Supporting Your Industry

Christmas OrnamentsThis Christmas was the most laid back Christmas in my 30 years on this planet. I don’t think I entered a department store or waited in a line. My mother kept asking me if I wanted to go shipping with her and I kept telling her I was done and all the presents were wrapped. This year I did 100% of my shopping online. While some people like my mom think I am nuts, I believe that you have to support your industry. As the owner of an online store, I feel that by shopping online I do my part to support my industry. Not only do I invest in online retailers, I use the experience as a chance to do research, gather ideas, and learn ways to improve our Silly Farm store.

I ordered a set of baby shower invitations from a site called SimplyBabyStuff.com. The transaction of personalized invitations was simple, easy and I loved the overall look of the site. But that wasn’t the best part. The invitations arrived quickly and were gorgeous, but that isn’t the best part either! The best part was one week after the baby shower I received a hand written note that said, “Heather, we hope the baby shower was a success and that everyone enjoyed themselves. If you ever need our services again please don’t hesitate to give me a call or email, always happy to help. Have a great day and thank you for shopping with Simply Baby Stuff.”

I was blown away. I consider myself a customer service junkie and I was so impressed with my card. Sometimes the service after the sale is what counts the most.

Thank you cardSomething as simple as a thank you card, left the best feeling in my mind and I will forever use simplybabystuff.com. Granted, I could have walked into a card shop and received great service, but I didn’t. I learned a very valuable lesson from shopping online. I learned through my experience that just because there was not a personal exchange of goods, that doesn’t mean you can’t make the sale personal. I have incorporated their style into my own business practices. Every month I send several handwritten notes to our customers just saying thank you and reminding them I am here if they need me. I use every opportunity to learn and improve.

I encourage each of you support your industry. I am a crazy birthday person. I love birthdays, or any reason to celebrate for that matter. Each year I plan a super-duper birthday extravaganza for my son. I feel an obligation to give him the best parties because of the field I am in. Because I have been in the “biz” for so long I have a lot of friends that would gladly offer their face painting services for free for my sons party, but I will not let it happen. I am not rich and I didn’t win the lotto, but I like supporting our artists and I don’t mind hiring them. I think it’s good to support our industry and give artists work. When I book them for my party I don’t book them under my name. I use an alias so they don’t feel guilty. I prepay them so I know they can’t be mad after the fact, but I do this so that I get to experience being on the other end of the service industry. I watch and observe, will they show up on time? Will they stay later if they don’t finish every kid? Do they eat on the job? Do they bring their own table and chair? Many of the people I hire are friends and I already know how they operate, but it’s nice to see them in action when they don’t know the client.

By supporting artists, internet shopping, and supporting industry events I feel that I am giving back to the people that have given so much to me. Even if Amazon never places an order with Silly Farm, I believe that the universe creates a cycle of giving & receiving and I get included because I did my little piece.

My handsome husband is the Pastor of the Greater St. Mark AME Church and after every service during the benediction he reminds us that when you give in abundance you are setting yourself up to receive a harvest. You can’t expect that business will bloom without investing in both your business and your industry. I encourage everyone to make it a habit to support one facet of your life each day. Whether its posting a friendly compliment to a fellow painter on Facebook, volunteering for a cause, or supporting small businesses.

Mind ToolI will conclude with this little word of advice. Your mind is the most powerful tool in the world. When you manifest your beliefs they can become reality if you invest enough energy into them. Make giving your motto, make support a daily piece of your vocabulary and you will be surprised at how many doors open.

Happy painting!

Candy Land: Free Bodypaint Class with Marcio Karam

FABAtv LIVE Feb 13th with Marcio Karam

FABAtv.com is your online resource to watch unlimited face and body art classes in crystal clear HD. Learn from the masters of makeup, special effects, body art and more right from the comfort of your own home. All you need is a high speed internet connection!

Soccer Body Paint by Marcio KaramFABAtv also hosts a free & LIVE class every month. Tune in on February 13th at 8:00pm est for this months LIVE class! This live class will be featuring master body painter, Marcio Karam! A painter for over 13 years, Marcio has painted cars, boats, bikes, murals and more. Skin is not his only canvas! Check out his work to the side and below. Visit his website at MKArts.com for more works of art or to contact Marcio.
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“My favorite part of body painting is making my art seem real, and having viewers question if it is actual paint!” -Marcio Karam

Avatar Body paint by Marcio KaramBody paint by Marcio KaramBody paint by Marcio Karam

So tune in to this free class and support your industry! This live class is available to watch for free through the FABAtv website on February 13th starting at 8:00pm EST!

[button type=”ambitious_button” url=”http://www.fabatv.com/page/live” target=”on” ]Watch it LIVE![/button]

Passionate Pickn’s

Margi Kanter - Nose Artimation face paintingI have met many talented artists throughout the years. Most of them have been introduced to me by my aunt and mentor, Marcela “Mama Clown”. Anytime we were traveling through the Midwest she would always say, “Let me call my friend Margi”, but it wasn’t until the FABAIC that I truly got to see first hand how special the infamous “Margi” truly was.

Margi Kanter is the author of the Pick Your Nose book series. The third installment of her wild face and body art Nose Artimation books has been release recently, so I was inspired to write about her and her accomplishments. You can pick up the newest addition to the Pick Your Nose books over at Silly Farm Supplies.
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Pick Your Nose V3 Under the Sea

If I had to pick one word to describe Margi it would be AMAZING! Margi is a mother, an artist, a friend, a yogi, a teacher, a businesswoman, an author, and most of all she is a positive force that turns the wheel of face and body art inspiration. Margi introduced the world to her unique style of face painting called Nose Artimation and face painting hasn’t been the same ever since. Margi took the skills her late fiancé and talented caricature artist, David Levi, helped her fine tune and along with her background in art she put her own quirky spin on your everyday designs.

That combination of fun, love, and animation helped motivate Margi to create a line of books and a series of workshops that she has premiered across the globe. I had the extreme pleasure of teaching alongside Margi in Holland and at several FABAIC conventions. I have watched her grow her style with so much passion that I HAD to figure out a way to help her publish her books. Margi is one of the most giving and gifted instructors I have ever worked with. I have watched her breakdown concepts, share ideas, and give selflessly to her students. Margi’s attitude plays a HUGE role in her success.

[button type=”ambitious_button” url=”http://www.sillyfarm.com/store/index.php?p=product&id=5433&parent=398″ target=”on” ]Get Volume 3![/button]

Margi Kanter

Margi Kanter Belly PaintingWhen I initially approached Margi about helping me birth FABAtv(Face and Body Art Television), she jumped on the first plane and made it a priority. When I asked instructors to help with our Paint-a-Thon, again she jumped up to help. When someone asks a questions or needs a little push in the right direction, Margi is there to lend a helping hand. All of these qualities have helped her achieve her dream and will be the reason she will forever be a success and always in our hearts.

I hope that those of you reading this blog will gain some inspiration from Margi. Besides being a best selling author, Margi is also a phenomenal business woman and is not afraid to go after her dream and turn it into a reality. I hope that those following the FABA Blog gain some inspiration from Margi and follow your passion. Margi has gone through many ups and downs to get to this point, and yet her passion, positivity, and perseverance is the reason she is a star.

Please support Margi and her new book, drop her a note on her Facebook and if you ever need a crazy, wild, fun loving burst of energy give her a call. I have a feeling she will change your mood and put you in a pick’n good mood.

Take a class with Margi Kanter on FABAtv