Interview: East4thStreet

Interview with Heather from East4thStreet
By: Lauren
Go and Shop

I’m so sorry for the delay in getting this posted. One of Heather’s shirts was included in the Adult prize pack and I was supposed to have this up during the contest but it just ended last night (winners posted soon), so I really am sorry for the lateness. Holidays got in the way! However, please read this and lear your thoughts for Heather and be sure to stop by her shop if you don’t win!

1. How did you first begin making these items? When did you decide to sell them?

Well, I’ve been designing and silk screening tshirts for the past two years but I only opened up my Etsy shop about four months ago. Etsy makes it so easy it was kind of a no brainer.

2. What are some of the phrases on your shirts, etc.? How do you come up with them?

Believe it or not, generally speaking I’m not really a fan of text on clothing so it has to be something that really resinates with me. My “be a little braver” tee came about one day when my sister read me a passage from a book she was reading. That phrase just jumped out at me and I knew I had to put it on a tshirt. It speaks to the power of the “baby step” . It’s a lot of fun to wear, very empowering and the response is always so positive.

3. You had a shirt for adults and babies that said Oh Baby, Obama. How did you come up with this idea? You raised 200 dollars to send to the Obama campaign from selling these, so how successful was the idea?

Well, I guess that depends on how you measure success and I measure it several different ways. Financial is certainly one way, and in that respect, I’d say it was moderately successful. Keeping in mind that 200.00 was 20% of the total sales, and for this very small, home based business that opened up it’s virtual doors just about four months ago,that is a respectable amount of tshirts.

I also measure success in terms of customer satisfaction and feedback. In this respect it was very successful. This little tee was ordered by people all over the country from some surprising places like Texas, Colorado, Florida and others. I even had my first international sale when someone in France ordered one for the little Democrat in their life. I got a lot of wonderful feedback and exposure that I might not have gotten otherwise. If you check out the “feedback” section in my Etsy shop you will see not only some lovely words but some pictures of the most adorable Obama supportors you will ever run across. So all around this aspect has been very gratifying.

And then I also measure success by how it felt, to me personally, to work in this idea, and in this respect I really couldn’t have asked for more. On a very grassroots level, I got to contribute to and participate in, what might be the most important historical moment of my lifetime. This was my main motivation and it’s been so fulfilling.

So all in all, was this idea a success? Yes.

4. Anything else you want to add?

Just Thanks so much for this lovely opportunity. I hope one of your readers has all kinds of fun in my “be a little braver” tee… or at least as much fun as do!