When company was founded: We were a photo studio prior to starting this venture changing the direction of our company. We moved into selling our artwork to only the design trade in 2010.
How did it get started? We were working as photographers - and selling our artwork on a small scale in galleries, restaurants, etc. We knew however that we wanted to do something different. I (Vicki) had a background working in the furniture industry and thought that the design world might be a good place to branch out. A friend of ours from Russia wanted to show his new line of outdoor furniture at the High Point Furniture Market and we collaborated with him on a showroom.
How many employees? 4 full time, 1 part time, plus Vicki. We have two additional contract employees that make up our New York City sales force. While technically they are employees - to us they are our team. All of us in this together.
How has your company grown? We have grown from zero sales at our first show in 2010 to now having hundreds of customers ranging from chain and boutique furniture stores, designers and architects, and museum shops, located around the world. We originally worked from our home studio and garage shop to now owning a 35,000 sq ft building in downtown Springfield where we produce everything in house. Our growth has steadied to a manageable annual 20 percent rate. In 2011 and 2012 we were growing at sometimes over 200 percent.
Describe your job: Hmm.. it is changing. Our team is the best and they are now in place where they allow both of us to focus on the creative and the big picture work. That being said - if I (Vicki) had to give myself a title it would be "harnesser/organizer of creative thoughts". Because everyone here has amazing ideas to offer for our growth, our creative process, our place in our community…and I tend to be the one who gathers all of that and brings it together.
Tell us about what you use to do your job: I believe our job or business breaks down to two basic functions; the creative side that is "creation of art", and second creating and building a business. For the creative side we use various art techniques ranging from ancient fresco and encaustic applications to the very latest digital imaging and printing. My (Vicki) knowledge of Russian literature, history and culture pared with Tom's knowledge of art and art history gives us a unique perspective relative to our current body of work. In our studio on a daily basis we will blend tree resin and beeswax for our encaustic at the same time we are printing on our new state of the art UV printer. I believe this blending of old traditional methods and latest digital and computer technology give us our very different look. On the business side we both use our laptops - Filemaker, Photoshop, Lightroom. Tom uses a drafting board for planning out our showroom spaces while Vicki is a big fan of paper notes everywhere.
What's unique about your work space? Our work space very much reflects the way we create art. Again the forging of ancient art forms with new technology dictate a very diverse and interesting work space. From a production perspective we are well vertically integrated. Along with our studio function there is a wood shop, print shop and framing space. Not to mention shipping, raw materials storage and design space for the development of our trade show and showroom space. We do most everything in house - so you hear the printers going, the shop humming, people laughing. It is a large old warehouse with the best windows and space. We are more concerned with a creative space than a perfectly looking Class A office space. It is about the energy. We are right on the bike trail in downtown so you may see any of us taking a break scootering, skateboarding, biking or just otherwise having fun along the trail.
What is one thing in your space/on your desk that you can't work without? Vicki: MacBook Pro (and a cup of coffee) Tom: A pencil and piece of paper.
What is your secret to success? We believe first and foremost that without our community there would be no Itinerant Studio. Friends, family, neighbors, customers, colleagues - all in different ways - have helped us become who we are.
On separate thought, we met while working together working in international business development for the City of Columbus. We still laughed about it, but it is like we could read each others mind. At times we would work very long hours while assisting various delegations from around the world. Any given time a schedule we had worked on for months would be thrown out the window as the focus of a visit would change and expand. I bring this up because we have learned to be flexible and trust! We trust one another, ourselves and others, as well as maintain a position of flexibility. That may seem simple, obvious or both, however in practice it can be very difficult.
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