SWEET MEATS

INTERVIEW WITH LAUREN FLEISCHER OF SWEET MEATS

Tell us a bit about yourself (name, location, personal stuff).

My name is Lauren Fleischer and I'm a product designer, crafter and teacher in San Francisco, CA. My business is called Sweet Meats, because my first line is a series of plush toys that look like various cuts of meats--steaks, pork chops and the like. I live with my wonderful fiance and a really ornery miniature parrot named Elvis.

Are you a full-time artist/crafter?

Sort of. I run my own business full-time, but I spend at least half my time on things like bookkeeping, marketing and communicating with customers. Hopefully I will grow the business enough that I can afford to have employees take care of some of that so that I can have more time for the craftier stuff.

How long have you been in business?

I've been in business since July of 2006, but I only took it full-time in September of 2007.

What percentage of your income is from "online" sales?

About 80%.

What can your customers look forward to for 2008?

A new line of plush toys! I'm doing animals this time--I mean live, whole animals rather than just pieces of them--but true to form they will be both irresistible and kind of creepy.

Also, a brand new web site at www.sweet-meats.com, due to launch in early April.

What do you utilize most for INSPIRATION?

Everything. Music, nature shows on PBS, window displays, people on the sidewalk. Everything.

How does being CREATIVE effect your life?

Positively, of course! I always feel my most fulfilled when I am working on something creative and really using my hands, whether it be knitting, baking or playing music.

What do you love most about what you make?

Putting something new and thoughtful into the world.

Do you offer any services such as wholesale, custom orders, swapping or bartering?

All of the above, and then some, such as gift wrapping.

What advice can you share with other artists/crafters?

Stop underpricing yourselves! When you add up the cost of materials, a living wage for yourself, and some profit or overhead, very often the price of the pieces you create seems unreasonable, especially when compared to something similar produced by a factory, or if you normally give them away as gifts. But underpricing makes customers take your work less seriously and hurts crafters who are trying to make a living with their crafts and can't afford to compete with "hobby" crafters.

If you had "studio elves" what job would you give them to do?

All of my cleaning and bookkeeping.

Do you have any studio tips for staying organized, and working efficiently?

Write everything down. Keep a notebook at home, in the car, and in every bag you bring outside with you. Also, read David Allen's book "Getting Things Done." I don't use everything in it, but it helped me develop a really good system for filing and to-do lists.

Please share why "buying/selling handmade" is important to you...

I believe in supporting creativity, small business and quality.

Besides creating & selling handmade goods, in what other areas of your life do you strive to be "independent, resourceful, & creative"?

I strive to be resourceful and creative in all areas of my life, but I've still got a long way to go. What little free time I have, though, is mostly devoted to my band, Pants Pants Pants. We're all very interested in both the musical and visual aspects of performing, so this it's been a good way to combine a lot of my creative urges while maintaining a social life.

Where would like to be in 10 years?

Working in a studio outside of my apartment, ideally with an employee or two.

MORE OF LAURENS WEBSITES....

SWEET MEATS.COM

THE BIZMISS BLOG

PANTS PANTS PANTS