October 19, 2006
purple puppy prints
Today I spent the morning aat the Stormhoek office, signing a large stack of purple "puppy" lithographs.
This story is kinda neat. Last week our US importer sent an email newsletter around, to all their distributors and retailers. In the newsletter was an offer for a free "puppy" print. We sent them 50 prints, thinking maybe we'd get pickup from 30 people or so. And even 30 people felt pretty optimistic.
In the end however, it turns out we got pickup from 500 people. All people within the wine trade. Five. Hundred. Wow.
Though there's no objective way to measure it properly, a wee voice tells me that the more prints I sign, the more Stormhoek will move through the market. "Indirect Marketing" and all that. So even if, yeah, signing prints all day long can get pretty tedious sometimes, on another level I find it extremely exciting.
Meanwhile, my month-long stay London is about to end. Returning home to Cumbria tomorrow.
I'll soon be searching for a new cottage to live in. Hopefully one with a big garden. I like the big city, but it doesn't suit me in large doses. Too many distractions.
The older you get, the harder it is to be creative without large swathes of peace, quiet and solitude to sustain you. Or maybe that's just me?
Anyway, it's after 5pm here; I'm about to head off to the pub, followed by the Techcrunch UK party. I'll let you know how I get on.
Posted by hugh macleod at October 19, 2006 5:13 PM | TrackBackcongrats on the success!
Posted by: churchpundit at October 19, 2006 5:30 PMEnjoy the pub and Techcrunch! Don't get drunk and do some lithograph signing! You oldies don't know how to control the pen when pissed!
Posted by: Robert at October 19, 2006 6:05 PM"The older you get, the harder it is to be creative without large swathes of peace, quiet and solitude to sustain you. Or maybe that's just me?"
No, Hugh, it's not just you. Maybe just you and me, but I would suspect there are more.
It's almost as important for me not to work as it is to work. The mind needs its' time to process the complex thoughts and influences that make great ideas. Quiet times and places are perfect for that.
Good luck on the house hunt.
Posted by: Joe Lipka at October 19, 2006 6:54 PMCongratulations on all the signings! Take your time - don't want to get writers cramp!
"The older you get, the harder it is to be creative without large swathes of peace, quiet and solitude to sustain you. Or maybe that's just me?"
It's not just you. I would go insane if I didn't have land around me. Stick me in a cookie cutter subdivison and I'd be settin' fires inside of a week - LOL
Party sounds fun - best wishes!
Posted by: Marti at October 19, 2006 7:05 PMDude - the puppy print is brilliant. Everyone wants one. *I* want one. I'll trade you a rubber chicken for a puppy print. Seriously. I'll even sign the chicken.
I dunno, I'm 25 and I'm glad I moved away from London. It's much nicer up here and you can get so much more done away from the crowd / traffic / smoke.
Posted by: Peter Cooper at October 19, 2006 8:38 PMCool!!!I just had the most wonderfull wine at dinner...
Posted by: belinha at October 19, 2006 9:03 PMWho are you?Just read "How to be creative" and it's all so true and wise.Are you a philosopher? Am I drunk?!!!!!
Posted by: belinha at October 19, 2006 9:07 PM500... HUGE congrats!
You write "Returning home to Cumbria tomorrow" and I say YAHOO. How about having a beer in your local pub for me...
Posted by: Sheamus at October 19, 2006 9:31 PM"The older you get, the harder it is to be creative without large swathes of peace, quiet and solitude to sustain you"
Great stuff and good luck. With reference to above quote I agree. Fuck it - we're planning to move to Wensleydale, North Yorks any time soon. London's good for two days and then it sucks.
Posted by: at October 19, 2006 11:45 PMHugh...do you barter? If you send me a few lithographs I'll send you some poetry...published stuff, nothing recent.
Posted by: Bruce Curley at October 21, 2006 12:02 AMGreat Techcrunch UK party and great lithograph! Thanks Hugh. I'm putting mine in a frame today :)
Posted by: helen keegan at October 21, 2006 4:34 PMHugh, if anyone wants to make some really great giclee prints of your CC licensed stuff (let's say they are fans of these lithographs, and they want more...), they can head on over to ImageKind.com and "Create" there own, just as they would a coffee mug on Cafe Press. The prices are great for these type of prints.
Posted by: Travis at October 24, 2006 12:33 AMGood luck on finding a country place (and the business to support it -- I'm trying to find Stormhoek in San Antonio because of you). Having lived 35 years in the heart of this not-too-big city of a million, I moved to Pipe Creek of maybe 300 aobut a year ago. Studio of my dreams, amazing countryside views, quiet and peace in swathes. I agree, go for it. And be ready when not all your city friends can't make the transistion,but that's what the net is about, right?
Posted by: Susie Monday at October 25, 2006 3:28 PM