The REAL World of Licensing . . . Artist Beware!

For as long as I have been in this industry, I have been amazed at how artists are treated as second class citizens by manufacturers/licensees, or as I like to say . . . mushrooms - tell them of the great things you will do for them, keep them in the dark, feed them crap, and they will just do what they are told to do. I cannot tell you how many times each day I strongly urge artists not to take deals, or negotiate better deals in order to look out for themselves, only to find that many do the deal anyway - giving up rights, forgoing copyright rules and regulations, and quite frankly, just get taken advantage of. I am equally surprised to discover how many manufacturers/licensees do this, even those who I have known for years and would never think this possible of them.

I often hear from artists that they have no choice - “I need to make money,” “No other company is stepping up to the plate,” “If I don’t do the deal, someone else will,” “ or the really sad excuse, “I trust them!” I appreciate and understand each of these positions, but urge every artist to stand up for their rights when it comes to their intellectual property. And YES, you have rights and can/should/must ask for them!

I read the attached article and was standing applauding while reading! Please have a look and take in every word, seriously look at your business, and take nothing for granted. Read every single word of any document you are asked to sign - you cannot simply say “I don’t understand legal documents.” You are running a business, your product is your intellectual property, and you MUST defend and fight for what is right. And, always, always, always have an intellectual property attorney review any document before signing. The return on your investment is so worth it! You do not want to have your work “stolen” or misused, you cannot let yourself be taken advantage of, and you cannot allow yourself to believe that the other party will “take care of you” or “never do anything that would be immoral.” Look at this article . . . would you think national retailers like Anthropologie or West Elm would do such a thing? Well . . . they, like so many others, DO!

Please feel free to reach out to me for any advice or counsel I can provide, or share the names of great intellectual property attorneys that understand your needs!

https://www.artsyshark.com/2015/05/05/im-sorry-what-did-you-sign/

A Few Thoughts for 2019 . . .

2018 has been quite the year!  I am not a fan of the concept of picking a word to inspire oneself for an entire year (how can one word be an inspiration for365 individual days??).  So I had a few thought to share that may be of value to you as you look forward to a joyous 2019 . . .

·       Life is not about the things, but about the moments!

·       How often do you hear the old adage that life is short, so live each day as your last?  I’m sorry to say that until lately I did not adhere to these words. But I now know truer words have not been spoken.  So . . . don’t wait, don’t hesitate and don’t even think twice . . . take a car, boat, airplane or train to wherever your family resides and spend time with them.  Don’t get hung up on conviction or the selfish stance that everyone needs to visit you, but make the decision that time with family is everything.  There may not be a tomorrow!

·       Tell everyone who is close to you how much you love them, each and every day.  Make sure they never go a single day ever doubting that they are loved or that someone is proud of them.

·       Relish each and every moment you have to be with the ones you love.  Do not let greed and money be your driver as at the end of the day neither of these will bring you happiness.  Never chose a work demand over a family obligation.

·       Shed your anger, your bias, your animosities and have a forgiving heart.  Can you honestly say you have lived a perfect life without ever having said something you regret or spoken out of anger or ignorance, or done something in your younger life that you wished you could redo?  Don’t hold grudges or base your opinions on past actions.  Make yours a compassionate heart and forgive!

·       Don’t judge others least you be judged yourself.  There is only one perfect entity in the world and you are not it.  Each of us has faults so don’t throw stones at glass houses.  Instead embrace the individuality of each person and be an encourager and supporter.

·       Do not let your ego and pride become the basis of your decision-making.

·       Yes . . . your life is important to you, but true living is not about just you.  Don’t be selfish with your time, your affection or your actions.  Instead of pushing the agenda of your life, ask someone else about their life, their issues, their passions and their pains.  Do what you can to be there for them.

·       Remember that your family is not just the immediate relatives in your life, but a far-reaching circle of people who can use your support.

·       Communication is key to everything in life – honest, heartfelt and gracious communication.  Tell others how you feel keeping in mind that sensitivity is utmost in your delivery.  And certainly don’t discuss your issues with others if you haven’t spoken to the person you have the issues with first.

Here’s Wishing ALL Of You a Joyous, Prosperous and Blessed New Year!

Brands and Logos

I am a huge fan of Seth Godin, and look forward to his daily thoughts about the world - personal and business.  In my business, I am always talking about "brands" and how they are impacting the world of business at all levels.  So, I was so enthralled by a recent daily posting on Mr. Godin's Blog regarding brands and logos, and wanted to share it with you . . . 

THE TRUTH ABOUT LOGOS

Here’s a simple test:

Ask a few people to name a logo they like.

With very few exceptions, people will choose a logo that’s associated with a brand they admire.

That’s because what makes a good logo is a good brand, not the other way around.

I couldn't agree more!

You can find the actual post at https://seths.blog/2018/08/the-truth-about-logos/

Mother's Day and . . . Facebook?

MOTHER’S DAY . . . and FACEBOOK?  

This past Mother’s Day, I noticed a very unusual “trend” on Facebook.  I was inundated with posts from so many people sharing pictures of their mothers and declaring their love and affection for all their Moms had done in their lives.  On the surface, this was a nice thing to do.  However, of those posts, I know that 90% of those mothers do not have Facebook accounts, don’t look at Facebook, and have never ventured to the Facebook platform.  In essence, they will never see those postings from their children!  So, why, do I ask, are so many people posting such sentiment on a platform that the recipient will never see?  It certainly is not for my well-being, as I know very few of their mothers, and quite frankly am not sure I need to know this information.  Is it the mechanics of belief that if I post about something, I am showing the world it must be true (again, does anyone need to know this?)?

This act baffles me, and I wonder if we are using our social media platforms for our own benefit versus for the benefit of the recipients.  Do we just have an overwhelming urge to tell everyone in our contact lists everything going on in our minds?  At the very least, I find this to be such strange behavior, and am sorry for all of those Moms who didn’t get the message.

I have a thought for any such day of importance. . . how about you head to your local store – be it national chain or independent retailer – and purchase a greeting card for the recipient?  You can share a charged emotion with that person, and give them something tactile, and a keepsake, while giving them a treat in their mailbox.  Couple that with a call to that person to share your thoughts, love and devotion, and now you have an informed, and I dare say, a happy recipient!

Or better yet, next Mother’s Day, take a plane, car, bus or plane to wherever she is, deliver that card in person and spend some time with her.  I guarantee that is what she would want most of all, and life is too short not to make time for your Mom!

(P.S. – don’t even try posting your feelings for Father’s Day.  Dads will never see those messages, so forget about it!)

A HUGE Nod To Gary Friedman and RH . . .

In the unbelievably fast paced world in which we live, where branding, content, marketing and customer acquisition are the buzzwords, and social media is the “golden chalice,” I am often frustrated in what appears to be more rhetoric than fact.  Companies talk of their brands and profess fan followings with changes only in their social media marketing campaigns while delivering the same old product and meaningless customer service.  Yes . . . there are companies that are revolutionizing their industries, but are they flash in the pans versus sustainable entities?  Have they developed a long term strategy geared towards sustainable growth, and more importantly, created customer “evangelists” who LOVE the brand, excited and thrilled by the product offering and not just the rhetoric

Whether you are a small one or two person company, or a large multimillion dollar enterprise, remember this . . . “everybody has a boat upon the ocean, but not everyone is sailing out to sea,” as is so beautifully written by singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins.  Has your boat set sail out to sea, and do you know what direction you are heading?  How are you making your mark, defining your brand, delighting your customer?

I cannot think of a better showcase for a company, brand and strategy direction than what has been, is and will be happening at RH (formerly “Restoration Hardware.”).  I can recall the days of going into those stores and being surprised by the hardware, mixed with the array of giftables throughout the store.  I confess to being one of those customers who bought those small items, but often wondered how a company could sustain themselves on such sales.  I even had a chance to interview with Restoration Hardware in the late 1990’s, and was politely tossed out when I questioned their merchandise, growth and business strategy.

Now here we are in 2016, and look at the masterful transformation of Restoration Hardware from those early stores to RH, a lifestyle enterprise I feel is beyond the word “retail.”  At the direction of Chairman and CEO Gary Friedman, RH defines itself in ways that every business can learn from – branding, positioning, experience, lifestyle, results over the course of years, giving tremendous “return on investment” to not only shareholders but to the end-use customer.

Check out his most recent video at http://ir.restorationhardware.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=79100&p=irol-irhome

I am admittedly a huge fan of TED Talks, and love to be inspired by the topics and great speakers available to me.  But . . . if you run a business, any business, and want to be inspired, challenged, educated and surprised, watch the videos Gary and team have produced that define who RH is.  They are in the form of quarterly result discussions, but for me, they are bold explorations, brand definers, culture creations, and advanced business courses.  Even when discussing mistakes and shortfalls, Gary puts context around strategy, decisions, and outcomes in a decisive manner; with results that support each of his statements experienced through courage of conviction!

http://ir.restorationhardware.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=79100&p=irol-videos

If you are squeamish and don’t desire to look at big picture thinking, DON”T watch these videos!  However, if you have any interest in growing your company, watch away and be prepared for some honest, yet extraordinary thinking, with words such as . . .

·      Radical change

·      Disruption of your strategy

·      Transformative

·      Blurred lines between physical and digital, home versus retail

·      Revolution versus slow evolution

·      Focus on the customer experience

·      Responsive to change

·      Courage of conviction

·      Destruction of your reality

·      And in the end . . . RESULTS!

 Whether or not you love the style of RH is inconsequential . . . whether or not you are a retailer or an artists doesn’t matter . . . whether or not you deem yourself a failure or a success is not important . . . the inspiration of these bold statements is in the way Gary defines the company and brand, shares strategy and conviction of purpose and direction, and showcases how those that adapt change as their reality will be the winners.  Clearly, the results of his vision are manifested in the numbers and growth of the company.  Oh . . .  by the way, all with no Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter pages!

A learning lesson for all . . . !  Way to go Gary and RH team!

ARTIST AND DESIGNER AMY REBER SIGNS WITH IDEAOLOGIE FOR LICENSING!

February 20, 2016— ideaologie, the business advisement firm specializing in dynamic support and multi-faceted expertise for businesses of all sizes, announced today the signing of their newest client, Amy Reber.  For this engagement, ideaologie will be serving in the role as Ms. Reber’s licensing agency of record.

“We had the great fortune to work with Amy as a client of our business advisement services, and the shift to serving as her agent of record seemed to be a logical step,” states Melissa Schulz, co-founder of ideaologie.  “Amy creates art that is dynamic, fresh, modern, and bold with flair, and her heartfelt and fervent love for design shows through in everything she creates.  The realm of possibilities of this lifestyle brand are endless, and we are thrilled to be working with someone so genuine, authentic and prolific.”

ideaologie will be collaborating with Amy to build her brand for a broader audience base, and will create a strategic plan for growth into retail as a lifestyle brand.  Ideaologie will be seeking licensing partners to help grow the business, and set the strategic licensing direction to capture new and untapped potential markets.

“To be working with John and Melissa was meant to be . . . I just know it!” states Amy Reber. “Their positive energy is infectious and they’ve made me feel so comfortable about the future of my business when I’ve sometimes felt like a fish-out-of-water as a newcomer to the industry.  Working with them has helped me shape how I want to move forward as a designer. I am so excited to share my joy of design with others, and my hope is that they will feel a personal connection to me as my art is an extension of who I am and how I view the world!"

To learn more about Amy Reber, please visit her website at http://www.amyreber.com

About Amy Reber

Amy Reber is a multifaceted surface and textile designer from the Pacific Northwest who has a fervent love for drawing, rich colors, pattern and design. Remarkably, she is self-taught and has spent several years evolving and perfecting her bold, authentic illustrations and designs.  As a military spouse and stay-at-home mom to three young children, her journey to becoming an award-winning artist and surface designer has been filled with many valuable insights and experiences that are beyond measure.  With her quintessential and prolific design style, Amy is dedicated to producing fresh, modern, yet timeless designs.  She is elated that she has found such fulfillment and joy in surface design and has a heartfelt desire to inspire and share this joy with others through her work.

Seasons Greetings!

You all know that we can have a little fun at this time of the year...  Enjoy!

The Animated 12 Days of Christmas

Video Block

Double-click here to add a video by URL or embed code. Learn more