Sunday, July 15, 2012

Interview with Dana of Bedazzled By Zazzle



Dana Bedazzled By Zazzle 
Bedazzled By Zazzle




Rico:
What's Your Name?


Dana



Rico:
List your shop(s) -


Dana :

Bedazzled By Zazzle -

Cool Designs For Everyone ... The name seemed pretty accurate for how *I* felt about Zazzle when I came across it.



Rico:
What type of product do you sell the most of?


Dana :
Best selling items are invitations, stickers, tshirts, mugs, business cards... but I sell a big variety of product types.



Rico:
How long have you been at Zazzle?


Dana :
Since late 2009.



Rico:
How did you find Zazzle?


Dana :
I was originally at Cafe Press and didn't like their pricing structure and other limitations, so decided it was time for a change. Found Zazzle and was totally "Bedazzled"...



Rico:
Are you a ProSeller?
If yes, how long from the time you open a shop until you made it to ProSeller?


Dana :
Yes I am a ProSeller, I made it to first level ProSeller about 2-3 months after joining. But that was thanks to lots of sales right around Christmas that first year.



Rico:
What made you decide to open your own store?


Dana :
I've always been creative and looking for ways to earn income from that while I stay home with my kids, who were both born micro-preemies. I love the potential Zazzle offers with the flexibility of time and being able to creative whatever random thing I am in the mood for that particular day.



Rico:
What's the best advise you got when you were starting out?


Dana :
To put designs on as many product types as possible. Not to limit things based on my own preference, because you just never know what someone else might love and buy.



Rico:
What was your first sale (include link)?


Dana : 

 


Decorative Damask Pattern Name Address Bookplate Round Sticker



I sold 50 sheets of this damask sticker set to a - very appreciated - customer in the United Kingdom. :) I was more than thrilled.



Rico:
What medium/tools do you use to create your designs?


Dana :
I'm not locked into just one thing, and even try to find new things to create from constantly. I use several graphics and 3D programs; like photoshop, illustrator, artrage, poser... I take photographs and sometimes modify them extensively or not, and even purchase licensed art to use from other talented designers as well.



Rico:
What is your favorite aspect about Zazzle?


Dana :
This is a hard one because I really love so much about it.... Great community, income, etc. But I especially love lately how many new items they have released to design on: Clocks (woohoo), cake toppers, luggage tags... And it seems like something else is always just around the corner.



Rico:
Who or what inspires you?


Dana :
If I had to pick one single thing, I would say my family. Without my husband and kids being so supportive and even helpful in creating at times, I would not be able to do this like I do.



Rico:
How much time a week to you spend on Zazzle?


Dana :
I do other web work as well - hosting and web design, own and run two digital scrapbook stores, stock photo, but I try to fit as much Zazzle time in as possible each week. And sometimes just have marathon days where I try to get as much done in one day as I can.



Rico:
What's the best advise you can give someone just starting out on Zazzle?


Dana :
Be persistant and patient... Do what you can, when you can and eventually you will start to see the results from it. The best thing is that it is residual and what you do can pay off over and over again through the years.



Rico:
What do you like to do when you are not creating art?


Dana :
Be a mom and wife, homeschool my two kids, enjoy my family, read. :)



Rico:
For most each product or design they create is special. What is your most favorite design and why (include link)?


Dana :



Psychedelic Spiral Neon Decorative Abstract Art Throw Pillow



I just love this fractal design, the colors, the composition, everything about it. I have it on quite a few different product types, I even order business cards with it for myself.



Rico:
Tell me 5 random things everyone should know about you?


Dana :

Funny, this is the hardest question yet...

My kids were born two years apart, but both weighed 1 lb and 3 oz.

I love love love pens, and these days my wacom tablet and pens even more.

I'd pick peanut butter over chocolate any day.

I bite my nails, and am always trying to break that bad habit for good.

I have insomnia pretty often and do a lot of design creation at night because of it.



Rico:
Include links to 3 of your favorite designs you want me to feature. Tell me something about each design.


Dana : 
 



Happy Thanksgiving - Owl and Pumpkin Greeting Card



This design is one of my favorites, I used a digital scrapbook kit I created to cluster together lots of Fall and Thanksgiving style embellishments and left a spot for a customer to add their photograph. I have sold many of these cards, and its been featured on the Thanksgiving page at Zazzle.





Adorable Squirrel Eating Peanut Photo Mouse Pad



The photo on this design brings back lots of fun memories for me, and I just love the detail I was able to capture too. We took the kids out to the park with a bag of peanuts and before long they were throwing some out to the squirrels. The squirrels were brave enough to come right up and take an unopened peanut from a hand several times.





Personal Chef Veggie Vegetables Food Cook Art Business Cards



I drew all of the vegetables on this business card design and really loved how it turned out, made me wish I was a personal chef myself. I'm really happy its been a popular seller for me too.



Rico:
If you could purchase ANY item (from someone else) what would it be? Why?


Dana : 
 



Nomads of the Mystic Dunes Fairy Unicorn Poster



Wow, there are so many talented designers at Zazzle... I probably have a list a mile long of things I have seen and love. But if I could buy any one thing right now it would be this for my daughter.



Rico:
Zazzle has helped many people meet goals that they otherwise wouldn’t have achieved. What has Zazzle helped you to achieve in your personal life?


Dana :
Zazzle is just one more important way I get to work from home and be creative at the same time.



Rico:
Where else can our readers find you online? (Facebook, Twitter, other blog or website)


Dana :

Facebook

BedazzledByZazzle.com

Twitter


2 comments:

  1. Thank you for another inspiring article. I always look forward to reading them :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks so much for featuring me and my store. :) You have a great blog and I am sure I will be back to read all the other fun interviews in the future. :)

    ReplyDelete