What a great time for female entrepreneurs: We are delighted to share with you features and essays written by super women with inspiring careers and businesses that are reshaping our economy and the way we consume. They share their journey, the process it took them to get to where they are now and what they’ve learnt along the way. Welcome to Modern Mentors.
I grew up all over the United States as a child of an Air Force pilot. I moved 17 times – moving and having to adapt shaped who I am today – not to mention the friendships developed. I have inherited my creative streak from my mom, growing up, she would make huge paper bows to go over our windows instead of using a traditional curtains. She would also use packing tape to hem our dresses instead of needle and thread. It’s all about thinking outside the box.
After studying Public Relations and Spanish at Texas Tech University, I moved to NYC where I worked for a showroom that housed several accessory labels such as Kate Spade, etc. While this stint pretty much ended my desire to work in the fashion industry, it further ignited my passion for entrepreneurship and a career in the creative field.
Soon, I moved to Dallas working for an ad agency as an account exec and photo stylist. I loved it! I continued my career in Denver in marketing and creative design for ad campaigns in the health care industry. I couldn’t believe that this was my job – I enjoyed my work and job. People aren’t kidding when they say find your passion and you’ll never work a day in your life. From there I continued a career in marketing and advertising. During this time, I dabbled in design and art. I bought software for digital design and became obsessed. Fast forward 10 years, I became pregnant with my little girl and decided that while I still wanted to work, I didn’t want to sacrifice my time with her. It is then that I chose to quit the corporate world and go out on my own with my creative consulting.
Collaborations create success
I used my consulting job to earn while I still worked passionately on my design business. In 2014, I launched Kisco Print Shop. Due to lack of resources, I designed and promoted my own site. When I partnered with Minted.com, that is when my artwork started to gain traction. They were able to facilitate partnerships with Cosmopolitan Magazine, Emily Henderson Design, Bravo’s “Southern Charm”, etc. Minted had the connections and budget that I didn’t have!
I still hustle hard with promotion, partnerships and of course, thinking outside the box to keep up with the industry. Last month, I launched a new art endeavor, www.TheUnionArt.com, an online art platform where you can purchase and download limited-edition art prints for only $12.
Shoppers simply purchase and download the art file and can print and frame it in any way that suits their personal style and budget. Each print will have a limited download run of 150, keeping them exclusive and special.
My goal in creating The Union was to help unite art with those who love it, without the large investment or being bound to printing or framing boundaries that other online art stores require. I believe art should evolve with your changing design or tastes. I hope more people will feel that they can incorporate great art and design into their lives, without intimidation.
I also partnered with several creatives in the fashion, interior design and business world to curate a collection of five prints that they personally choose. These collections include those from Rebecca Minkoff of Rebecca Minkoff, Dara Deshe Segal of Simply Framed, Gina Gutierrez of Gina Rachelle Design, Batya Stepelman of Walltawk, Julie Lodhy of Madewell and Katya Libin of HeyMama. When a print sells from their collection, $2 will go to the charity of their choice that is listed.
Additionally, for all other art sold on The Union, $2 will go to the ALS Therapy Development Institute in Cambridge, MA – in honor of my father’s recent diagnosis with ALS.
To find out more about Union Art, visit: www.TheUnionArt.com
