A bit about "2nd Thursdays" chat group on ArtLicensingShow.com

Hi Everyone!

Quick post about my "2nd Thursdays" group on ArtLicensingShow.com. We meet the 2nd Thursday of each month in a text chat room. 6:30 PM US Central Time (Chicago). Everyone is welcome who is interested in any aspect of the Art Licensing business. You do need to be a paid member of ArtLicensingShow.com to get access to the group. You can sign up for ArtLicensingShow.com for free if you want to look around and see what it is like & get a free business directory listing.

If you are already a paid member of ArtLicensingShow.com - I send out invitations to the "2nd Thursdays" group to everyone. If there is a glitch, just request to join :-D.

We usually keep the format open so that we can put our heads together. Cherish, Founder/CEO of ArtLicensingShow.com attends almost all of the chats. She updates us on any new features on the site, exciting news and answers any questions you may have. The group came up with the very successful holiday coloring book idea https://artlicensingshow.com/holiday-coloring-book/, I believe it has had 6,000+ downloads. Recently we had Susan January, VP Leaning Tree, answer all of our questions around the greeting card industry. https://artlicensingshow.com/2nd-thursdays-special-guest-susan-january-of-leanin-tree-chats-about-greeting-cards/.

Join us! we try to keep it to an hour long - always some great ideas and topics on everyone's minds.

Really looking forward to chatting with all of you!

3 years into Art Licensing - Things are starting to grab hold.

Hey Everyone!

Can you believe I started blogging 3 years ago last March?! Time flies when you are having fun ;-)

I thought I would chat a bit about where I am 3 years in. This isn't a gauge of where you should be, but from what I have heard and read, I look to be about 'average' ;-) Some say it takes 3-5 years to get going in this business.

 

Art

My art and patterns are SO MUCH better than 3 years ago thanks to the input of my agent ArtsDG.com and manufacturers. Art Licensing really is a wonderful community of support! Creating art almost every day really has done the trick too ;-) Practice makes perfect.

Licensing

I will rattle off a few licenses. Halloween figurines coming out this fall, Patriotic Notepads and note cards on Amazon and other sites. Flags and soft goods (to be announced soon) through a manufacturer that also sells through Wayfair, Amazon and Walmart. Thankful for a handful of manufacturers shopping some of my art around. - Things are starting to grab hold! :-D I need to take a minute and give a shout out to ArtLicensingShow.com - 3 exciting opportunities have come my way through this site - Cool Beans! Thankful for all the hard work my agent ArtsDG.com has done and continues to do <3

Blogging/Social Media 

Social media and blogging has been great for me and hopefully good information for all of you too. I get a front row seat and learn new things with each post. Nothing is better than when a manufacturer recognizes you at a trade show and raves about you & the blog! I am really blessed. It has been a fabulous way to connect with you. I appreciate all of you who have sent money to support the blog & newsletter. I could use more support. (Tip jar and PayPal link, top of right-hand column).

My "2nd Thursdays" group on ArtLicensingShow.com is a monthly text chat group. We put our heads together and great ideas and information come from it! Recently Susan January, VP Leanin' Tree was in the hot seat while the group asked her questions. If you are a paid member of ArtlicensingShow.com, you can get the PDF of the chat on the 2nd Thursdays group wall.

I recently decided to put the Pattern Parade on hold. I hope to pick it back up when I can afford an intern. Over the last 3 years I have added more to my social media plate and it was time to trim back a bit.

If you haven't already, I would LOVE to connect with you on social media sites. I enjoy seeing what all of you are up to :-D Go to my website and scroll to the bottom for the list/links of social media sites I am on http://www.annietroe.com. If you like, sign up for my newsletter so you don't miss any of the action here on the blog.

Advice?

While I haven't been in the licensing business that many years AND this is what I have to remind myself of once in awhile –– If you want it, you will get there. Stick to it, and one step at a time works beautifully. It won't be a straight path. Go where the opportunities pop up.

Any of you have advice you would like to share in the comments below? That would be great! Looking forward to hearing about your journey. Hugs!

Chat with Leanin' Tree - Susan January

Hi Everyone!

Quick post letting you know Susan January, VP of Product Management with Leanin' Tree will be at the next "2nd Thursday" text chat. This is open to anyone interested in Art Licensing: Manufacturers, Art Directors, Retailers, Agents, and Artists :-D . 6:30 pm CST USA/Chicago time.

http://www.worldtimebuddy.com/

This is for any paid member on ArtLicensingShow.com.

QUESTIONS that you all sent in for this Thursday's Chat:

1. What is the best way to submit to you? And how often do you want to see new art? Do you want the art mocked up as a card?
   
2. Does the artist  need to come up with the copy/text for a greeting card along with the art?

3. What makes up a best selling greeting card.

4. What is Leanin’ Tree’s best selling cards (sympathy, Christmas…)?

5. When looking for new greeting cards to manufacturer - what stands out to you?

6. How can an artist best support Leanin’ Tree?

7. The greeting card industry has changed a lot. If you can, talk about that a bit. Are most of your sales online?

8. What sort of gifts do you manufacture? Do you license art for your gift line?

9. Where does Leanin’ Tree see themselves in 5 years?

From Susan's bio on ArtlicensingShow.com and Leanin' Tree's website:

Susan - I am the current Vice President of Product Management at Leanin' Tree, a greeting card and gift product manufacturer based in Boulder, Colorado. I have more than 25 years of experience in art licensing and greeting card development. I am a former President of the Greeting Card Association, and am still a current member of the Association's Executive Committee. Leanin' Tree currently works with more than 700 artists across our 6,000 product skus, and we add an average of 1500 to 2000 new products annually.

Leanin Tree - Beautifully crafted greeting cards that feature original artwork by outstanding independent artists from across the country and around the world. All our cards are created, produced and shipped from our facility in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. We strongly believe in supporting our community, our neighbors, and our customers. As for the people behind the products, Leanin’ Tree’s heritage and workforce is truly special. Please take a moment to watch our video, "Behind the Scenes at Leanin' Tree". To see how this family-owned, "made-in-America" business has thrived for over half a century, please visit our History and Goals section.

Thank you all for your interest and support - BIG thanks to Susan for stopping me at Surtex and offering to chat with us! 

It is Time to Chat this Thursday!

 Editor's note: I am using this post for a landing page with links for our 2nd Thursday's Group. Chat with you soon!

Happy 4th of July to all of you in the United States :-)

Not much of a post this Friday - Family is in town an there is fun stuff to do!

Quick reminder that "2nd Thursdays" chat group meets THIS Thursday, July 9th, 6:30 pm U.S. Central Time (Chicago). http://www.worldtimebuddy.com/ I will post a new chat room URL the day of in the group on ArtLicensingShow.com (ALSC) http://artlicensingshow.com/groups/2nd-thursdays/.

Bring what you would like to talk about! Questions about ALSC - I bet someone will know :-)

Possible topics:
• How do you pay the bills? Do you have multiple income streams?

• I think Print on Demand sites are morphing into a combination business model where they also sell business to business. OR business to business is adding print on demand etc. Anyone else run into this?

BIG thanks for following my blog and on social media. Love chatting with you in the "2nd Thursdays" group. Send me your thoughts and questions for me or for Bo's bLAWG.

2nd Thursdays meets THIS Thursday - May 15, 2015

 

Hey Everyone!

Quick reminder that "2nd Thursdays" meets THIS Thursday, May 15th, 6:30 U.S. Central Time (Chicago). http://www.worldtimebuddy.com/ I will post a new chat room URL the day of in the group on ArtLicensingShow.com (ALSC) http://artlicensingshow.com/groups/2nd-thursdays/.

TOPICS: Cherish will be on hand to answer questions about ALSC, Getting social with ALSC and what is on your mind – Surtex is just a few days away, are you going? Are you ready?

Did you see this!? ALSC has a Trade Show Round up for members - Coolio! Post your booth number(s) -- OR scroll down and post a link to your profile page <3 Here is the link: http://redcarpet.artlicensingshow.com/alsc-members-trade-show-round-up/

Are you going to Surtex? I will be there Sunday afternoon and all day Monday. Send me an email and let's see if we can meet :-) anntroe@cox.net. OR just say hi to me at the Art Licensing Meet Up on Monday, 8:15 a.m.,  Level 1 food court, Javits Center. (I will have a pink cinch sack back pack with my "Annie" logo on it).

Great to connect with all of you,

Why I am on Art Licensing Show .com!

 PROUD to be a part of the Blog link up 2:00 PM Eastern on  ArtLicensingShow.com  is a cool new site where Art Directors/Manufacturers can join for free. Artist and Agents can affordably "go" to an art licensing show! (online :-)

I made a short little video on my Mac computer. Used iPhoto, exported it — and it was looking blurry on YouTube... SO exported it again at 720p and Taaa Daaa! Looks so much better. Really for the first time doing this kind of thing - it didn't take too long. I love it when technology is easy :-)

The video above hits what is great about the site! (nope, I didn't get paid to say this stuff)

• It is the ONLY Art Licensing Show online
• Be listed in the ultimate art licensing directory
• No cost or low cost depending on if you are an Artist or Art Director/Manufacturer
• Connect with industry leaders - It is a social network dedicated to Art Licensing

You can find me on ALSC here: http://artlicensingshow.com/members/annietroe/profile/

Last time I checked there are a lot of artist and agents on the site (in the hundreds). AND quite a few Art Directors/Manufacturers rolling in!

Once you are on ALSC, be sure to check out my Group: "2nd Thursdays" We are over 200 members! Everyone is welcome, Newbies, Old timers, Manufacturers, Artists/Agents - it is all good. Bring your favorite beverage and your topic or questions for the group. More details here http://artlicensingshow.com/groups/2nd-thursdays/ Looking forward to seeing you there!

Are you on ArtLicensingShow.com ? Leave a comment! :-)

Not on Art Licensing Show.com? Here is a peek into the site http://annietroe.blogspot.com/2015/02/peek-into-artlicensingshowcom-next.html

Thank you for stopping by,