2012 was a great year for penelope’s press! here’s a quick recap of last year’s highlights…
new presses - i said goodbye to my first floor press {remember rusted and dismantled gertrude?} and hello to a new-to-me chandler and price 10×15. i also welcomed a second craftsman superior tabletop.
an assistant - in the summer, lisa joined me as ‘assistant extraordinaire’ of penelope’s press. she has helped around the studio in many different ways– everything from taking inventory, printing, assembling wedding invitations, etc. here’s lisa looking helping me setup at my first craft fair
industry events – in may i was able to attend the national stationery show {often referred to as NSS}. since the start of penelope’s press, i knew that exhibiting at the show would be a long term goal. walking the show, seeing the booth set ups up and products, and meeting industry folk was an incredible experience. i cannot wait to experience the show as an exhibitor when i debut in 2013!
i also attended the ladies of letterpress conference for the second year in a row. it’s always a great time when you’re in a room full of printers and letterpress aficionados.
business development - i was able to participate in a few classes and workshops this year to improve on and learn some new skills. i have always wanted to develop my photoshop skills and this past year i was finally able to take i heart blogshop - photoshop for bloggers. in addition to being a class participant, penelope’s press was also one of the sponsors for the chicago class and have some of penelope’s press chicago theater notecards included in the swag bag of goodies.
i also took an online modern calligraphy class with melissa esplin. the class got my feet wet with basic calligraphy techniques and experimenting with different inks and nibs.
i met katie hunt of kelp designs when i walked the stationery show. katie runs a series of workshops called tradeshow bootcamp where participants prepare for exhibiting at a large scale tradeshow. the bootcamp was intense and packed with information overload. it has really prepared me for how much work i have in store as i get ready for nss 2013.
shows and fairs - speaking of tradeshows… my application as an exhibitor was accepted for the 2013 national stationery show! i submitted my online application in late september and a few weeks later received notice that my application was accepted.
up until a few months ago penelope’s press products have only been sold online and through referrals. in october i participated in my first craft show, the diy trunk show hosted by chicago craft mafia. it was a lot of work preparing for the show- printing product, preparing my setup, printing signage- but now i am officially hooked! getting in the face of customers gives you instant feedback on the products that customer’s love and what they are looking for.
marketing - in 2012 i had my blog re-designed by the amazing lindsay nicole design {now known as hello monday} and moved over wordpress, i had a short letterpress video put together by the rad vince of stizomedia , and had my letterpress business cards featured in cake & whiskey’s launch issue– the first time penelope’s press was featured in print!
