1. Performance: A poor-performing site is going to be a strain on any user. Hi-res pictures are a wonderful way to showcase your products but they tend to be large. Remember that there are still a lot of potential customers who don’t have high-speed internet connections or who might be accessing your website on a mobile device. Are you using plugins on your site? Take a look at how those might be impacting performance. Go one by one and disable plugins from your site to determine if certain ones are consuming more memory/bandwidth and slowing down your site. Use tools like Google Lighthouse (https://developer.chrome.com/docs/lighthouse/overview) to get metrics around how quickly your site renders and try to boost those stats.
2. Inventory: If you have been running your site for a long time it is very likely that your inventory is out of date. Whether that is old products that you no longer have in stock, incorrect amounts, or incomplete details. Often times we are heading to a market and we put a product up “just to get it in the POS system” without a decent quality product photo or limited product details.  Now is a good time to go through your inventory and make sure everything is as up-to-date and accurate as possible.
3. Search Engine Optimization: You want your site to show up on all the major search engines.  Even if you took the time to optimize your site for search engines when you initially stood it up, the requirements for search engines change all the time.  Make sure you have key words in the titles of all your pages, add meta descriptions, make sure you follow the guidelines for getting your pages indexed for google, getting your products listed on social platforms, and you are that you are reviewing best practices such as Google’s SEO Starter Guide https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/seo-starter-guide
4. Information Architecture: A website is only as good as the people who are using it. If your menus are cluttered, if items don’t show up in your search, or if the layout makes it difficult to navigate users are going to take one look at the site and head off elsewhere. Take the time to use your site: pretend you are a customer and search for something.  Go through the checkout process. Ask friends/family to do the same and provide you with candid feedback. Take the feedback from your own experience as well as that of others and put together a strategy for how to improve the overall user experience to optimize it for connecting your customers and your product.
5. Branding: If your site has undergone many changes your overall branding strategy may have gotten muddied over the years. Fonts, color schemes, logos, and styles could vary wildly across your site. Take this time to determine what those styles are and apply them consistently across all your pages. Make sure that font sizes for paragraphs, headings, navigation, etc are cohesive across all your pages. Think about this in terms of your verbiage as well. Does one page sound fun and quirky whereas another page sounds like something out of a corporate brochure. Use this time to give your website a consistent voice.

These are just a few tips. Maintaining your website is an ongoing process and you are never really done so come back to it frequently and make sure you are giving your users the best experience possible. Have your own suggestions for how to make your site great? Tag us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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The beauty of grants

The art community thrives, not just because people love art, but because our local governments and business want to see artists thrive as well. That is why many companies issue grants to local artists to help them create beautiful pieces that will be shared by the community. These can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. The question is: how can you and your business benefit from these grants.  First things first, you need to seek them out. Depending on where you are the number of grants available to you may vary.  Cities, especially cities that are epicenters for art and culture, are going to have more of these opportunities than rural communities. That doesn’t mean that rural communities don’t have grants available to them, and, since the pool of artists in rural communities is lower there is less competition for being accepted.

You can search for grants through a number of different sources. Art councils for your area will likely have a running list of current and future grants that are available.  Pay attention to what district they are available in. Often times these grants will be available to multiple counties or regions so you may be eligible for a grant in a neighboring area if you are within the applicable district. Check your city’s website as well as they will often list the government funded grants that are available to you. Put in for as many as you can but read the rules: sometimes there are limitations to when, and how frequently, you can apply for them.

Sell yourself

Be prepared: when you submit a proposal for a grant they are going to want to know about you, your art, and how you are going to use the grant money. Think about this and be prepared to answer in a way that shows you are community focused. Remember, the purpose of these grants aren’t necessarily for you to grow your business, but are so that you can help grow the community as a whole. Think about how you would use the money to offset the costs of your project: pay for materials, cover registration fees, travel expenses, and, of course, you need to pay yourself for your time.

There are some grants that are offered as “no strings attached” where they will tell you you can do whatever you want with the money but most, especially those that are offering larger sums of money, want to make sure that the money is going to good use. Be honest with your costs, think about what is a fair rate to pay yourself for your time, and plan to use the money to fund projects that are reflective of the money you are being offered. This doesn’t just mean not to oversell your work, but also not to undersell the work. If the grant is for $1,000 don’t use that to fund a month long endeavor that is going to cost a thousand dollars in materials alone.

Learn how to market yourself. If you are part of an underrepresented community make sure to highlight that. Speak to your experience, you passion, and your efforts to work with the community.  Think about the organizations you are a part of, fundraisers or non-profit organizations you have done work for, and people in the community you have helped or supported.  The organizations that are sponsoring these programs aren’t just investing in your artwork, they are investing in you.

Good luck in applying for grants. This is a great way to supplement the income of your small business and to get your name out there.  Do you have a success story of applying for grants? Share it with us and tag us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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Finding the product that sells

As much as I love my floral patterns and my mandalas, that isn’t always the products that sell. Some of my biggest sellers are pop-culture inspired pieces based on board games, books, movies, television shows, and the like. I couldn’t tell you how many coasters I created for the board game Carcassone. When Brian asked me, however, if I wanted to take it off the shop my answer was a resounding “No! Why would I want to remove my best selling product!”. We don’t always get to make the things we want to make but, rather we make the things that folks want us to make.

The custom conundrum

Let’s face it: custom orders are not always fun. It is much more enjoyable to make pieces that are purely your own vision. When I am doing a market, however, people will often look around at the products I have on display and love them but, then that light bulb moments happens, and they ask me “but could you do this?” and a custom order is born. So, with that, I am no working with them on creating their vision. Personally, I enjoy this, but not everyone does because it means you may have to compromise your own artistic choices. In my case, though, it would also mean turning away anywhere between 25 – 50% of my income. So, instead of turning them away, I embrace them. I look for ways to create their vision but, also, to incorporate in my own design desicisions so that it remains uniquely me.

Expanding your range

Last year I wanted to pivot my business to more fine art. I wanted to make sure I was able to charge prices that allowed me to pay myself what I was worth. I encourage you all to do this, but, at the same time you still need to make sales and not everyone has hundreds or, possibly thousands, of dollars to spend on art. To solve this I tried to diversify the products I sell. The focal point of my website and my booth is my high-end pieces. These are the ones that are going to draw people in. Then I have my mid-range pieces. These are the smaller, less detailed pieces, that I can create much more quickly and sell at a lower price point (think $25-100).

The third category is my small pieces. These are earrings, bookmarks, and other smaller items. These pieces are nice because I can sell them for $20 or less, I can offer discounts when people buy two or more, and they allow me to offer my hand-crafted art but without the fine art prices. The final category are the impulse items. Keyrings, magnets, pop-sockets, and other low-cost products that can be priced below $5. I keep these up near where we check people out so that they might just add one in for a few extra bucks. These also make great options for kids coming through looking for cost-conscience gifts for their parents.

Have you had to pivot your business to adapt to customers. What are some of the things you did to make sure you were able to meet the needs of your customers while staying true to your goals? Share your stories with us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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Finding the right markets

We’ve done a lot of markets in the past several years. Sometimes doing two markets in a weekend every weekend of the month. The intent is to get our product in front of as many people as possible. Although this may seem like the best course of action when trying to sell your product, remember, quantity is not a substitute for quality. Instead of trying to get into every available market, prioritize which markets cater best to your audiences. Do you sell a lot of low-cost, small items? Look for farmers markets and shows with lower entry fees. Are you looking to sell your work as fine art. Look for markets that cater to people who can afford fine-art prices. Remember, in addition to the entry fees for each market, you also have gas, food, and other expenses that come with doing these shows. If you are not making that money back it doesn’t pay to invest in them.

Price Point

I always say: as an artist you should charge what you are worth. If you are creating pieces and selling them for razor-thin margins think about how much it translates to what you are paying yourself. For instance: That piece you created on a $20 wood blank that you spend 5 hours on which you just sold for $30. That netted you a $10 profit or, in other words, $2 / hour. And that isn’t even taking into consideration the overhead costs of being at the market. Keep tabs on how much your raw materials cost, how long the piece took to create, and set an hourly rate for yourself. That $30 pieces, if you are paying yourself $10 / hour, should have been priced at $70 instead. If you can’t sell your pieces at that price then you need to consider if you are at the right venue.

Passive Income

Find local shops that are willing to carry some of your products. Look for craft stores, art stores, book stores, restaurants, anyone who strives to support other small businesses. Consider the fees they charge and make sure that you are earning enough net-profit from those locations with your monthly sales. Consider places that offer month-to-month leases so that you aren’t bound to an annual contract in case the locations doesn’t work out. Remember, also, some months are generally slower than others. The money you make around the holidays could very well compensate for those summer dog-days.

How are you weathering these tough economic times? Do you have some suggestions for how to keep your business out of the red? Share them with us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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Getting to Know You

During my first couple of years working on products for BZ FurFur I did work mostly independently. My husband, Brian, would help with the business, the marketing, and the markets but, the process of creating was me, my Razortip, and a blank piece of wood. That was, until, I met a few of my now dear friends. Renee and David of It’s David and Renee and Jessica and Drew of Crowley’s Crafty Creations that I realized how much collaborating on pieces can enrich the things you create.

David and Renee produce wood canvases specifically for pyrographers. They are not the only producers of these. Companies like Walnut Hallow sell blank slabs specifically for artists such as myself. Products from a distributor like WH, however, are standardized and produced in volume. This leaves very little in the way of customization. Having a small, independent shop like It’s David and Renee allows me to discuss with the specific individual who is creating the canvas and explain to them what I am trying to create. We can bounce ideas off each other and come up with truly unique designs.

Jessica, who does Lichtenberg, collaborates with me by creating designs in the wood using high voltage electricity. (warning: Creating fractals using electricity is a dangerous technique. If you do not know how to safely perform this technique I strongly recommend you avoid this and leave it to those who know how to do it safely). By collaborating with Jessica I am able to pitch ideas to her for etching that will blend in with her fractals and she can create designs that integrate seamlessly with my patterns.

Better Together

Over the course of the last several years I have worked extensively with both It’s David and Renee and Crowley’s Crafty Creations. We have created dozens of collaborative pieces. This provides a few unique benefits that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to provide if I simply worked independently on my pieces:

1. Uniqueness: Unlike my earlier pieces that I designed using the standard blanks you would get from Hobby Lobby or Michaels, the foundation of my work are truly one-of-a-kind. Every piece has a specific look to it that can only come from a hand-made canvas.
2. Intrigue: Nothing draws a customer into my booth at a market better than a piece that is on a hand-crafted cherry wood slab or an etching that is centered around a Lichtenberg fractal. It starts conversation, people take time to look at all the different pieces, and, as they say, nothing draws a crowd like a crowd. The more people in my booth appreciating my work the more people who want to come see what the excitement is
3. Value: Any piece that is created collaboratively with other artists is going to be inherently more valuable. Each individuals contribution to the piece adds something extra that makes the piece more desirable and distinct. As such these pieces can be more profitable to you and the artist you worked with and more valuable to the person buying it.

Next time you are at a market, look around at the other vendors around you. Think about how your work can enhance their work and vice-versa. Consider ways to create things together and make something new that people may never has seen before. What is your favorite story of collaborating with another artist? Tag us with your story @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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As a crafter, I have taught myself many different skills. Various forms of fiber crafts: knitting, crochet, embroidery, Tatting (creating lace), and macrame. Jewelry making, watercolor painting (I am not so good at this one), diamond painting, and of course Pyrography just to name a few.

When I started the business in 2021, I knew I couldn’t do all the things I knew because it would be way too much, plus many of those crafts take time to make. Realistically, I also knew that the market was over-saturated with many of those crafts. So I had to think about what I wanted to focus on, what did I want to do? What would be my focus. I have always been someone who immerses themselves in whatever craft/art I have decided to teach myself. I had been wanting to try wood burning for a while. I had a pyrography pen for years and never really tried it. I knew if I wanted to give it a go, I needed to leave my comfort zone and try a new medium. I would have to step out of my comfort zone. Never one to back down from learning a new craft, I did some research, watched some YouTube, bought a book, and some wood blanks, and dove in!

3 years later, it’s 2024 and I know I have grown so much. In my art. So much so that I am trying to move into a fine art realm. I started with SVGs, and simple pictures – essentially coloring books/pictures on wood. I sold many pieces this way at markets, many of which prompted people to want custom orders. My goal, though, is I want to do fine art. I see the work of people I look up to and I strive for the realism, crispness, and emotions it evokes as well as the prices they command. So I have been practicing with more realistic pictures, practicing the patience and techniques required for a piece that will take hours if not days rather than a few hours. It’s uncomfortable for me as I like to “be done” with a project. I have in my head that I want to be done in 20 hours or fewer. It’s a conscious practice to focus on the current project, each line, and think about THIS project and how it needs to be created rather than the next one after this project. But I have started the transition and it feels less and less uncomfortable each time. I am confident at some point it will stop being uncomfortable altogether.

What have you taken on that was uncomfortable at first? Tag us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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At the end of the day, though, I am lucky that I live in a country where someone such as myself, a woman and a minority, can start a business and be successful.  For that I am thankful.  How about you: what are you proud of this Independence Day? Tag us @bz_furfur and, as always, stay unique.

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“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”

I am an artist.  It took me a long time to admit that to myself.  Before making this realization I would describe myself as crafty. Even after doing pyrography professionally for three years, it is hard to call myself an artist.  As an artist, I struggle to to decide if I should focus on making what I love, or what I think other people will love. If I make what other people will love I have to sacrifice my own desires, but if I make what I love I don’t know if there will there be a market for it.

“There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down simply by spending his money somewhere else.” 

–  Sam Walton

I will often find myself trying to follow trends. Trying to understand what the customer wants and creating something that will satisfy them. At the end of the day making art is ultimately appeasing the customer.  This often means walking around markets and seeing what others are making or searching trending hashtags on Instagram to see what people are excited about. The problem is trying to follow these trends often means that my products are carbon copies of what is at everyone else’s table at the shows or what everyone else has on their website.

“Know what your customers want most and what your company does best. Focus on where those two meet.”

– Keven Stirtz

The best thing I’ve found to do is determine what you are good at that. Do your absolute best to create a unique product and talk to customers to adapt your style to match what they love. This may mean making some concessions to your particular style. This is not a bad thing.  If you can learn to adapt to your customers, ultimately, you will find a place where your talent and what he customer wants meet.

“To practice any art, no matter how well or how badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. So do it.”

– Kurt Vonnegut

At the end of the day, it is important that you are making art that both you, and your customer, will love.  And, as always, stay unique.

“Ignoring what sells doesn’t make you a better artist, it makes you a starving artist.”

– Marie Forleo

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1. Communication is paramount. Our job is to create something that you will love and cherish for the rest of your life. To realize your vision I am going to have questions. This could be timely feedback on a mockup, questions about the dimensions of the piece, or information about where it is going to be hung. Timely responses to emails and text messages help me tremendously in the creative process and help to get your custom piece in your hands as quickly as possible.
2. Be realistic about your budget.  Hand-burned pieces can take hours, or even days, to create. You must be realistic about the price you are willing to pay. Chances are, if you are expecting prices comparable to factory-made pieces you are going to be disappointed. Be honest about your budget and, if the price is too high, maybe hand-made isn’t the best option for you right now.
3. Start with an idea. It’s ok not to have your idea fully fleshed out but you should have a general idea of what you want.  Think about where it is going to go and how much space you are looking to fill so you know the right shape and dimensions. Think about the concept and what you would like to see brought to life. It is ok to not know the specifics of the final layout, color palettes, fonts, etc. That will be brought to life in the design process, but a good foundation for your artists to start with is key.
4. Trust your artist.  Remember, you chose this artist because you love their work, they evoked some emotion or feeling, and you are looking for the same in the piece they are creating for you.  Let them bring your idea to life. It is important that you are happy with the final product but, remember, a happy artist is going to enjoy working on your piece which means they are going to put that extra bit of love into it and it will show through in the final product.

Creating a piece with your artist is a collaborative effort and, although the artist is the one putting the heat to the wood, your input plays as significant a role in creating the best final product possible. Trust your artist but also trust yourself and you’ll create something beautiful together.  Do you have your own thoughts on what goes into making a great custom piece? Tag us @bz_furfur and let us know and, as always, stay unique.

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A Yin to My Yang

• Pyrography: the art or technique of decorating various mediums such wood, leather, paper, or canvas by burning a design on the surface with a heated metallic point.
• Woodburning: creating designs by burning onto wood.
• Lichtenberg burning (aka fractal burning, wood fracking): Woodburning technique where a Lichtenberg figure is burnt into wood using high voltage electricity

As a pyrographer, I have been fortunate enough to meet fellow artists who do woodburning. Back in 2022, I met two such artists, Jessica and Drew Crowley of Crowleys Crafty Creations. Jessica creates Lichtenberg pieces.  We met at a particularly slow market and I absolutely fell in love with some of her work. As you often do at the end of a slow market, we exchanged some pieces and I bought some others with the intention of adding my own art to hers thus creating something truly unique.

Finding Inspiration

I like to spend ample time looking at her pieces waiting for inspiration. Some pieces speak to me and invoke a thought or feeling. The first piece I ever made using one of her designs was a table and bench set. The goal was to create something rustic so I added mountains and trees. The other piece I made last year was a lighthouse. The fractals reminded me of a bolt of lightning on a stormy sea.

This year, I was inspired to create a ship on the high seas fighting nature’s wrath. That piece is called Stormy Seas and is a favorite at art shows. A more recent piece reminded me of the delicate branches of a tree. This inspired Sakura, a piece reminiscent of Japanese cherry blossoms in full bloom. Crowleys and I will be sharing a booth at Charlotte Pride (August 17 and 18) this year and I plan to have a set of collaborative pieces to show. Some upcoming pieces will be based on the majestic beauty of Magnolia Trees, literary classics like Lord Of the Rings, and lighthouses.

Do you have any inspirational stories about collaborations you’ve been a part of? Tag us @bz_furfur and tell us your story. And, as always, stay unique.

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