Sunshine and Sparkles Inspire a Brand New Spring Art Special

Ready for me to pour some sugar on you?  How about a Buy One Get One FREE special? 

I just love days like this.  Where I live…it’s 74 degrees, sunny and bright with a nice cool breeze.  Yes, this is definitely my kind of day.

So, I’m feeling good, despite the work overload.  The sunshine is spilling into the studio making everything that much more sparkly, too. Perhaps that explains why I thought it was time to take a break from my busy schedule.

Well, I’m not officially taking a break.  I don’t even really understand the word “break”.  But I am back here on the blog to share some Sugarluxe-y goodness again.

Since it’s my favorite time of year - I just had to come up with an idea today to spread a little of this beautiful sunshine.

In fact, I couldn’t be more pleased about the Sugarluxe website overhaul we did recently because it allows us to implement so many more fabulous offerings for our friends.

Over the past few years, we would put together about 4 VIP deals a year – one per quarter at the most.  It wasn’t that I didn’t have all kinds of things I wanted to do.  It was simply that the website was so painstakingly manual, we just didn’t have the time to make all the necessary changes required to do it more often.  Now, instead of two weeks to change everything in our programming and spread the word about our specials…we can put together something sweet in as little as one day. 

Well, honestly?  A dedicated day to any project right now is still demanding on what little time I seem to have, but if it means I get to come over to the blog and do something extra nice for the people I adore…then it is TOTALLY worth it.

 

———————————————————— HERE’S WHAT TO DO ———————————————————

Select any size Archival Art Paper Print from the Sugarluxe Website (only) and get a giclee paper print in the same size/format for free!  YAY!

If you own a Sugarluxe Gallery Wrapped Canvas and have thought about anchoring the artwork with some smaller framed pieces – NOW is the time to do it.  Or, if you haven’t started your Sugarluxe Collection yet, but you’ve been dying to get that first little piece – NOW you can get two for one.  Either way, it’s a nice little bonus.

1. Be sure to add a comment in the Customer Comments section at the bottom of the check out page – mention that you want the Spring Art Special.
2. Tell us which ADDITIONAL print you’ve selected and would like to add to your order. 
3. Complete your purchase and your TWO new prints will arrive together. 

It’s that easy!

Please note:  This special expired on 4.31.09

—————————————————  FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS  ——————————————

What is an Archival Giclee Paper Print?
Unlike posters on thin stock paper (oh, and by the way, I love posters so not knocking them – these are just not posters). Our prints are genuine Sugarluxe painting reproductions created on premium archival Museum Grade Fine Art Paper. This paper has been made since 1819 by the oldest paper mill in the country.

What is the Museum Fine Art Paper like?
This smooth 100% Cotton Rag Fine Art Paper feels thick, rich and gives a deep gorgeous color to the images.  Plus, it is naturally acid and lignin free. It is also buffered for added stability and treated with a special UV protective coating to ensure that the colors remain constant over time.  In addition, it is recommended that you mat and/or frame your Sugarluxe print in order to enhance its longevity.

Why don’t you mat and/or frame these prints at Sugarluxe?
Product line decisions are often based on the wonderful feedback and input we receive from customers around the world.  Because we do ship globally, and we have stockists in a number of countries who wanted to carry Sugarluxe Art in addition to our accessories, I was determined to find a way to maintain the integrity of a valued art print, but make it so that it is easy and affordable to ship. 

And – I also like to offer flexibility.  If we mat and frame the piece for you –  it might not work for your decor and that is limiting its potential to work well within your space.  Since we are not a frame shop, we leave that work to the professionals who make a living, matting and framing art.  That way, you get exactly what you want.

I want a bigger print, but 13 inch openings on pre-made mats are sometimes hard to find. What do you suggest?
First – that’s true.  And square mats are harder to locate, too.  But the mat does make the whole piece a bit more substantial. Plus, our prints with a mat and frame look fantastic.  We have twelve pieces installed like this in the studio right now.

What I do is go to the framing section of my local Michaels (not just because that’s my last name) or once you’re familiar with what you need, better prices can be found online at Blick Art Materials (love this place the most and it’s where I buy all my canvases, supplies, mats and they have great, inexpensive frames, too). 

Then, I just pick out a piece of “Mat Board”.  If you don’t know where to find it, the good people in the frame area will show you.  Ask to have an opening cut to fit the size (should be a bit smaller than the actual print size so that it is easier to line up if you’re framing it yourself – best to take in your print if this is the first time you’ve done this and they can make sure there is a good fit when they do the cuts) and really, that’s all there is to it.  If you just get a plain white cut mat with no fancy stacking…it’s about $5-7 (which is definitely less than the pre-cut mats!)

Why not just mount the print?
You could…but if you want me to leave you a personal note on the back, you’ll never see it again…mounting can prove to be a pain in the long run because it will be fully adhered to another surface.  In archival framing, the mats are not glued to the piece or backing, but are hinged to the backing with tape.  If you want to choose a proper mat board and don’t want to spend the money on cotton fiber museum board, choose Conservation or Archival Mat Board.  It is constructed of 100% pure high alpha cellulose (wood pulp) and treated to be inert for up to 300 years. This is the highest quality paper matboard available.

Why don’t you just sign the front of the print then?
I do.  If you choose that option when ordering, I will definitely hand-sign the piece on the front.  When you select a signed piece…I often write a private, personal note on the back for you, too.  If you want my personal note to you ON THE FRONT of your print, be sure to select the option for “White Border” when choosing your print so that it leaves me some room to write you a message.  Just be sure to make that special request in the comments section when checking out. The great news is that a white border piece saves you money over ordering a full-bleed, edge to edge print.  

Can I buy more than one print with this month’s special and still get the two for one?
Absolutely.  For every print you purchase, you get another one for FREE.  No limits on quantities…but this is for retail (not wholesale) purchases only and is not retroactive to previous purchases.

Well, I guess that’s it for now…

Spring is in the air.  So, I sure hope you have a fantastic week full of sunshine!

Brand Licensing & The Magical Mailbox Money Maker

Donald Trump does it, P Diddy did it, even midwestern textile designer – Amy Butler – is doing it and it all begins behind closed doors.

It’s called: THE LICENSING DEAL…

Why do BIG designers and FAMOUS celebrities put their names on manufacturers products created for major retailers?

In short — there is only one true answer — SMART MONEY!

When other people pshaw Vera Wang for creating Simply Vera for Kohls, Cindy Crawford Home for Rooms to Go, or Martha Stewart at Michaels (AND Macy’s)…I just watch and learn.

If you don’t like the mall, detest discount stores or believe boutiques are the ONLY place to buy all your heart desires…well, then, okay?!

Sugarluxe accessories are available in hundreds of boutiques around the world. We’ve hand-selected each store and truly admire the proprietors of these establishments -

A few of my all-time favorites that we’ve been with since they first opened their doors are:

• Soigne Boutique in Central Austin
• Patricia Junes Boutique on Melrose in Los Angeles
• Ginger & Koi Boutique in Kailua Kona, Hawaii
• So Absolutely Fabulous in Temecula, Californa
• Sassi Sam in New South Wales, Australia

And I typically offer exclusives, so that these small business owners can trust that I won’t go down the street to their competition. With that kind of business philosophy, it’s probably apparent that boutiques will never be my bread and butter. I just really love working with other women who also work very hard to run a business of their own.

So, yes – I shop at these places whenever I can. But I love Bed, Bath & Beyond and Target, too.

Those who have a lot of money but are wise about spending it, or for those whose financial cup does not yet runneth over…big brand names today are but a chain store away. And I for one – am so glad for that.

Starting a business really forced me to be more frugal than I had ever been in my life. I was raised to love a good bargain, but it wasn’t until I became a true bootstrap entrepreneur that I understood what it meant to really NEED to find a good deal.

From the outside looking in…it would be easy to say that I’m cheap (not in a hookerish way) just thrifty. But really, when you’re here on the inside, you understand that it’s all very strategic.

In the same way that I want my hard-earned dollars to go as far as possible, I have the same desires for my work. And…watching…as I do, the business people I want to emulate, it was clear to me from the outset that LICENSING would be a significant way to achieve that.

Here’s why:

My whole life, my dad instilled in me the MAGIC of MAILBOX MONEY. He would always talk to me about what investors call – PASSIVE INCOME. In other words, do the work, sell the rights and get royalties. Checks coming every month in the mail for the work you did – once.

He instilled in me a deep desire for this type of financial freedom.

That’s not typically how an artist thinks, yet an artist who aspires to make art their business, could learn a lot from my dad.

But that makes it sound so easy, huh? Want mailbox money? Do a licensing deal.

Sure, in theory, it’s very simple. But how do you get there? How do you create a name, brand, design or invention that someone else wants to pay you to license? That’s the very, very – did I say very? Tricky Part.

Now, let’s go back to my friends Vera, Cindy and Martha.

They are incredibly savvy business women and one of the ways they’ve amassed a fortune is, of course, first being at the top of their game. But to build an empire? They would all agree with me – licensing is the key!

I will always love, shop for, and even create one of a kind, unique items that you can’t find anywhere else…but those are splurges. And my suspicion has always been that other people feel that way, too.

Partnering with small shops, creating original paintings, designing custom surfboards (oh yes, wait until you see) and hand-made items will be the work I live for. But it takes more than that. Getting your work into Big Box Retail is like getting drafted into the NFL. It’s a major deal.

And – it’s not because I want to be famous, not because I have to be rich – but only because I want to live a life I enjoy, connect with people through my work, and run my own company because I don’t like anyone else to be the boss of me.

My desires have always been THAT crystal clear – how I was going to get there and what I would have to do to attain those goals is a story that unfolds every single day.

Sure – there are plenty of books, trade shows and websites that will teach you the tradional path by which to try to break into this business.

But I find it rather difficult to compete with Disney. And I am far from a traditionalist. Or remotely conventional. Or by the book. Ever.

Guess my point is…you can be independent, you can do this without high-priced lawyers and lots of money, even successfully promote yourself without an agent or a manager (*hint* TalentDatabase is the BEST place to start!)…but you can’t do it without being SMART, RELENTLESS and DETERMINED.

Two weeks ago (that’s why I’ve been MIA) we finally launched our fifth major licensing deal…and the biggest one to date for Sugarluxe!

Placing over 10,000 new Sugarluxe items in 1000+ new stores, I couldn’t be more excited. And my parents were so proud when they called me from the art section of the biggest home decor retailer in the nation. Moreso than if I would have sold one painting for $500 grand – they love seeing Sugarluxe on the shelves.

The BEST part is, I did this whole deal from the comfy convenience of my fabulous studio. Want to know how? Stay tuned and SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Z Gallerie Unveils Exclusive Sugarluxe Collection

I can’t believe it’s been less than 3 years since launching Sugarluxe from my small loft.

Having already outgrown two studios and earning my stripes as a real risk taker (trust me I have the entrepreneurial scar tissue to prove it) – I’ve arrived at a marker in my career that I’ve been dreaming about for years.

This particular dream started when I walked into Z Gallerie.

Over a decade ago, my mom discovered this great home decor store and thought it was the perfect place for me to find things for my first home. By nature, I tend to be pretty eclectic, so she knew I’d love it. The moment I walked in, it was more than love. I was overcome with a feeling, that to this day, I can hardly describe.

I muttered to my mom, “My stuff will be in this store someday.” After all – born July 22nd, I’m on the cusp of Cancer & Leo, which might explain why I thrive on the duality of business and art.

But the feeling, or vision, or whatever it was that day has remained crystal clear.

Read more