with a "show special" that offers free shipping on orders that meet a minimum order amount (usually between $100-250 dollars depending on the what most of the items cost. It is important not to price out small stores that will be loyal customers and in this economy high minimums are frowned upon b/c it is the one place where people can be flexible. I hope this helps!

Denise replied-

That is great advice...thank you so much. I read your blog every day and it has been a HUGE help to me. I week out..and piecing things together..already finding mistakes in our ideas but the beauty of that is learning you can manage....HOPEFULLY! Do you allow other vendors to visit your booth.....or is that frowned apon. I love looking at all the great things out there and how talented people are...it is amazing. If so..I hope to meet you....know it or not...you are really helping first timers like me....looking for any help...any guidance....it is great! Thanks, Denise

I am very excited that my postings have been useful. I remember that it was helpful "strangers" that answered a lot of my questions in the beginning. The show process was something I could never have planned for in a vacuum! I love to meet other vendors and I have even had extensive discussions with lines that directly compete with mine about the challenges that our businesses share. However, just as often I encountered unfriendly folks.. like in life, not everyone is into making friends. It is expected that you will never enter another vendor's booth without permission. I usually hover on the outside to start a conversation and see if they seem receptive.

Having long missed Summer Camp, this is a close second with a Science Fair competitiveness about it. Don't miss walking the Licensing show and The Supply Side as well.

Art Innovator : Ghost Patrol Pencil Sets

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 06:25:00 +0000

Ghost Patrol pencil sets make my heart flutter. The clever and unusual use of shaved down pencils as a canvas pairs perfectly with the artist's touching and fantastical style.

Leaving Pencil Forest
Originally uploaded by ghostpatrol

Hostage, Throat Cut
Originally uploaded by ghostpatrol

Trees Are Made From Pencils
Originally uploaded by ghostpatrol

hyper coustume
Originally uploaded by ghostpatrol

reaching key
Originally uploaded by ghostpatrol

Visit http://ghostpatrol.net/

Gotta have it: Becky OH! Handbags

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:49:00 +0000

A don't miss giveaway

and one fab online shop

Becky OH! makes one hell of a handbag. Her one-of-a-kind creations are available in a number of different styles; each with thoughtful details like bamboo handles, contrast zippers, and punchy pattern pairings. Recently interviewed as part of the ambitious and well curated The Bright Side Project--and currently participating in a mighty fine giveaway--Becky O. settled in New Hampshire where she lives with her husband, after traveling five of the seven seas.

{a chance to win} Read an interview with Becky and enter her giveaway @ The Bright Side Project.

{shop online} Be sure to stop by the Becky OH! website and shop the full line of purses, clutches, cosmetic bags, and other products.

All photos c/o Becky OH! and The Bright Side Project.

Inspiration: Vintage Family Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:42:00 +0000

Are digital cameras impacting the American tradition of the classic family portrait?

Selected photos from my family album: My mom, Lake Tahoe 1958; my great-grandmother; my grandmother; my dad in uniform; my mom (before her friends had eyebrow intervention-yes really) with my brother and sister; my mom and her identical twin sister, brother and father; my dad and his family looking snappy

I am going to miss the differences in film (bye-bye polaroid... sigh) and photographic style that we all cherish in our favorite photos from the past. I worry that with all the new cameras and software, family photographs are going to look a whole lot alike and the next generation will not be able to see the changes in the world and technology advances through images in quite the same way .

Talk Back: The National Stationery Show buzz on Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:33:00 +0000

Exhibitors, journalists, and stationery enthusiasts are chatting #NSS--sharing resources and looking to each other to get prepared. Conversation on Twitter includes honest "new-school" jitters, exhibitors looking for advice + opinions as they prepare, and journalists reminding everyone of their upcoming submission deadlines and hot topics.

Click any of the tweets above to follow or reply to the original Twitter author. Read the newest #NSS posts on Twitter.

Contribute to my ongoing National Stationery Show Tips and Tricks for Exhibitors! Add your comment in response to my question below.. Or suggest a topic or ask your own question.

Question: As an #NSS exhibitor, what did you wish you'd known in advance?

10 Downloadable iPhone, Android G1, and Other Mobile Phone Wallpapers

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:57:00 +0000

A monster appetite for tweet served donuts (inspired by Twitter), Guinea Pig splashing in puddles beneith a giant red umbrella, an owl pattern in pink or brown, pink robots, lost dog & flea, Tink in the forrest, gnomes, and others!

Click any image to proceed to Flickr and view all available wallpapers. Cheer up your iPhone, Android G1, Blackberry or other mobile device today. Wallpapers are available in a variety of mobile phone sizes.

Follow me on Twitter or subscribe to my blog if you want to receive updates about new wallpapers and other free downloadable items. Thank you for stopping by!

Tips for exhibiting at trade shows

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:15:00 +0000

This week I'm excited to share some images from my booth at the National Stationery Show 2008 along with tips, ideas, and links to further examples.

Let's talk signage-

The obvious: Your company name and logo should be large and legible. The materials don't have to be fancy - my sign was made using foamcore, razor blade, tissue paper, and tape.
The hidden detail: Often it is difficult for buyers to find the booths they are looking for in a sea of people. Don't make it more difficult. Include a sign with your booth number that can be seen from the aisle.
The "uh-oh": What happens if your sign arrives damaged? Have a backup plan and easy access to your graphic files in case you need to come up with something quick.

Examples: Egg Press, Paper+Cup, Susie Jack, Magnolia Moonlight, Pie Bird Press

Booth walls and lighting-

The Mainstay: White foam core is the cheapest hard-scape choice and sometimes all that's in the budget. Draw, paint, or paste things on it.
The Secret Sauce: Order the extra pole that goes across the front of the booth. Including some lights across the front increases illumination and is worth the expense.
Take a tip from retail: Displays should be easy to see without buyers having to bend over or look down or around crowds of people.

Examples of clever build-outs using variety of materials: Two Trick Pony, Hello Lucky, Cielo Blue, Tiselle, Pancake & Franks

The first couple of times I participated in shows my cards were removable. I ended up spending a lot of time readjusting everything and being fussy. This last time I attached the cards to the walls. Still, a few people tried to remove them, so I'm glad I had some extra tape around during the show. The craziest moment was when a guy turned to me and said "I just don't understand, what is somebody supposed TO DO with these? .. Frame them?" As I try to body block him to prevent him from pulling more items off the wall, I responded: "Sir, this is a stationery show and this is a greeting card." He blinked twice and I'm sure he was still confused. Click on any of the photos above to visit Flickr for thoughts and details.

In a nutshell-

The Good: I ate all my meals at the crepe cart (inside) or the hotdog cart (outside)

The Bad: My electrical outlet was put in the wrong place and when I requested it be fixed, I was essentially blackmailed into signing a document authorizing the electrical people to charge me for something they refused to estimate up front. Thankfully it was less than $50.

The Ugly: Kinkos in the Javitz charged $.83 for a color copy and I spent a fortune making extra copies when handouts went fast.

The Crazy: I bought a cheap bubblejet printer and had it shipped to my hotel.

The Totally Insane: I was on my own during breakdown and was overwhelmed from hunger and sleepiness. I decided to flee the chaos and come back later. Thankfully I packed up all of my samples and order forms, etc. and took them with me in my trusty rolling suitcase ... because when I got back there was nothing left besides my floor and a string of lights. It was like the scene where the Grinch steals Christmas. All my props and even the shipping container were GONE. Being fully responsible and obviously naive, I have forced myself to shrug this off and am thankful nothing irreplaceable was lost. Bye bye ceramic deer. I will miss you most of all.

My next post will touch on what materials are needed for the show (order forms, catalogs, pricing, pr kits, etc.) and some cost saving tips. I'll also quickly cover some of the basics - how stores place orders, methods of payment, etc. Check out my recent tweets for a sneak peek at a few of these tips.

Downloadable iPhone Wallpaper: "Portraits"

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 17:52:00 +0000

Family portraits hang in the dark hall of an old victorian.. a lost teddy has been abandoned on the floor.. Characters from the Owen Says card line re-imagined for your phone.

First up in the series of cellphone wallpapers I'll be releasing: a little something for iPhone enthusiasts. I had a lot of fun designing it. Click here or the image to download.

Check out all the available freebies from Owen Says. There are just as many mobile phone screen sizes as there are mobile phone brands.. so if there is a certain size you want, let me know! Follow me on Twitter or subscribe to my blog if you want to receive updates about new wallpapers and other free downloadable items. Thank you for stopping by!

Gnomes + Mushrooms Desktop Wallpaper Organizer

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:58:00 +0000

The gnome desktop calendar has been very popular, so I created this gnomey organizational version! Download the desktop wallpaper and get organized today!

Gnomes love to stick their nose in your business, it's only right they get organizing. Pass it along! Download the wallpaper for free in the size that matches your monitor resolution:

1024x768 | 1280x1024 | 1600x1200

See all the available freebies from Owen Says.

Instructions for changing your wallpaper: PC | MAC

Shaggy Dog + Depressed Flea Organizational Desktop Wallpaper

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 02:38:00 +0000

Let a happy shaggy lost dog and a depressed flea help you organize your desktop! Download the desktop wallpaper and organize by: take action, reference, delegate/defer.

Pass it along! Download the wallpaper for free in the size that matches your monitor resolution:

1024x768 | 1280x1024 | 1600x1200

Instructions for changing your wallpaper: PC | MAC

See all the available downloads from Owen Says.

Organize! Robot Desktop Wallpaper

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 03:01:00 +0000

Spring cleaning starts on my computer desktop. Join me! Download the robot desktop wallpaper and organize by: take action, reference, delegate/defer, and a worksheet where the love-bot can hold your most important file!

Know someone who loves robots or could use some organization? Robots love organizing. Beep. Beep. Beep. Pass it along! Download the wallpaper for free in the size that matches your monitor resolution:

1024x768 | 1280x1024 | 1600x1200

Instructions for changing your wallpaper: PC | MAC

See all the available downloadable items from Owen Says.

Uncluttered stainless fridge door no more, grocery lists come out of hiding

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:42:00 +0000

I love stainless fridges - but all those cool magnet and magnet-backed products don't work on stainless surfaces. So I was excited when last year at The National Stationery Show I came across the colorful and unique Happeez product line of clips, notepads, + frames.

On my fridge: a doodle "teddies like breakfasts", a cloth-covered frame with a photo of me and my eldest brother, and a notepad for jotting down notes and grocery lists.

The Happeez products will gladly stick to stainless, tile, glass, and just about anything else without a lick of residue. From their website: "Revolutionary material grips to slick surfaces, including stainless steel refrigerators, with no residue. Stick and restick again and again." How does it grip to all those surfaces? I have not idea! It is such amazing stuff that it is patent pending. I love my set in the Mod Dot pattern and I made fast fans of the recipients (and jealous friends) of the Happeez products I have gifted. Rid yourself of empty fridge door syndrome - get your own Happeez products.

Springtime: feathers in your hair, butterflies whispering in your ear, favorite charms around your neck..

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 07:38:00 +0000

Delicate jewelry and showstopping-yet-demure hair accessories - the TenThings store is a delight.

I am sticking my big toe into spring and I'm ready to jump in! Are you ready for some new favorites? Come meet Kerri J!

There are a bounty of items from TenThings that are a perfect compliment to a breezy spring day. Long neglected, some of my lonely vintage dresses will get a new feathered friend in the form of a fine headband. For kicking around town during the day you can't beat the voodoo heart necklace charm! Visit TenThings and the companion store Tulle on Etsy and read the Blah Blah Blah Blahg.

{inspiration} I discovered TenThings when I was lucky enough to have her win Crow & Canary's Twitter giveaway for my gnome bookmark. Follow @Ten10Things on Twitter!

{Peek} Donut Tweet Monster Wallpaper + Record Player Print

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:36:00 +0000

Dreaming of fresh donuts, glazed to perfection and delivered by an army of eager tweets. Mice hanging out by the record player, singing a tune.

I miss my drive-thru Krispy Kreme nights in Atlanta. Hot steaming donut deliciousness. YUMMY! Soon I will release my factory of donut producing tweets feeding a monstrous appetite. A new digital wallpaper series for your computer, phone, and the printable version too!

Rejoice! One of my favorite cards from the Owen Says line, Rocking Mice Record Player, is now available as a print.

{BONUS} Near the end of the month I will release the popular gnome wallpaper minus the calendar - so anyone who wants to get their gnome-on year round gets their wish.

Stay tuned! Subscribe and be the first to get all the newest updates.

Crow & Canary Giveaway - recycled multilingual thank you cards

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 07:25:00 +0000

7 chances to take home one of the most popular items from the Owen Says greeting card line.

from the desk of Crow & Canary-

Our Owen Says giveaway has arrived! This round, we are gifting 6 hand glittered "thank you" cards printed on 75% recycled paper. The set comes in Owen Says' signature packaging; Cleverly designed for reuse, the inside is printed with a bookmark and mini-planner. Tres chic and oh, so green. To sweeten the pot, six singles of this popular multilingual notecard are also up for grabs. Yep, seven chances to win, my friends. Best of luck..
Click here to enter

shop for this card online

miss waxy fingers

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 21:09:00 +0000

Today I wish I were painting instead of doing chores. Unfortunately there is laundry to do. Boo!

Saturday oldie but goodie

past artwork postings: morose teddy | tiny home

{artist spotlight}

You might recognize Portland artist :: Amy Ruppel :: whose work popped up in Target's 2008 Christmas holiday campaign. Her charming and very popular encaustic paintings feature her signature bird images.

~ buy amy's art

~ amy's other projects

encaustic method info: text | videos

search encaustic: on etsy

follow encaustic chat on twitter:

@jamieribisi @pizazzoart @Encaustic

:: red :: pops everywhere

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:23:00 +0000

It's undeniable, the color red is no wallflower. Poppies, fire, strawberries and stop signs- red is the old standby to add an "exclamation point" to just about anything. Red creates icons with a shade of lipstick or on upholstered chair.

Buy this super cute apple necklace @etsy.

Lately I've been noticing vibrant red popping up everywhere, from Oscars dresses to interior design. Why not paired with library-cool frocks & leathers (ala Prada) or neutrals (C. Kane)? Not ready for an all red kitchen, well then maybe take a chance on the retro styled mixer. Be brave with red.

{red in my life}

on my wall: painting by Ian Nicholas

on my wrist: perky vintage bracelet

in my hood: red cargo van

{my inspiration}

I happened upon this vintage coffee press for sale in The Estate Store's virtual storefront. I started to collect a folder of bookmarks titled 'red' to keep ideas organized for this post.

credits & links for main graphic: clockwise from boots:

1-4 Prada Fall 2009 coverage @style.com | 5 Nanette Lepore Spring 2009 @style.com | 6 Snow White's apple necklace - shop gjentagelsen @etsy.com | 7 Nanette Lepore Spring 2009 @style.com | 8 Christopher Kane Spring 2009 @style.com | 9 Kitchenaid Stand Mixer @Macy's.com (on sale!) | 10 Ikea kitchen @ikea.com | 11 Red Velvet Cupcakes recipes @foodtv.com

Giveaway: Gnome Themed Bookmark

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:49:00 +0000

Carina over on the Crow & Canary Blog is hosting a little contest. Here are the details.

"Owen Says and I are working on announcing giveaway no.2 later this week. In the meantime, we thought it would be fun to do a mini giveaway. If you would like to win this no-slip, gnome themed bookmark: join or login to your twitter account and send me a direct message by Wednesday March 3rd at midnight. That's all you need to do to enter, easy peasy! Stay tuned for details on our second Owen Says sponsored giveaway, I promise you won't want to miss it!" tweet her now: @crowandcanary

congratulations @ten10things

Entertaining How-to: an item you already have can save guests from mystery dip + an impressive homemade gift.

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 03:31:00 +0000

Uncommon uses for common things. There was quite a spread and I had five minutes to figure out how to label each of the different dips before hungry adults would be knocking on the door. If everything is clearly marked, no palette would be offended by mystery dip experimentation. A marker and clothes pins did nicely. All guests were now safe; Every vegetable destined for the muncher's choice of hummus, blue cheese, goddess, or cowboy ranch dip. There are very few items I'm convinced have only one use. I challenge you to name some other clever and quick entertaining tricks.

Homemade gifts are always welcome. This wrapper is just outright cool and deceives at first--it is so professional it's hard to believe it is handmade. The writing is so precise it is typographic; Now that's a font I would buy. The list of ingredients tops off a perfect homemade gift that is both personal and clearly made with love. The packaging was so impressive it seemed a shame to open. However, that worry was quickly pushed aside for an inspection of the gorgeous bread that was contained within.

{Give a shout out to the birthday boy @worldofbarbee. Take a listen to the breadmaker's band The Helping Hands here.}

Portland or Bust, How a sticker loving child rode the Internet bubble and burst into the greeting card industry

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:24:00 +0000

{ the early years }

Entering the scene, 1976--as a child my obsession with illustration and craft hit hard and fast with the discovery of sticker collecting. My idea of a perfect afternoon was browsing the wall-to-wall rolls of stickers, carefully selecting new items (sparkly unicorns or scratch and sniff?) and digging into an irresponsibly large "Turtle Sundae". This was all a careful ruse by my clever mother--soon enough I was passed out in the barber chair while he touched up my perfect bowl cut.

Known for asking far too many questions, I was soon enrolled in art and music classes to keep me busy. Bless her heart, my mother already had 3 older kids running the show. I attribute my creativity and passion for handmade to her knowledge of antiques, clever crafting, perfect penmanship, and home-sewn homecoming dresses. My entrepreneurial bent--I can thank the tireless work and support of my father. My business efforts started early, when at the age of seven I hawked hand-painted pet rocks door-to-door (a secret strategy for meeting kids in my new neighborhood). My first art obsession came at nine-- when I built my first pin-hole camera. Once I was even an extra in an After School Special.

{ experience }

After a short stint in art school I went on to work in 1995 as the seventh employee for a small employee-owned Internet startup located in Atlanta, GA. Soon we were plucked up from obscurity into what would be an international buying spree--and the creation of USWeb. Focusing on Internet site development and marketing, the organization grew leaps and bounds in just a few years. In 1998 USWeb merged with CKS Group (well known for their extremely successful rebranding of Apple - at that time launching the popular candy colored iMacs.) Now known as USWeb/CKS, the Atlanta office grew again to over 200 employees and to include traditional advertising staff and work. Website projects now included marketing analysis, print and radio ads, online advertising and often took a year to complete. My time spent working for my father's software company in high school was influential, and I developed a knack for e-commerce and interface-complex development projects and my workload bloomed to 80 hour weeks. While working as a graphic designer/art director at USWeb a few of my clients included Coca-Cola, MCI, KinderCare, Royal Velvet, and MinuteMaid.

5 different company names, 15 different managers, 5 different offices in close to 5 years... ah, the Internet, a story of excess, times of change, unbelievable opportunities and risk taking. Shortly after yet another merger in 1999 (and becoming the company known as marchFIRST) I left and started working with my own roster of Atlanta based start-ups and the couture bridal designer Anne Barge . My consulting and design work focused on branding, information design, developing strategies and assisting in the design and interface for what was usually a very complicated software backend.

{ Portland bound }
Looking for a change, I moved from Atlanta, Georgia to Portland, Oregon in Spring 2001 on a mission-- find a new challenge and pursue the perfect cup of coffee, late-night spots with excellent french fries, and a vintage bicycle. Looking for a way to work with my hands, combining my original illustrations and background in graphic design-- I jumped and started Owen Says; Launching at The National Stationery Show--a NYC based stationery industry trade show hosted at the Jacob Javitz in May of each year--the Owen Says line of hand glittered greetings has grown to include many popular characters and the addition of gift items. Currently I am working on an expansion of the online store with new items not found as part of the wholesale line--like prints, limited edition greetings, and printable calendars and stationery sets. Licensing and custom work inject life and whimsy and provide new ways to expand on my specific style of cute and occasionally the weird.

MEET THE CHARACTERS + PATTERN BOOK | visit OwenSays.com

info@owensays.com | follow me on twitter: @owensays

Social Media: My take

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:44:00 +0000

Maybe you haven't heard of Twitter or think that this new world of Social Media does not have a place for you and your business.

Are you happy enough that the website shows up on Google and that your webdesigners tell you your site is cutting edge -- nevermind how effective it is.. or how much you invested last year with no return. It's not important (you hope) because everyone in your industry pays attention to {press} {shows} {etc}. You see Twitter as another source of media clutter that will just sit there mockingly, like your spam-filled email box and endless Facebook friend updates. Stay with this line of thinking and you might miss out. Or worse, you might give your core audience the idea that your brand thinks it is too cool or doesn't care-- if you continue to dump money into a website that nobody visits you should understand why that is.

And while Twitter is growing and there are many companies utilizing it well, media outlets writing about it, and politicians pulling out their mobile phones in the middle of a presidential speech; There is still this stigma and disinterest from many businesses that thrive on a fanbase, word of mouth, and brand fanatics. They are turning an aloof back on social media. Their websites are uninformative or not updated, their blogs nonexistant or impersonal and--running risk of falling out of touch--they sit by bewildered, clutching to their press releases and the same way they did things in 1995. Meanwhile their fanbase will jump ship to more relatable brands (ones with more than a corporate facade) and their competitors will get an edge that they don't see coming.

{don't miss 50+ Social Media & Twitter links: here }

Barbie collides with NY Fashion Week

noreply@blogger.com (Owen Says) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 08:25:00 +0000

The scene: the creme de la creme of creative talent, elbow-to-elbow -- a moment of solidarity in the fashion world. An occurrence as rare as a sighting of the infamous Sasquatch. The competetion is still strong, but the goal is a shared one.

view NYFW Barbie Runway Coverage

Inspired by ever popular fashion icon and it girl-- Barbie; The Barbie Runway Show was an inspired event where top designers (Alexander Wang, Tuleh, Bob Mackie and others) each created a different Barbie look resulting in a spectacular collaboration. Heidi Klum and Jonathan Adler were among the celebs looking on from the front row.

{READ MORE COVERAGE: http://www.fabsugar.com/ }

{RETWEET: @owensays @heyfabsugar}

{SHOP: UK Telegraph Cover and vintage Barbie photos c/o Ebay. click on the photos to search current auctions}