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! 

Artist Spotlight - Karen Thrasher

Tell us a bit about yourself: Did you go to school for art? Are you self taught?
I actually went to architecture school at the University of Kansas; I've practiced commercial architecture for over 15 years. 

My artistic endeavors which have kept me sane all these years have been self taught explorations.

Do you work in just one medium? Several?
Ever since I was young, my first love was working with pencil and charcoals.  Since architecture school, I find myself exploring more with pen and markers.  Then recently I find myself drawn to the digital format, crafting pieces which fit more in graphic the design and the typography arts. 

What inspires you / where do you get inspiration from?
This is a tough question--what doesn't inspire me?  I guess I would point to the colors of the seasons and nature as well as the textiles I seek out or come across.  Its funny, my mother was a seamstress when I was growing up.  I couldn't tell you how I much hated it when she would drag my sisters and I into a fabric store!  Of course when you're young, those trips seemed to last hours and hours.  Now, I do the same thing to my own son just to browse through the fantastic patterns, colors and styles.

What are you working on now?
I've been concentrating my efforts on filling out my own greeting card line:  Doodle Therapy.  It's most definitely been a learning process.  I started just under a year ago as an effort to reconnect with my artistic roots after becoming burned out with architecture...hence the name Doodle Therapy.  In doing such, I've begun to hone in my 'style' and explore various mediums. 

Anything else you would like to share with us?
I'm grateful for having artwork in my life and the means or ability to push myself to share it with others.  At the beginning of this year, I left the architectural firm I had been with for over nine years in order to work for myself and explore other opportunities outside of the architecture world (i.e. art and illustration).  I've never felt more alive and more like myself!  So fulfilling!  But part of the process has been to learn to let go of the fear of sharing my art.  Not having the formal training others do, I often feared being called out by others.  It's been an incredible experience to summons the courage to reach out to local shops and other vendors in order to get my artwork out there.

Are you an early riser? or night owl?
I am definitely an early riser.  In fact, if I find I'm most productive before 4pm.  After that, I just seem to hit a wall and things go a bit haywire!

What is your favorite food?
I'd love to say something fancy like sushi, which I do love, but the truth is I'd settle for cheese. In any form.  On just about anything.  Cheese makes me happy.

You can find Karen:
www.doodle-therapy.com
karen@thrasherworks.com
Facebook: DoodleTherapy
Instagram: @doodle.therapy
Etsy: DoodleTherapy

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