Get a job!!!...ever here those words?...it's kind of funny because I never really did....sure I'm 53 and own a home in Toronto so where did the $ come from?...well not a job in the usual sense. You see I've never worked for the "man"...that means going to a place with a boss who tells me what to do or to do what I really dont want to do....I was lucky enough to be in biz at age 8, that was 1962.....and no I wasnt sweating in an industrial revolution style bobbin factory!...you see there was this craft/hobby called copper enamelling that I liked to do...so I made these copper enamel jewellery and sold them door to door in my neighborhood!...not huge $ but I didnt have a mortgage then...but it did light the entrepreneurial flame within me...and really never looked back...
(1 other note here that I give YOUNG entrepreneurs...the best time to go into biz is when you havent started to shave yet!!...people LOVE to suport kids who are "on the ball"...if you have or know a kid with a passion, kindle that, encourage them to play the violin,give tennis lessons, whatever!!...and to charge even a modest amount or donation for their service/advice....watch what happens!)
Some years later after developing my new love of clay sculpture and pottery, I finished high school....I really didnt want to go to art school as there was a need for immediate independence....and seeing as I had success selling my creations on the street in Toronto, my girlfriend and I went into biz!
That was 1976 and we sold on the street and in various art shows etc...then we started wholesaling to other shops by exhibiting at large trade shows....that cost bigger $ but we always perservered and gambled on ourselves...
Then on a late night stroll through Toronto's Yorkville area (the Rodeo Drive of Canada)we spied a small store for rent....it was amongst the most valuable real estate for rent in Canada but we gathered our strength, went to the PAWNSHOP with everything we owned (forget the bank, they hate small time artist) and got our 1st and last months rent!...talk about putting your head on the chopping block!...
Anyways the 1st day we were open we made half a months rent!!...success!!...we did that for 15 years , upgrading to a larger gallery oppposite the Toronto Four Seadsons Hotel and sold sculptures worth over $10,000 to the rich, beautiful, celebs, etc....was totally cool and also exhausting.
When my son was born in 1988 and we were getting burned out working by day to run gallery and by night to create the artwork...not much time for son Jupiter, so in 1993 we closed shop and retreated to our home(we bought that in 1980, with a 1st mortgage at 14% and a second at 20%!!!...highest rates in history, and a real burden to carry, along with store rent)where we could try to operate with less pressure!
Ever hear of out of sight out of mind?...we werent in Yorkville, less visible=less income, sure orders from old clients etc... but how to increase $??...didnt want to wholesale anymore(have to sell creations for half the price so store can mark them up)so what to do???
enter the internet!!!...I love this web...never has it been so easy to be an entrepreneur!!sure you have to compete against every shnook on the planet!!...so what??...if you have the fire and drive just go forward and do!!....now in our 5th or so year online and each year is better than the last, Jupiter is now our webmaster and my assistant in the studio, learning the craft/art/biz...he can inherit the biz and continue being an independant free spirit...
One of our speciality online is creatin personalized wedding cake toppers.
We dont commute to work, have to please a boss(except our clients who we love to please)do what we like to do, listen to cool tunes and create art with our great dane dog by our side in our nice cosy home!!and it costs the equivilent to a cup of coffee for 3 days overhead!!....my rent in Yorville was $1000 a week in 1993!!!!we are saving big time $ and especially the time and energy needed to hand make the items to make that $ !!
So in closing, to all people dreaming of being self employed I suggest that you dont jump ship yet from your "straight gig"...but do plant the seed of your biz on the web and water it with love and energy and have it grow for a few years and then jump ship onto your new home based utopia....doesnt matter really what the biz is, there's a demand for Everything...it just has to be something you really love to do so it "Aint Work...its Fun!".....and DON'T let the naysayers bring you down....they dont want you to leave them and the rat race behind....
PS...just got thess email's from some of our web clients, have 100's like this...its the icing on the cake...
Greetings
I just wanted to tell you how much my parents liked their gift. My father actually had tears in his eyes. They had to bring it to Hudson to show my family and check out my uncle Sylwester's statue too.
Got quite a chuckle out of many friends so far, and has become a conversation starter in their house when friends are over.
Thank you so much again for the great job. I have passed on your information to others that were interested.
My siblings think it was very cool too, and were impressed with it.
Karen Mol
Hunter: Your cake topper arrived yesterday, and when I opened it, I cried tears because it was so perfect! The little seahorse in the back, (which is a remembrance of my decased father) was so perfect, kind of peeking between the bride and groom as if to say, I am here and I will watch over you two! I absolutely love it! We gave it to my daughter, Robin and her fiancee, Tom, this evening, and she said, "I did not want a cake topper, but this is so perfect for the two of us, I love it". My Mother loved it also, as did the rest of the family that saw it. You outdid yourself, and made a special day even more special with all your thoughtful touches. I cannot thank you enough. You are wonderful. Please feel free to use me for any promotions you may want, I will be so very happy to tell others of your fine work. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
Jo Ellen Thompson
