Tell us about your business. When, why and how did it come about? What was the first item you made and was it for a special occasion?
Amber – While on maternity leave I designed our first Fingerprint Tree as a wedding gift for our good friends who live in America. They got married in America and were coming over the pond to celebrate their nuptials with their family and friends. I wanted to give them something to remind them of nearest and dearest, here in the UK, while also documenting their special occasion. After researching the web I came across the Fingerprint Tree concept and decided to put my Artistic talents to good use and create a tree myself. However, it wasn’t until I designed the ‘Love Birds’ I realised the potential the concept had. The response I got from my Fingerprint Tree was overwhelming.
The following week I fingerprinted a piece of paper and got doodling. I ordered 10 blank keyrings and set-up a Facebook shop to test the market, the rest they say is history.
Describe your product range
From the fingerprint concept we have created Guest Art which is a fun and quirky alternative to the traditional guest book. You press your finger into the ink provided and ‘leaf’ your fingerprint and sign your name on your chosen design. Once everyone has left their unique impression you have a truly bespoke piece of collaborative Art celebrating your special occasion.
From the Guest Art concept we have created fingerprint murals as a way for charities to raise funds while making Art. We are currently working with Naomi House & Jack’s Place, a local children’s hospice, to create a super deluxe fingerprint fundraising Love Tree to be displayed in their reception area. All the residents, families, friends and staff can add to the tree with their fingerprints capturing them in time and resulting in a stunning collaborative keepsake.
With our commissioned Family Portrait Illustrations we work with our client on a one-to-one basis to obtain an insight into their family’s characters and their family dynamic. From images they provide we create a truly unique snapshot of a special moment in time. With the addition of ready to fingerprint animals and trees, the family can add their artistic stamp to their bespoke design, making their Artwork extra unique.
We have created a range of Fingerprinting Packs in the form of keyrings, rulers, coasters, magnets and greeting cards. Our packs are great activities that come with everything you need to make amazing Art at home. Give as gifts, or a great way to make truly personalised stationery.
Where do you make your products (home, studio etc.)?
We make our products from home where we both have designated areas for creating our beautiful products. It can be difficult at times working from home and looking after a family but having somewhere that is a designated area helps to enforce when you are ‘at work’ and to get your mind focused.
Is this your full-time job, or do you have other employment?
This is our full-time passion, in addition to taking care of a toddler we have our hands full! Our business is currently contributing towards our household incomes.
Where do you draw inspiration from for your designs and product range?
Amber – I believe Art is fundamentally about expression and as a result everyone can make Art as we all have something to express. With this in mind my Art is a reflection of me and has been with me throughout my emotional journey, from who I was to who I am now. I have always drawn inspiration from within me and the way I interpret the world around me.
Our current designs and products are inspired be our sense of fun and desire to show everyone they can be creative too. Our clients are a strong source of inspiration in their illustration requests, and the feedback they contribute to our company.
Where do you source your materials?
We continue to look for the best value and quality materials we can find from local craft suppliers and the internet. We use UK sellers where possible as we believe in shopping ‘locally’.
What do your friends and family think of your business and products? Do you take ideas from them as well??
Our friends and family have always had faith in us and think our new venture is interactive, contemporary and distinctive. They are always willing to offer their support, ideas and wisdom. They are our biggest fans.
Amber – I have always been encouraged and supported to pursue my passion in Art by my family. There is a lot of craftiness in our family which I think helps them to understand why we have created a business that is Art orientated.
Is your business ‘just you’, or have you got a team of helpers that you can call on?
Our business is primarily ‘just us’ but we have an amazing team of family members who are on call to give us a helping hand when needed.
“This is our full-time passion, in addition to taking care of a toddler we have our hands full!”
Have you made good friends and contacts within the wider crafting community? Do you attend craft fairs? Where can we see you over the coming months?
We love to engage with fellow crafters, exchanging ideas and experiences with them as a result all of the crafters we have met have become great contacts and some have become friends. We believe in sharing knowledge to help everyone grow in their ventures and have helped some crafters gain their confidence to take their hobby and turn it into a business.
We regularly attend craft, wedding and community events in the south of England with our ‘make & take’ products and our Travelling Wedding Tree which, give people the FingerTips experience first-hand.
We will be at these events in the coming months:
STARS IN THE SKY Charity Fundraising~Southampton~26th August 2012
Naomi House and Jack’s Place Open Day~Winchester~15th September 2012
Ladies Night~Southampton Golf Club~26th October 2012
An Affair to Remember~Portsmouth Cathedral~3rd November 2012
Manor Farm Christmas Fayre~Southampton~date tbc
B&Q (Head Office) Christmas family fair~Chandlers Ford~date tbc
How is business?
Our business celebrated its 1st anniversary in June 2012 and we are steadily increasing sales month by month with new and returning customers. We have a great UK coverage with some products going to America, Australia and Europe.
How do you promote your work? Is it purely online, or do you attend shows/exhibitions, stock stores/galleries etc?
We promote our work online with our website we designed, Facebook business page and our WowThankYou store and through our craft, wedding and community events. We use our Travelling Wedding Tree as a way for people to try the FingerTips experience first-hand by ‘leafing’ their fingerprint on our tree. We then direct our potential customers to our website and facebook page where they can tag their fingerprint and leave comments.
We have been featured in many blogs, Creative Crafting Magazine, Craftseller and most recently Irish Brides Magazine!
Have you had any famous customers? If yes, can you tell us more?
We have been involved with officials rather than ‘famous’ people. We have created a bespoke design for the deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Havant and been involved with some corporate companies with our mural designs.
Where would you like your business to be 5 years from now?
We want to get the world creating ‘one fingerprint at a time!’ and our FingerTips Designs, to be an essential ‘must-have’ for all special occasions.
What has been your business highlight so far?
The highlight for us is the interaction with have with our customers and how excited they are about creating their FingerTips bespoke design, this enthusiasm is infectious and fuels us to create more. At our events we love seeing the pride beam in a child’s face when they have created their own FingerTips masterpiece with their unique fingerprint in an instant. Once the parent has seen the result they quite often want their child to do more, with no objections from the child in question!
What one piece of advice would you give to someone looking to set up a business similar to your own?
Amber – Have confidence in your product and others will too, start small and test the market before investing too much money; Facebook has been an amazing for instant market research.
Kathryn – Listen to all the advice from fellow crafters and make sure you thank them by promoting their products and services, when possible, and a complimentary gift from your range of products.
We love to engage with fellow crafters, exchanging ideas and experiences with them as a result all of the crafters we have met have become great contacts and some have become friends. We believe in sharing knowledge to help everyone grow in their ventures and have helped some crafters gain their confidence to take their hobby and turn it into a business.
We regularly attend craft, wedding and community events in the south of England with our ‘make & take’ products and our Travelling Wedding Tree which, give people the FingerTips experience first-hand.
We will be at these events in the coming months:
Naomi House and Jack’s Place Open Day~Winchester~15th September 2012
Ladies Night~Southampton Golf Club~26th October 2012
An Affair to Remember~Portsmouth Cathedral~3rd November 2012
Manor Farm Christmas Fayre~Southampton~date tbc
B&Q (Head Office) Christmas family fair~Chandlers Ford~date tbc
Our business celebrated its 1st anniversary in June 2012 and we are steadily increasing sales month by month with new and returning customers. We have a great UK coverage with some products going to America, Australia and Europe.
We promote our work online with our website we designed, Facebook business page and our WowThankYou store and through our craft, wedding and community events. We use our Travelling Wedding Tree as a way for people to try the FingerTips experience first-hand by ‘leafing’ their fingerprint on our tree. We then direct our potential customers to our website and facebook page where they can tag their fingerprint and leave comments.
We have been involved with officials rather than ‘famous’ people. We have created a bespoke design for the deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Havant and been involved with some corporate companies with our mural designs.
We want to get the world creating ‘one fingerprint at a time!’ and our FingerTips Designs, to be an essential ‘must-have’ for all special occasions.
The highlight for us is the interaction with have with our customers and how excited they are about creating their FingerTips bespoke design, this enthusiasm is infectious and fuels us to create more. At our events we love seeing the pride beam in a child’s face when they have created their own FingerTips masterpiece with their unique fingerprint in an instant. Once the parent has seen the result they quite often want their child to do more, with no objections from the child in question!
Amber – Have confidence in your product and others will too, start small and test the market before investing too much money; Facebook has been an amazing for instant market research.
Kathryn – Listen to all the advice from fellow crafters and make sure you thank them by promoting their products and services, when possible, and a complimentary gift from your range of products.
Just for fun …
Tell us a joke (keep it clean) to make us smile
Amber – What is the noisiest game?
Squash – because you can’t play it without raising a racquet!
Kathryn – I know I’m in my own world; it’s ok they know me here!
Best book you’ve ever read, and why?
Amber – The undead series by MaryJanice Davidson because they make me laugh, Betsy the Vampire Queen is so wrong in many ways but you’re always fighting in her corner. Plus they have a delicious fantasy quality to them I adore.
Kathryn – I couldn’t decide so I choose two films instead.
Favourite song of all time?
Amber – Love Shack
Kathryn – Catch a Falling Star
Favourite film?
Amber – hmmmm it changes all the time however, I love cheesy romcoms and films that make me laugh.
Kathryn – Carousel and Matrix, sorry I couldn’t choose
Pets – cat or dog?
Amber – Panda and Minnie our cats and Ross, Phoebe, Woolly and Tig our fish
Kathryn – Bramble our cat and a house and garden full of wooden pigs!
Dream holiday destination?
Amber – America (Las Vegas and New York)
Kathryn – Italy
Visit Fingertips on WowThankYou here.