I'm thrilled to announce the next chapter of Cats vs Plants—a venture born from my genuine passion for supporting the vibrant community of artists who inspire us daily. As I transition into this new phase, my focus is not merely on the operational facets of running a shop but on creating a symbiotic relationship where artists, such as yourself, can thrive.
Imagine a partnership where your creativity meets the Cats vs Plants' reach, allowing your art to touch more lives while providing you with an extra passive source of income. Running a shop is a lot of work and it's not particularly fun work unless you are a completely introverted programmer nerd like me. Marketing is a huge effort and it can be costly, but collectives scale well in this way, which benefits everyone involved...
Here's how I envision our collaboration:
1. We'll brainstorm together to meld our love for cats and plants into unique designs that resonate with your artistic voice. If you already have existing artwork, I am excited to feature it.
2. To honor your time and effort, I'll provide an initial payment upfront that we can both agree is fair.
3. I'll then bring your art to life on various products, ensuring they align with our mutual vision. You'll have complete control over the selection process, including the right to veto any product.
4. Each piece featuring your design will include a dedicated artist bio, linking directly to your social media platforms, ensuring that those who admire your work can explore more of your creations.
5. I believe in the freedom of collaboration, allowing you to step back at any moment should you choose.
Furthermore, every item we sell together will contribute to a greener earth by planting one tree. This commitment underlines my dual mission of supporting art and environmental sustainability.
A little background about why I am doing this:
Years ago, I was part of an art collective that hosted fundraising events to support our creative projects. These events also provided a venue for local artists to sell their unique creations, which alerted me to the challenge they face in connecting with supportive audiences. Despite being engaged in various activities, including serving as the Executive Director of a local non-profit art organization to support the community and local artists through events and art grants, I pondered on more direct ways to assist the talented artists I was getting to know.
As a computer programmer, I envisioned creating a web store for artists to earn passive income by listing their artwork. However, amidst my busy schedule, this idea remained unrealized...
During that period, Tom, a friend from the collective, inspired by a similar vision, quit his insurance job post-MBA to open his own consignment shop. I thought maybe he had gone a little crazy at the time, but then he actually pulled it off!
This venture, IconoCLAD, launched in 2014, not only became a successful platform for local artists but has also added personality to our local clothing scene (his stores have a number of resident "shop cats" and they are the best!). At one point, I was even invited to sell some of my succulent arrangements at one of their "Trunk Shows", which was an awesome experience. If you are local to SLC and you haven't checked it out, you should!
Tom's journey with IconoCLAD, now with two locations in SLC, served as a significant inspiration, reinforcing my ambition to support artists. With Cats vs Plants, I aim to realize this vision, and I finally have a platform to make that a reality!
Should this opportunity spark interest or if you're curious to learn more, I warmly invite you to reach out. Together, let's explore how we can celebrate and elevate your artistry.
Looking forward to our potential collaboration,
Jeff
jeff@catsvsplants.com