Moo Cards and the Business of Art
I desperately need to make some new business cards for both my Etsy shop and for my website, Colorado Art Studio. The problem is that I am doing a complete overhaul of my website and don’t have a logo or “look” that I want to advertise to the world yet. Enter Moo Cards stage left! I ordered some a few weeks ago and I just received them last week. I can’t tell you how much I like these mini calling cards (they’re about 1/2 the size of regular business cards-1″ x 2.7″). They’re a bit on the pricy side, 24.99 for 100; although that does include shipping from the U.K. They also come with this nifty solid storage container so that you can throw them into you purse, backpack or briefcase and they won’t get dirty, bent, etc.
The cool thing about these are that they’re constructed of heavy duty paper with a smooth satin finish. I thought they were made from some sort of plastic when I first got them because they’re so strong and durable, until I read the packaging. Moo Cards are made from recycled materials and are in fact themselves recyclable. The other really neat thing is that you upload your images from your Flickr account. You could feasibly print 100 different images on your order of 100 Moo Cards. I chose just 2 images, 1 of my fiber pieces and 1 of my ceramic vases. By the time these run out, I should have my new website up and running and also have new business cards freshly printed.
In other news, I registered my art business with the State of Colorado and the City of Denver. My business is now officially known as Colorado Art Studio, LLC! I haven’t made enough money in the past from my art to even make a blip on the radar; however, this year that is going to change. I have a lot of plans for the future and want to do this correctly. I want an official record of my income so that if my husband and I want to refinance or purchase a different house or maybe even a vacation home sometime, I will have an income on record. Who knows if social security will still be in existence when I need it; but at least by paying into the system I will perhaps someday be able to tap into it. These are but just a few reasons for my desire to start my business the right way.
How did I decide to organize my business as an LLC (Limited Liability Company), you might ask? I’ve been doing a lot of research and then last Saturday, after attending the “Building Creative Business Expo” in Denver and sitting in a workshop presented by Kevin Houchin I knew exactly what I needed to do. Mr. Houchin is an arts and entertainment attorney, so please visit his blog for a ton of great information regarding organizing a creative business, copyright, trade mark, public domain and other pertinant creative business information.
By the way, I am closing down my original Etsy store, DoodlesnKaboodles and am in the process of opening a new one, coloradoartstudio. Etsy doesn’t allow users to change their store name, so my only option is to close and then re-open. I am going to lose all my + feedback, all my favorites and the people who have ? me, but I’ll have to rebuild. I’ve also joined the newly formed Denver Etsy Street Team. We are going to have our first meeting March 18th. I’ll let you know how that goes later in the month.
Angela
March 8, 2007 at 5:43 pm //
WOOO HOOO!! CONGRADULATIONS on your opening! I bet that’s exciting! I need to make buisness cards too. What a pain all of that is! Worth it though.
Anyhoo, congradulations! 
I’ll be hearting your new shop. Ya won’t loose me or the people that know your changing shops. *Hugs*
Janvangogh
March 8, 2007 at 8:57 pm //
Think I will send the link to Kevins site to my son. He is a musician. Sounded like some good advice.
Mary Timme
March 9, 2007 at 1:15 am //
Wow, I feel like I went to the seminar myself! What good information you’ve given out on your blog today. I love the idea of the moo cards except my computer thinks the fliker program is very suspecious. I don’t have it set on high, so I don’t use it. Still the possibilties are endless. I’m going to visit Kevin’s blog too. Good info, Cynthia! Thank you.
The Lone Beader
March 9, 2007 at 10:53 pm //
I love Moo Cards!! How fun!! Thanks for that link. I’m gonna look into that. I usually make my own business cards, and have ones with Rudy on them. But, I might get some Moo Cards, too=:)
TGIF
Cynthia
March 9, 2007 at 11:14 pm //
Thanks Angela! You’re too sweet…you were the first person there.
You bet, Janet! Tons of great information for everyone.
Are you glazing over yet Mary? My browser acts up all the time and i just switch out and come back to whatever I was looking at.
These Moo Cards are so cool, Diana! I almost don’t want to pass them out! I will eventually get regular business cards too, but these ought to hold me over till I get new ones designed.
I hope I’m not boring everyone too much with all my business mumbo jumbo!
I second TGIF!
jafabrit
March 10, 2007 at 3:35 pm //
absolutely NOT boring, the biz info itself is interesting AND it is interesting because it is part of your art life.
The moo cards are just too nice lol! I can see why they are hard to give out.
Kevin Houchin
March 12, 2007 at 3:26 pm //
Thanks for the nice promo Cynthia and good luck with the biz.
You should all check out Alyson Stanfield’s site/blog too (if you haven’t already)… Alyson’s great!
http://www.artbizcoach.com/
LynClay
March 13, 2007 at 1:35 am //
It sounds like you have been organizing and making some very smart business decisions (I’m takin’ notes here LOL). I also desperately need to have some nice bus. cards made instead of ones I’ve been printing off my computer. Love your pot Cyn it’s all spiraling round and smooth. I think one of the piece I did in college had some of the aqua glaze (celadon sp?) and I put it on really thick on the upper half but it turned out all clunky looking.
Cynthia
March 13, 2007 at 11:48 pm //
Thanks Jafabrit-a friend of mine today was just saying that I was motivating her to get organized. I guess my motivation is that I have spent the past 12 months thinking about it and am now just finally acting on what I’ve learned.
Thank you for explaining everything in easy to understand language, Kevin. And, funny you should mention Art Biz Coach!
It feels like a never ending task Lynette!
Alyson B. Stanfield
March 14, 2007 at 3:48 am //
I can’t tell you how glad I am to know about Moo Cards. Thanks for the heads up!
And thanks, Kevin, for the plug. We’re lucky to have you on our side.