In case you missed the Speck/Artsprojekt CES booth, here’s a nice little summary of what we were doing down there with Speck and the future of iPhone cases from Speck and Zazzle. Happy Monday!
Also, here’s a great up close and personal review of the Limited Edition Labz cases. Very cool.
Check out this week’s Foto Friday Fun!
What’s Foto Friday? It’s our weekly blog post of customers enjoying their Zazzle products. Want to join in the fun and earn $5 towards your next Zazzle order? Read below for details on how to participate in Foto Friday.
Want to join in? It’s easy and fun! For every photo you send us we’ll give you $5 to use on your next Zazzle order. So get started taking those pictures and join in on the Foto Friday fun!
Rules:
You can tweet your photos to @zazzle or do it the old fashioned way by emailing them to community@zazzle.com.
Working for an internet company has its perks, one of which is liberal dress code. But, sometimes you just have to class it up a bit – say hello to Suit Day! See below for picture of some of the Zazzlers donning their fine duds.
Suits play ping pong too!
Ryan Bliss (digitalblasphemy) has been with Zazzle since 2001, and was kind enough to answer some questions about his experience here at Zazzle. See below for the interview, and be sure to check out his Zazzle Store, digitalblasphemy.
Zazzle: First off, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Ryan: I’ve been creating digital art (self-taught) since the mid-90s and my gallery has been one of the more popular wallpaper destinations for over 10 years. I’m married to a wonderful woman and have two energetic boys (6 and 3) who do their best to keep me from working in my studio.
Zazzle: What’s your inspiration for your designs?
Ryan: All of my product designs come from the wallpapers that I post in my gallery at
http://digitalblasphemy.com/
. The inspirations for those are many and varied. I’ve done over 700 of them since starting the site back in 1997 so if I drew inspiration from only one source I would have tapped out a long time ago.
Zazzle: What has been your favorite design you’ve created, and why?
Ryan: I think my favorite is a piece called “Haiku”, which depicts an autumn leaf landing on a clear pool of water. I think the piece captured the essence of autumn and the title fit it quite well. It’s one of my users’ favorites as well. Probably my most popular piece has been my glowing blue mushrooms entitled “Fluorescence”.
Zazzle: What is your favorite Zazzle feature? How do you use it?
Ryan: The Zazzle Star of course! Most of the traffic coming to my store comes from my web gallery so the Star is vital to my business.
Zazzle: Do you have any fun stories about being a seller on Zazzle?
Ryan: The whole experience has been a blast. My dream is to see someone on the street wearing one of my designs.
Zazzle: What got you interested in selling your art on Zazzle?
Ryan: I was invited to sell my artwork on Zazzle by one of the founders, Jeff Beaver back in 2000 (I think it was). At the time I was looking for a solution where I could offer prints of my work to my site visitors. The only option open at the time meant having a printer print up an inventory and then hoping someone bought the prints. Zazzle was a godsend to me in that I didn’t have to do anything other than give Zazzle the images and tell people where to go. That means more time for me making artwork.
Zazzle: What tips can you give someone who is just starting out on Zazzle?
Ryan: Get your link out there anyway you can, don’t rely on the Zazzle directory by itself to sell your products.
Thanks Ryan!
Gamers prepare yourselves….ATARI IS NOW ON ZAZZLE! The stalwart of the video game industry has just started their Zazzle store and already filled it with some amazing merchandise like Atari t-shirts, Crystal Castle mugs, and oh so much more. As an Atari fan since way back, I can say that this is one of the best days ever. I told myself I wasn’t going to cry….
Say hello to Redwood City Parks and Recreation Department and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department! These two cities have decided to post Redwood City t-shirts, San Francisco mugs, and more to help generate extra income to preserve their green spaces for years to come. Check out some of the great products from Redwood City Parks and Recreation Department store and San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department store below.
Are you the mayor? A Zazzle store is a great way to generate extra support for your city and help balance that municipal budget without raising taxes because nobody likes new taxes (especially in an election year). Learn more here.
At CES? Check out Zazzle and Artsprojekt at the Speck booth (booth #30659)! We’re showing off the Zazzle Labz iPhone cases done in collaboration with Speck and live painting from Artsprojekt artist Jim Mahfood. See below for pictures of the Zazzle Team, the booth, and the live painting. Look closely to see some of the new iPhone cases coming soon to Labz!
Check out this week’s Foto Friday Fun!
What’s Foto Friday? It’s our weekly blog post of customers enjoying their Zazzle products. Want to join in the fun and earn $5 towards your next Zazzle order? Read below for details on how to participate in Foto Friday.
Want to join in? It’s easy and fun! For every photo you send us we’ll give you $5 to use on your next Zazzle order. So get started taking those pictures and join in on the Foto Friday fun!
Rules:
You can tweet your photos to @zazzle or do it the old fashioned way by emailing them to community@zazzle.com.
The holiday season is usually a crazy time at Zazzle, and this year was no exception! To get into the spirit of things, Patrick, our very own ZazzleManiac, grows a special holiday beard from Halloween until Christmas. Sort of like a rally cap in baseball, but scratchier. And uglier. Seriously, it’s gross. But we love Patrick, and we tolerate the beard, because it seems to make him happy.
Here’s a picture of the holiday beard in all of its bushy glory:
This year, though, we got a special surprise after the New Year when Patrick decided to chip away at his beard.
He spent a couple of days as Daniel Plainview from There Will Be Blood. “I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE! I DRINK IT UP!!!”
And a couple of days as a mustachioed Travis Bickler from Taxi Driver. “You talkin’ to me?”
But the real joy came when Patrick decided to channel Burt Reynolds from Smokey and the Bandit. Pure sex!
By the way, that’s Pete’s Mercedes CLS55 AMG with the Pontiac Trans Am hood decal. Awesome, yes?
Which version of Patrick do you prefer?
Brenda, from the Zazzle stores TheBootique and BooBabies, talks to us about the influence behind her art, and what she loves about Zazzle. Check out the interview below and don’t forget to check out her stores thebootique and boobabies!
Zazzle: First off, tell us a little bit about yourself.
Brenda: I’m from Detroit, Michigan, but I now live in Halden, Norway with my Norwegian husband and my 2.5 year old. I’ve been a member of Zazzle since April of 2008. I’m a stay at home mom, and designing is my job. I have a website where 2 of my Zazzle Shops are featured (thebootique and boobabies).
Zazzle: What’s your inspiration for your designs?
Brenda: I get inspiration from everywhere! I love old actresses like Clara Bow and of course grew up on Disney, which started my love for character design. My daughter inspires my cutesy designs and other than that I have a strong love for gothic and macabre art.
Zazzle: What has been your favorite design you’ve created, and why?
Brenda: Today my favorite design would be my Cyclops girl because she is a mix of traditional and digital art and she is something I created with only myself in mind as the client. But, I also of course have a fondness for my zombie girl. She is in the style that I have been drawing in for too long to remember so she is a old friend.
Zazzle: What is your favorite Zazzle feature? How do you use it?
Brenda: Not sure that I could pick only one. I love the ability to customize my shop. The fact that anyone can give their store front a very personal touch is extremely wonderful. Also, customization for shoppers is fantastic because it allows them to make a design truly theirs. Whether it is business cards, stationary or t-shirts, being able to customize something for yourself or as a gift for someone else is unique and fun.
Zazzle: Do you have any fun stories about being a seller on Zazzle?
Brenda: The funnest thing about being a seller on Zazzle for me is the community and the Zazzle employees. I have had such a warm and wonderful experience with staff and other sellers. I have had support and camaraderie from every angle ever since I joined Zazzle.
Zazzle: What got you interested in selling your art on Zazzle?
Brenda: Basically, my desire to do what I love doing. It was a conversation with my husband and a long night of web browsing that brought me to Zazzle, and I have not looked back.
Zazzle: What tips can you give someone who is just starting out on Zazzle?
Brenda: Make it unique. I think making designs that are a bit out of the norm not only make you stick out in the herd, but it also makes you feel positive and more inspired in your work.
Thanks Brenda!
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