Notes from Chris

Episode 854

Newlywed artisans Eddy and Carol Sagebin knew that they wanted to create a business selling their artwork. Both come from humble beginnings as first-generation children of immigrants from Brazil. As Eddy shares, though times were simple growing up, they were happy. They now want to provide a similar life that allows their children to flourish.

Eddy and Carol share the responsibilities of running SageTribe Art:, which offers original watercolor and ink commissions, graphic design, ceramic, and laser engraving services.

However, this artistic couple didn’t start off offering such a wide range of art. In the beginning, they had little focus or vision of what they wanted their business to become. It began with a domain name and a business license. Eddy would create art in the evenings after working his day job in IT. Carol, a homemaker, would find time in between household tasks and caring for their two young children. They posted some of their art online and make a sale here and there. It wasn’t until they booked their first event, at the 2017 Kansas City Comicon, that they really became focused.

The first items they took to that Comicon were art prints for $10, and spirit animal totems for $50. And the spirit animal totems are handmade ceramic animal necklaces with an area for a drop of essential oil. Carol designed this wearable art for use as aromatherapy for her morning sickness.

Eddy and Carol's strength going into Comicon was knowing which of their products would be attractive to this particular group of customers. Their weakness was having a gap in their product pricing.

Most people attending the event were young adults who had already spent a good chunk of their money on the ticket getting in. This left them with little spending cash left over. For Eddy and Carol, it was a learning experience—they realized they needed to have more options for lower budgets. They also needed to have something to set them apart and draw clients into their display. That’s when they had the idea to design an “animal avatar quiz.”

Drawing on associations with their parents’ homeland of Brazil, they researched indigenous cultures and the traits of each animal. Carol created a quiz of eleven questions that match an animal to each customer’s personality. To take the quiz, the user must provide their email address. This created a way for customers to learn their “animal avatar,” and Eddy and Carol to grow their email list. To draw customers in at the next booths they rented, they made a banner advertising the quiz. This also facilitates interaction with potential customers.

The year following their Comicon debut, Eddy and Carol went through a period of intense growth and learning. Then came the next turning point for Sage Tribe Art. In January 2019, Eddy chose to leave his IT job and work on the business full-time. From the start, they’ve both have been financially conservative, cutting costs wherever possible while investing in their own equipment like a laser engraver and kiln. Although the shift to full-time was sooner than they originally planned, the business is still growing and on track to make $30,000 profit this year.

Of course, there are still challenges to overcome. Juggling the ins and outs of running a business and raising two small children is no easy task! They use their basement as a studio, and try to respect that as a workspace. Having a separate workspace from their living area is an important key to their success in working from home. When one of them is working downstairs, they treat it as if they are “away” at work. They also take advantage of the kids' nap time, as well as after their bedtime, to work together in their studio.

Their next goal is to write and illustrate a book. For this couple, whatever project they take on next is sure to be a work of art!

 

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  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• SageTribe Art: Learn more about the Sagebins and their work over on their website!

  SEE ALSO:

• Wisconsin Natives Hustle Coasters for Love of Good Beer: When the beaches of Florida do nothing to diminish their love of their home state, two Wisconsin natives combine their love of Milwaukee and beer into a circular side hustle
• Faux Taxidermy Turns Heads on Home Decor: A Pennsylvania couple turns a difference in home decorating taste into a bustling business, complete with mounted unicorn heads for your next remodel
• When the Rubber Hits the Road, This Mom of Three Earns $5,000/Month: After making a simple change to the color of her custom-image rubber ink stamps, this interior designer and mother-of-three from Texas began earning $5,000 a month

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

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