Spotlight On...

Danielle Green of Collective Elements!

1. Tell us a little bit about who you are and your life up to this point in time.
My name is Danielle. I'm a 35 year old single mom of my darling six year old daughter. I've always been artistic in some way. I write poetry and I have a B.A. in Music. (I'm a soul singer.)I've been crafting since I was a child. I have a love affair with paper and stationery. I had a serious addiction to book stores and art stores. (Have to spend at least $100 a visit.)

2. Besides your fantasy creative life, what else are doing currently?
I work as an office manager for a college scholarship program for students from high risk areas.

3. What do you offer in your Etsy Shop?
I offer a collection of stationery, crochet goodies, and other novelties.

4. Where do you create?
LOL. Wherever I can. Primarily at home but I do crochet during my commute to work.

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?
Music is a big inspiration to me. Sometimes as I'm jamming to my MP3 player, ideas pop in my mind. Sometimes its from things around me in everyday life.

6. How did you learn how to do your craft?
Papercrafting I learned from my various grammar school art teachers. (Keep art education in schools) Crochet from my mommy. And every other craft is self-taught.

7. How do you promote your wares?
I promote through sites like Indie Shopping, Indie Coupons, updating my blog, SEO, business cards, word of mouth, etc. You can't be afraid to be your own PR rep.

8. What has been the most important lesson you've learned since you started selling your own creations?
Keep alot of inventory. Originally, I began my business as a consignment shop so I always had products handy. Now that I have switched over to doing my own products I have to keep my production standards up to keep my shop updated. Customers are not impressed with empty shops.

9. Is there any advice you can give others who are just starting out?
Be flexible. Sometimes the big idea you start out with needs revamping or retooling. Things don't always go according to your business plan so you have to stay limber to navigate changes.

10.Do you have any favorite Etsy artists you'd like to promote here?
Wow I have so many. There's so much talent on Etsy. I would say any artist in the street teams I belong to: EAOC, EtsyNJ, NewNewEtsy, Etsy Hookers, Etsy Paper, Etsy Greetings. They're all fabulous and diverse.