Jody Cedzidlo of Flytrap
This week I interviewed NC designer Jody Cedzidlo of Flytrap. Jody has beautiful work in addition to some valuable advice for anyone looking to start a small business.
1. How did you get your start?
Let me just say first that Flytrap is about 18 parts screen printing on apparel, 1 part screen printing on various sundries, and 1 part just allowing myself to have fun with less lucrative pursuits: designer knitwear, handmade flowers, and recycling curtains into dinner napkins. My background is fine-arts-oriented at first glance–a BFA in Studio Art from UNC, concentration in printmaking. The entire time I was pursuing that degree, however, my secret loves were crafty. I would participate in holiday craft sales from time to time, peddling “Santa Claws” card sets, jewelry, knitwear, and postcard collections, but I never considered it a serious pursuit until about a year ago.
At that time, I was working as a screen printer in an industrial setting, cranking out 200-600 shirts/day. Most of the designs were created by my best friend, who was doing them at clients’ requests. Some of the ideas were boring, but some of them were very, very good, and the two of us became inspired to use the equipment to make our own designs and print on clothes as Christmas presents for our nieces and nephews.
2. When did you decide to start Flytrap, and how did you go about it?
After the Christmas presents turned out so well, I wanted to make more, and I wanted to sell them. Two friends, Ai-Ling Chang and Yulianna Aparicio, were already selling their work at Roulette Vintage, so I knew this was a good venue for work like mine. I approached Roulette nervously, but they were super excited and encouraging. My boss at the screen printing shop generously let me use her equipment in off-hours to work on my own creations, and she let me order my blank goods at work through her cheap wholesale accounts. This was invaluable to the beginning of my business, as it allowed me to create things efficiently and economically even from the beginning. I started cranking out apparel for men, women, and babies, plus some bags here and there. My sales at Roulette were extremely encouraging, and I realized I could probably make my business my full-time pursuit.
These days, I’m printing out of my house instead of an industrial setting. There has been a big learning curve there: switching to acrylic inks, not having a big conveyor dryer, having to run all over town to expose and reclaim screens, etc., has all taken a while to adjust to. Also, I work four days a week at Weaver Street Market–quality healthcare + steady paycheck = not to be underestimated.
3. What are some things you’ve learned from starting Flytrap?
Whoever said, “You have to spend money to make money,” couldn’t have been more right. It takes a whole, whole lot longer than I thought it would to break even. For the first few months, it seemed like every single dollar I made at Roulette went back into buying new shirts. I couldn’t figure out where my profit was going. Mathematically, I should have been making $7-$8 clean profit on every shirt that sold, and yet my bank account wasn’t growing. What was growing, however, was a solid inventory at Roulette. Then, when I transitioned from the industrial printing job to printing at my house, I didn’t really turn out any new work for a period of about three months–but the checks kept rolling in. Roulette wasn’t getting anything new from me at all, but my monthly consignment sales declined only slightly. So that’s where my investment went, but I wasn’t organized enough in the beginning to realize it. Now that I’m printing again, I’m hard at work building that inventory back up to give myself some stability.
My advice to anyone, no matter how casual their business pursuit is, is to know your costs. Maintain detailed spreadsheets so you know exactly how much you’ve spent, how much you’ve made, how much each individual supply costs you, what your exact inventory is at each venue, etc. You’ll feel much more secure. You’ll also know which items and which venues are your moneymakers, so you’ll know where to concentrate your efforts.
4. Any surprises about owning a business? Anything you’d do differently?
Business plan!!!!!! Muy importante!!! Your business plan is, basically, a document that outlines everything about your business: your history, your future, your products, your methods of production, your equipment, your wholesale supplier relationships, your avenues of sale, etc. When I first started writing mine, it was only for the purpose of trying to get a commercial business loan. My attitude towards the business plan was the same as my attitude towards making a “brainstorming web” before drafting a paper in college: this is something you do to please the powers that be, but you don’t actually use it for anything. Wrong! No! You really do need it! The powers that be are right on this one. Your business plan is a guiding light! I have referred back to mine so many times in even just a few short months. “What did I say I’d do in this situation?” “How much is my profit margin supposed to be on this type of job?” “My back hurts! Why the hell am I doing this in the first place?” Your business plan is created with much thought, love, and calmness, so when some business shenanigan gets crazy, you can refer back to it. Your manual. Muy importante.
5. What’s next?
I am busy at work making my etsy.com site. I want it to be as impressive as possible so I can use it as an advertising tool. I expect that it will take a long time to generate high sales numbers on the website itself, but I still need it as a reference when I’m appealing to new boutiques and consignment shops. I can mail them a little PR packet with business cards, a witty letter, and an awesome hand-printed tunic, but they really need to be able to look at a large website with a wide variety of offerings if they’re to be convinced of my worthiness. Flytrap is looking to add 5 more boutiques to the roster over the course of 2009, but for now, many goods are always on sale at Roulette Vintage in Carrboro, NC, and online at www.flytrap.etsy.com.
Thanks Jody!
Comments
I have never heard of Flytrap before, but I love the look. Instantly when I saw the table of items it was aesthetically pleasing to me. I love how you are so crafty and creative. I love being creative and making cool things, but I’ve never sold any of it. That is so amazing that you get to make money doing something you love.
I have seen Jody’s work and it is exceptional in quality workmanship and design.
She is very concerned with envirnmental issues as well and seeks the greener path.
I expect her work to improve as it expands and her customer base to expand with it.
I am very proud of what she is doing and believe her business will grow and blossom.
Edna Reagan