Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
[Tara Reed]: All right, now I'm here with Sue Zipkin at SURTEX 2010
Thank you for letting me video you, Sue.
You're welcome.
And I'm just wondering what your Art Licensing Story is.
How long have you been licensing your art,
and how did you find out about it?
Well, let's see - I've been licensing my art for probably around 15 years.
I started as an in-house designer around 25 years ago.
And I was doing dinnerware for a while in-house,
and I was doing packaging design and things like that.
and I knew that I needed to be on my own,
and I've been through a lot over the years, and
let's just that it's not something that happened overnight for me.
I had to kind of "earn" a royalty.
I worked in-house,
and then I worked as a steady freelancer for a company,
and over time my clients sold really well, so I needed to get a royalty
I have had a couple of agents in my career,
and right now, I'm doing my own licensing and
I do SURTEX every year.
And one of the biggest hit patterns I've ever had is Sweet Shoppe.
It's a dinnerware collection. It sold all over the country,
I've done many different kinds of things
from dinnerware to fabric to cards -
[Tara Reed]: and bath, because I think I've had one of your shower curtains in my home.
A Sweet Shoppe shower curtain
I like going by intuition - and instinct.
I'm not what you call a kind of artist who developed big business plans.
like Tara, who is amazing and everybody should listen to her
because she always gives great advice about how to do things,
and I'm even learning from Tara,
but a lot of my career has been success based on instinct.
and I've had to learn a lot of things the hard way,
nothing is easy. This takes a long, long time.
And, you have to really be true to yourself.
If you decide to out and license designs, it's not just like
a formula. It has to really be in your heart,
you have to have the "stomach" for it, because art licensing
art licensing is definitely not an easy thing,
and like I said, I did not get a royalty right away,
I had to do a lot of different things: work for
to get a royalty, and if I was starting out right now
I would probably approach things a lot differently,
and in fact, if I knew about Tara and that I was doing this
I would want to have a Tara out there, because
[Tara Reed]: and I didn't pay her to say this everyone -
No, but the reality is we didn't have anybody who
was really like mentoring people, and
there were a couple of people out there in the industry other than Tara
Yeh.
who have been doing things like this, but
it's great that she is able to supply e-books and
and consulting because you can't get this information so easily
like at SURTEX. I always refer artists to Tara
because I'm so busy. I don't have time to teach everybody everything
as much as I want to help people in life, and
I can't teach every artist how to do this,
[Tara Reed]: So, you've had a good show? You've been busy?
I had a busy show. Who knows what's going to happen?
I met some new people. I worked with a lot of existing clients,
I feel inspired that I don't think you should listen to "doom and gloom."
I think you should follow your instincts and your heart,
and give it a try, but it's not like something that happens overnight for most people.
Once in a while it does, but -
- and be real. I mean, just -
[Tara Reed]: And no "doom and gloom."
Well, there will be some doom and gloom! [laughs]
You have to be real.
You have to really be true to yourself as an artist.
And you also have to be flexible.
If manufacturers want to change colors, and you say no
I won't do it, because then it's not my art, then you are better off
making your own products.
If you get samples back and they don't look perfect,
or like I said, go out and make you own,
you either have to accept the imperfections, or
and tell people. You know, you work together,
But there are a lot of nuances.
There is a lot involved.
So, that's the best summary that I can come up with
in a short amount of time
[Tara Reed]: on the spot here at SURTEX.
[Tara Reed]: Thank you so much for letting me "twist your arm"
because you have always been an inspiration to me.
Can I do an introduction?
Oh, sure.
And my friend, Sue.
He's an unbelievable entrepreneur,
She is an incredibly creative woman.
Really?
That would be you!
He's managed to build an empire with Debbie Mumm's art work.
And he's always been an inspiration for me as an artist.
Oh, you are so kind.
Of course, Debbie, obviously everybody knows who Debbie Mumm is.
So, now he's said he's going to clean up my booth for me.
It is the end of the show, and so
I'm coming by and telling her I can send her to Sue //??//
and she's going to license something from Debbie. //?//
And we're talking with Tara Reed, who is fun and sassy.
[Tara Reed]: Awesome. Well, with that we'll sign off.
And you heard it from me [laughter]
[closed-captioned by VerbatimIT]