Home Business Profile
Cathie Lynn Lamm
Customize IT!
MsLynnLamm@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/mslynnlamm
Self-Employed: 6 months
Tell us a little about your business.
I create completely customized items such as letterhead, business cards,
slogan labels, photo note cards, personalized post cards, greeting cards,
holiday cards, promotional labels, etc. I don't work with pre-formatted,
pre-defined SET IN STONE boundaries. My business is THE Graphic Arts Boutique,
providing you with a product that expresses what you want the world to
know, at the same time expressing who you are!
Why did you decide to start your own business?
Because I wanted to do what I loved to do, rather than working
as an Executive Assistant in the entertainment business, which I'd been
doing for half of the last 27 years of my life, which is completely unrewarding
to me. I need a creative outlet, and if I can do it full-time, I'm thrilled!
How did you get started?
By creating my own products. I was sick and tired of not being
able to purchase the exact type and style of labels I wanted from various
companies. So I created my own, and the word spread like wildfire!
What makes your company unique?
People can buy ANY quantity of what they want - 10 business
cards, 5 sheets of letterhead, 1 sheet of slogan labels.
Were any special skills/training required?
Where did you get this training/experience?
Years of using computers for my work, as well as being an artist
(painter) in my own right, having a graphic arts aptitude, and creating
digital art as soon as I found the Paint Program on my PC!
What were the approximate start-up costs?
Nil. I was already creating my own business cards, letterhead,
etc., and when people began ordering from me, I had to buy larger quantities
to fill their orders, but I didn't have to buy an inventory, or anything
large-scale. Of course, I am still VERY small scale at this point. And
loving it!
Did it require any special purchases (equipment,
inventory)?
No.
What difficulties did you encounter starting
out?
Finding the time to fulfill the orders I received, as I was
still a secretary at the time.
How many hours do you work in a typical week?
Between 40 and 80. Just depends on if I'm filling orders or
creating new products/items for my catalogue.
What are some ways you market your business?
What method has worked best for you?
I pay commissions to people who support me. Therefore, if someone
promotes me and I receive a client as a result, I pay them a 10% commission
for the gift of the new client. I limit the commissions to items purchased
by the new client which appear in my catalogue, which consists primarily
of in-stock Labels Of Good Conscience. My Labels Of Good Conscience primarily
deal with saving the earth and animal rights/welfare issues. If a client
wants something custom designed, such as letterhead with their pet's photo
on it, if they want me to design a logo for them, etc., then that goes
into 'overtime,' and I don't pay commissions for such custom items.
What has been most rewarding about working
for yourself?
The joy it brings me to not only be able to do what I enjoy, but to see
it making a difference for the earth and for the animals via my Labels
of Good Conscience. And when it comes to custom items, I love to hear how
happy my clients are with their products. I love creating!
What has been most frustrating?
Sending out promotional information packets to organizations
who fight for earth and animal causes, and getting no response!
How do you separate work from home?
I don't. I do it all at the same time. I multi-task like crazy.
What advice do you have for others starting
their own business?
Make sure you're doing what you love, or it won't be any better
than working for someone else in the long run.
