Cocktail Horrors!...(And How to Avoid Them)

October 30, 2018

I hit a lot of bars. I’m pretty much Norm from Cheers status at at least one bar. The problem is they charge $14 per cocktail and this status may cost me my house….but priorities, right?

I don’t just hit the swanky places, I am an equal opportunity imbiber. And I like to test out the classic cocktail selection almost anywhere I go.

In my travels to great bars across the country (Seattle and Miami were particularly creative), I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying countless great cocktails. However, there are a few joints that need to Google the drinks they’re offering before charging a premium.

So, dear drinker, your friendly neighborhood cocktail mixer maker (that’s me), has put together some warning signs that the classic beverage you’ve just been served may be a horror story in a glass.

The Old Unfashioned from the Deep Lagoon

Not everyone can make an ice ball a centerpiece of the Old Fashioned. But if your drink looks like fruit salad, you have an unfashionable fail staring you right between the eyes. If there is any more of an orange than just the peel (minus the white pith, hopefully), head screaming for the hills.

As for the cherry... this guy says hard pass, though it’s not a disqualifier.

The Tossed Salad Mojito Massacre

Screen Shot 2018-10-30 at 1.05.34 PM.png

I’ll be direct.

If you’re mojito looks like a salad mixed with club soda, you should just order a rum and coke and hope for the best. Yes, mint is normal. No, it should not be the majority of what’s in your glass.

Just a quick pass through a strainer should prevent this, and if they're not willing to take the care to do that, odds are that liquid they just put in your glass is the lowest rum on the food chain of rum.

And look, if they’re adding any soda beyond club, (unless it’s a specialty mojito like the Elderberry mojito that might, for example, call for ginger ale), you should walk to the nearest toilet and pour that sprite-rum-salad down the drain.

The Monstrously Misshapen Mule

Believe it or not, I don’t critique harshly when I don’t get the copper mug. Is it cool? Does it make a mule a bit more experiential? Sure. But make the drink right and I couldn’t care less.

What should you object to? Usually the evidence is pretty clear-an over reliance on ginger beer and a severe drought of actual ginger ingredient, like syrup made from ginger root or even tasty, peppery, puree ginger root juice.

A great mule should taste refreshing, a bit limey, give you a sweet heat of ginger aftertaste, and not taste simply like ginger beer and vodka.

If all you’re getting is ginger beer, call a priest and exercise the demons from that copper mug

Smithey Ironware Co. Launches New No. 8 Cast Iron Skillet.

September 27, 2018 in DSS Spotlight

Smithey Ironware Co. wants you to buy fewer, better things. At least when it comes to your kitchen. In an industry that encourages people to fill their countertops and cabinets with the latest gadgets, cookware colors, and trendy machines (soda streaming, instapots, air fryers, available in millennial pink, oh my!), Smithey is dedicated to the idea that a perfect cast iron skillet is a timeless modern heirloom that will make cooking better and more enjoyable – and that will become your most trusted kitchen companion.

That’s a lot of pressure to put on a skillet, and the team at Smithey has taken its time bringing new skillets to market. Company founder Isaac Morton – surrounded by vintage cast iron in his home workshop – adjusted and tweaked designs for years leading up to the launch of the first No. 10 skillet in 2014. It was two more years of painstaking development before the company launched the No. 12 skillet in 2016. And now, in time for the 2018 holiday season, Smithey Ironware Co. is proud to introduce the No. 8 cast iron skillet – a smaller and more versatile addition to the range.

Ask Isaac what he was looking for with the No. 8, and he’ll tell you that first and foremost he wanted to design a skillet to fry the perfect egg. A skillet that encourages movement and flipping while retaining the key heat properties of cast iron. A skillet with a smooth interior finish that is naturally non-stick without any of the chemical coatings often associated with egg pans. And a skillet that would have a natural place beside its bigger siblings on the range.

Smithey Ironware Co. / Deep South Social

The Smithey No. 8 accomplishes all of that and more. A perfect grilled cheese sandwich? Check. Sides for the family meal? The No. 8 is there for you. Even baked classics like mac n cheese with breadcrumbs toasted under the broiler take on new life in the No. 8.

So, while the team at Smithey doesn’t believe you need a ton of gadgets in the kitchen, they do believe you need a No. 8 cast iron skillet. It’s been years in the making. Use it well.

Smithey Cast Iron Skillet / Deep South Social

You CAN Make Top Shelf Cocktails Without Paying Top Shelf Prices.

August 21, 2018

A little "how to" with Brad White of White's Elixirs from Nashville, TN ...

My cocktail mixers are meant to do one thing: help anyone be a Rockstar home bartender and enjoy an amazing drink.

But my mixers are only half (usually--sometimes you may need a little club soda) of the equation. Unless a mocktail is your game, you need some booze!

I’m often asked, what spirit would you recommend for use with your cocktails.

While I have been known to use almost any priced spirit in making my own cocktails at home, when serving several people or planning for a party, stretching your libation budget is critical.

To get you mixing, serving, and cheers-ing, here is a list of high quality, affordable spirits you can use to make delicious classic cocktails. (Note that pricing can vary from one retailer to another.)

White’s Elixirs Old Fashioned Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon ($12.99)

White’s Elixirs Sour Mix George Dickel Rye Whisky (19.99

Whites Elixirs Sour Mix + Dickel Rye Whisky

White’s Elixirs Moscow Mule 360 Vodka ($11.99)

White’s Mojito Mix El Dorado 3 Year Rum ($17.99)

White’s Elixirs Fresh Margarita El Jimador Tequila($13.99)

White’s Elixirs Spicy Margarita Sauza Silver Tequila($14.99)

White’s Elixirs Simple Syrup Tanqueray Gin ($20.99)

To discover more from the Whites Elixir's line, click here.

DSS Spotlight : Sturdy Brothers

May 28, 2018 in DSS Spotlight

Today we're spotlighting one of our #DSSfamily brands based in historic Thomasville, Georgia : Sturdy Brothers. Read below to learn more about the roots and craftsmanship behind this brother-owned brand.

STURDY BROTHERS

What was there in the beginning? People always ask. What made you get into this? Why are you doing this? Sometimes folks are excited to partner with us. And sometimes people are confused why two people would quit everything else and work in a small shop making bags from canvas on 100 year old sewing machines.

The answer goes so far back that its often hard to give a short answer to people. The short answer is we love making things, but the long answer is somewhat more.

Deep down there is a tugging desire in all men to create, to work hard, to build calluses on their hands. A goal to look and see that there has been something made, something built each day. We believe that God place this desire in us, to work hard. And there is a calling, "...make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you" 1 Thessalonians 4:11, which we must answer.

Since my brother and I were kids, we've been piddlers. Always a random project. Taking things apart to figure out how they work. Treehouse building on Saturdays in the woods, rebuilding go-carts, art projects, and writing. Event at a young age there is a reward for working with your hands. The finished product, whatever it is, awaits in all its glory at the end of the day.

large waxed canvas tote by sturdy brothers

As young adults, all of our lives we've heard things like, "back when things lasted," or, "when America made the best appliances," or "when America made great things." I knew we were blessed to live in a truly amazing and free country, but the blatant truth was things had gone down hill quickly. At least from a manufacturing prospective, things are not what they used to be. My grandmother had a Maytag washing machine that lasted 40 years. Washing for half a lifetime. It probably weighed a hundred pounds. One thing was for sure, it was made to last. Now I hear rumors that giant appliance companies purposefully under engineer products to have a lifetime of 5 or 6 years. Things will break. Integral parts will give out. Customers will need to buy a new product, and companies will have a sale every 6 years instead of every forty. Something about this illustration of durability from the past in contrast with our backslidden current predicament struck a cord with us.

Sturdy Brothers was born from the specific desire to Rekindle what has been lost over the years in American Craftsmanship, and in a broader sense, with our lives glorify God by creating beautiful things from hard work. Henry David Thoreau puts it well, "the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." In many ways I believe this to be a desperation of man caused by an inability to physically relate to his work and glory in its end result, as I described earlier. I, for one, did not seek to be a man who's soul withers away at his fingers behind a desk and computer in a crowded office. In college for business, this was the direction I was quickly headed.

It all started one hot summer over a phone call. I was working up in Raleigh, NC at a coffee shop called Jubala, and Spencer was down in south Georgia managing Grassroots Coffee Company. The conversation indicated a few things: we needed a new adventure (something with heart and blood and sweat and tears in it), we wanted to make something well, and we wanted to inspire ourselves and others to make.

One of the downsides of working in coffee is you seem to always get dirty. Between the wet hot coffee grounds, and splattered milk there is seldom a day to return home unscathed. At least there is the ever lingering, semi-pleasent smell of a blended ice cream based concoction radiating from your clothing for the remainder of your post shift life. There has been one mechanism devoted to the protection of clothing in a coffee shop/ food industry environment, the apron. It was my brother who decided to experiment with the apron idea.

After browsing the internet for brainstorms, the most suitable, and most durable fabric for an apron came down to some sort of waxed canvas. For hundreds of years waxed canvas has been used for waterproofing and durability. Brands like Barbour, and Filson have been using this dependable medium for years. After several wax recipes, fabric testing, leather dying, and about $350 we had our first apron prototype.

It seemed like everyone who saw, tested, or heard about the apron loved it! The response was amazing, and suddenly we had our first product. Although we didn't know it yet, the waxed canvas apron was soon to be the cornerstone product to a line we would create over the next months.

Our name, Sturdy Brothers, was taken out of an old line of poetry I had written years before. It went something to the effect of "Sturdy up your souls for the work ahead." After long discussions back and forth from, "Young Brothers Goods," to "Down South Merchandise," we landed here. The word "Sturdy" very much describes both the fabric of waxed canvas, and our goal of "Rekindling American Craftsmanship." Our original aim of creating products that were both rewarding to make, and having the attention to detail last a lifetime was finally coming to fruition.

With the help of friends, all our family members, a computer guru, and videographer, we were off to make our stab at creating a kickstarter campaign that would showcase our newly designed waxed canvas and leather products, and allow supporters to pledge money towards a particular product. This was all back in February of 2014. We started an Instagram account, passed out fliers, and prayed for the best. The kickstarter campaign was called "Waxed Canvas and Leather. American. Sturdy." You can find it --> here.

Initially we had a $3,500 dollar goal. Reaching the goal would allow us to buy some key machinery, and enable us to buy fabric and materials in bulk 100 yard bolts. I was wondering if this goal was a little high, if we'd even make it.. To my and everyone's surprise the goal was reached within 24 hours. Friends, family, and supporters were coming out of the woodwork from everywhere. I was shocked watching order after order come through on my phone that first night. At the end of 30 days we had raise $14,823 to start our dream. I arranged to move to South Georgia where our little shop, behind my mother's house was, and we started making.

It has been such a blessing to watch Sturdy Brothers grow. We now have a manufacturing location on Jackson street in historic downtown Thomasville, Georgia, as well as a retail shop in Grassroots Coffee on Broad street. We have an online retail outlet on our website at www.sturdybrothers.com, as well as wholesale opportunities. We are always excited about new opportunities on their way. On behalf of Sturdy Brothers, we are truly thankful for the opportunity to live quiet lives and work hard with our hands every day.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Young

To learn more about Sturdy Brothers, click here.

How to: Take Awesome Product Photos (pt. 2)

July 14, 2016

Last week, we talked about how to control and read the light in the environment you're photographing in, and how the angle you capture your images from affects the your photos. In part two, we address how to use everyday items and interesting backdrops to enhance the composition of your images, and how editing your photos helps you hone your aesthetic. Read on!

3. Backgrounds & Everyday Items

A well-composed shot from The Sercy Studio, featuring Breathless Paper Co. cards as compliments to the beads.

We’ve told you a few ways to utilize a white background for clean, minimal photography, but there are other ways to accomplish this without a plain white backdrop. Another fairly common and also striking go-to backdrop is anything wooden. A wooden coffee table, your porch, whatever it may be, wood is a great way to capture your products on a natural surface and perhaps on a shade that better compliments the object being photographed. The more cohesive and clean the background, the better. “Clean” doesn’t mean “boring.” It means making sure there’s nothing to distract from what you’re really trying to capture — your background should enhance your photo and add to its appeal, but it shouldn’t be the focus.

A wonderful example of incorporating everyday objects and compliments to your products, by Breathless Paper Co.

When we take a photo of a singular object in a distracting environment, often the final product only looks messy and incoherent. For example, taking a photo of your product with your entire kitchen or backyard as a background isn’t usually going to accomplish the correct effect, unless — as we discussed in the above section — you’re photographing from the level of the object ata close-up angle, thus ensuring that your object is the forefront and thus the only thing in focus. Don’t be afraid to use coloredbackgrounds other than white, too! It all depends on your product. Whatever the color, make sure the focus is on the product.

Want to spice up a “plain” shot? Incorporate everyday items that are associated with the object! If you’re selling a coffee mug, surround that coffee mug with coffee beans or include a small pile of coffee grounds in the composition. If you’re shooting cute greeting cards, like our brand Breathless Paper Co. so often does, include playful objects like crayons or a few multicolored paperclips. Use items that suggest the use or meaning of the product, and compliment the color scheme. Just make sure you’re composing your images in a way that still highlights that primary object.

4. Show Your Products in Action

The “everyday items” you use should suggest the appropriate use of your product. Incorporating your product in a shot with other items or in the natural habitat of that product helps show action, and action is interesting to look at. For example, capture a cutting board or other cookware on a table with a full spread, or in the midst of cooking a recipe! This helps the viewer imagine themselves using the product, rather than just examining it from afar. It also shows that you put thought into your photographs and your products, and that only encourages a potential customer.

Showing your products in action also means showing people wearing jewelry or an article of clothing, or even just showing your jewelry hanging on a jewelry rack. Think about all the ways you would use your own products, and let the photo ideas roll from there.

5. Editing, Not Just Filtering

Filters have their place, and they aren’t all bad, especially for quick social media posts or speedy editing. It can be easy to default to using pre-made filters on your photos, but photography is more than that. If you aren’t proficient in software like Adobe Photoshop, that’s alright! There are plenty of apps out there that allow you to do way more than just throw on a filter. Use them! Play with the settings for brightness, contrast, sharpness, saturation, fade…the list goes on. Practice until you’ve found your aesthetic.

If you are proficient in Photoshop, don’t forget to use it. It isn’t always necessary for social media uses, but we too often get in the habit of using only smart phone apps to edit. For more “important” photos like those that will stay on your website or be printed, use your Photoshop skills, or learn a few Photoshop skills! It’s not difficult, and the time you put into learning will pay off immensely. Abandon the overuse of Instagram’s built-in filters and use apps like Afterlight and VSCO (among others) to adjust your photos. If you want to use a filter, know that you can adjust exactly how much of that filter you’re using. We never recommend using the entire strength of the filter, so if you like the aesthetic the filter brings, lower the strength and use other settings to refine the look so that it’s yours.

Remember, viewers can spot over-edited images. Potential customers want to feel that they’re seeing your aesthetic, but that that aesthetic isn’t clouding the authenticity of the product in the photo.

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Now you’ve got a rundown of how to improve your photographs and how to master your aesthetic by creating images that are unspoken brand ambassadors. Let your photos speak to the quality and credibility of your products. Capture images that are strategic and can speak for themselves. Remember though, practice is everything. You’ll have to take a lot of photos to get one or two that you like, many times. That’s normal and that’s OK. The worst thing to do is to stop trying. Stay diligent and mindful, and you’ll see improvement with every picture you snap!

How to: Take Awesome Product Photos

July 07, 2016

What we first see of a brand makes the first (and often the most important) statement. We’re deep into a digital age, so it’s not surprising that this first impression usually happens online. Whether it’s on a company’s website or on social media (or even featured on another social media account or website) the images that you put forth act as visual brand ambassadors, communicating a message to anyone and everyone who sees them.

That’s what makes photography a quintessential part of establishing and marketing your brand. Not just for a small business or entrepreneurial endeavors, but for your personal brand, too!

We’ve worked to compile our favorite tips, tricks and strategies for capturing and sharing photos of your products and mastering your brand’s aesthetic.

1. Mastering the Light

Photograph of a beautiful outdoor dining spread, featuring products from Heirloomed Collection.

Light makes or breaks a photo. If you’re taking photos of your products in their natural setting (such as a mug with coffee in it in a coffee shop, or an apron being used in the kitchen) and not in an organized studio setting, it’s important to determine what sort of light you’re dealing with and to know how to control your environment as much as possible.

In most cases, you’ll want soft shadows, not hard shadows. Soft shadows are created when the light source is larger than the object being photographed, while hard shadows are created when the light source is small than the object being photographed. Shoot for being near a big, natural light source, i.e., either outdoors or by a large window. If you have more resources at hand and are using a DSLR camera rather than an iPhone, you can avoid a hard shadow by using a DIY flash diffuser. Do so by attaching a white tape or a white plastic bag to the flash of the camera — this distributes light in a more even way across the object.

If you’re photographing outside or in a naturally lit area, it’s often best to capture your products either in the earlier morning or the evening hours before the sun has set. Some photographers call this the “golden hour”: The first hour of light after sunrise, and the last hour of light before sunset. It may seem that the bright sunlight is a perfect time for photography, but the harsh light creates those hard shadows we discussed above, and it’s harder to get a photo with well-distributed light.

If you’re looking to set up your own makeshift photo studio, it’s easier than you think. Here are some objects to keep on hand for impromptu photoshoot set-up:

White foam core
Thin (thinnest you can find) white mat board or pasteboard
Tape
Clip-on or stand-up lights & two cool-colored 5000k bulbs (or whichever you prefer)
Large clear plastic storage container

Using these fairly common household items, you can create the perfect environment for a clean product photo, especially in situations where you don’t have good natural light. Push an appropriately sized table against the wall, and tape your poster board or mat board to the wall, so that the hanging portion is resting on the table in a curve. If needed, use your clip-on or stand-up lights and bulbs to control your shadows. Now you’ve got a clean, white background that appears to have an “infinite curve” and no horizon. The focus will be entirely on your product.

Alternatively, put the mat board or poster board in the storage container, which should be laid on it’s side. Use the clip-on or stand-up lights on the sides of the container to control your light. If you want to photograph from up above, lay your white foam core on the ground and lay your products on top, arranged in your desired composition. Again, use your lights to control shadows if needed.

Want more tips on this? Check out these awesome studio set-up ideas:

Big Commerce

Shopify

Wix

2. Hold Steady & Use Angles

A mistake that’s often made with product photography, and photography in general, is a lack of focus within an image. Details should be clear and sharp, especially in this case, because we’re assuming that this image is the first thing a potential customer will see of your product.

Whether you’re using a DSLR camera or just a smart phone, your hands won’t always get the job done when it comes to holding steady and making sure your object is in focus. A tripod is your friend in this situation. And yes, there are tripods for smart phones. It’s a good investment to buy one if you find that your photos are never quite as detailed and clear as you want them to be. Don’t want to buy one? Borrow one from a friend first, and see the difference it makes. A tripod is going to be especially important if you’re photographing a single object or a small object that has a lot to show to your customers.

An example of a beautifully capture bird's eye view composition of one of Woodkith's feast boards.

Photography can be intimidating for a lot of reasons. There are infinite angles to be utilized, some better than others, and it’s important to figure out which angles fit your products and your aesthetic, and how to accomplish them.

Taking photos from above (bird’seye view) is effective when you’re trying to capture multiple objects in a scene, whether naturally occurring or configured by you. Make sure, though, that you truly are taking it from directly above. This is a popular angle, but it’s easy to unintentionally tilt your camera and lose the pleasing, scenic effect of a perfectly straight, flat overview shot. Make sure your camera lens is parallel to the scene that you’re capturing. Use a tripod for this if that’s easier for you!

A stunning photo of a ceramic bowl by Honeycomb Studio, taken at the level of the product.

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to leave negative space in your photos. You don’t need to zoom in to create a composition of just your products for every photo. Leaving a view of the empty space around your products is extremely effective and helps create that minimalist aesthetic.

Taking photos from the level of the object works well when you have fewer objects to capture or want a singular object to be the forefront of the photo. This angle may seem like an obvious choice, but again, it’s easy to tilt your camera in a way that compromises that straight-on approach. Set your camera on the surface that your product is on, or use a tripod in order to make sure you’re really on the same level as what you’re photographing.

Pro tip: Your object doesn’t have to be in the center of every photo. In fact, it’s better in many cases if it’s not. You can stay on the same level as your product still, but let it be in the left or right quadrant of the frame, bleeding only slightly into the middle quadrant. Photographers call this the rule of thirds!

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You're on your way to superb product photos for your Instagram, Facebook, Website, and more. Soon, you'll have your aesthetic mastered. Come back next week for part two of this "How to." We'll have tips on incorporating everyday objects to enhance your images, showing your products in action, and how to edit.

The Practical Way to a Purpose

June 30, 2016 in Entrepreneurs

Surrounding yourself with uplifting people could be one of the most important keys to success, and Marie Forelo doesn’t fall short of that description. As an entrepreneur, writer, and philanthropist, Marie strives to help not only other entrepreneurs, but any adult, fulfill their potential and find their true purpose in life. Through her online training, her television show, Marie TV, and her book; the businesswoman lives by the slogan, “The world needs that special gift that only you have.”

We recently discovered her inspirational blog and dove into “How to Find the Work You Were Meant to Do,” a vlog post collaboration with entrepreneur Chris Guillibeau. Simply from the title, it sounds like an impractical attempt at lending loose advice, but Marie and Chris give constructive and effective steps to start shaping your life into your dream.

We’ve all heard someone say “I would do my job for free” or “I’ve found my dream job,” and we often view them as winning the career lottery, finding luck in a far too complicated career world. However, there is a way to duplicate those decisions and stumble upon the path of loving every part of your day, even the 9-5.

Marie urges the viewers to “think like an entrepreneur, even if you’re not one.” By this, Chris expands and states that “you’re self-employed even if you’re employed,” meaning a businessman should always be looking out for himself and act responsible for his own security, making the best of his career. You may not own and operate your own business, but everyone owns and operates his own life. Essentially, Marie and Chris suggest that you take advantage of the time you have and live your life in the way you’ll most enjoy and in the way you can best give back.

Here’s a step-by- step to implementing that purpose: the Job, Money, Flow Concept. Chris especially suggests using this model if you have multiple job opportunities to consider. The three characteristics of people who are successful and fulfilled by what they do are exactly what you would expect by the title: joy (not having a soul-sucking job that drains their passions, but rather fuels them), money (if you don’t get paid for doing what you love, it is just a hobby, not a career), and flow (when you do your job, you should be immersed in it and, of course, good at it). In order to live a practical, financially secure, and more comforting life, consider the financial viability, how worth your time it is, and if it aligns with your strengths. It sounds harsh, but there is truth behind the fact that your purpose won’t be something you’re bad at. By no means do you have to be the best (that’s pretty much impossible), but in order to contribute a service to the world, you should be gifted in that area.

Next, Marie and Chris focus on “the multi-passionate entrepreneur.” If you have a handful of topics, causes, and activities you enjoy, this one’s for you. Above all, know that you don’t need to just pick one! When you’re just beginning your career path, expand your options and take advantage of the experiences you are offered. With more experiences, you can then start limiting your choices; this way, you’ll have more time to test the waters and find that one thing that gets you through the day. Throughout this process, first and foremost, eliminate the ideas that don’t you bring you joy when you think about them. If you don’t enjoy thinking about them, then you definitely won’t enjoy working on them every single day. Once you have your intended career path, keep in mind that it should be self-fulfilling and have the greatest impact on the world in comparison to your other choices. By feeling rewarded yourself, you will be more likely to spread that reward to everyone you come in contact with. Also, know that if your life events don’t follow your intended timeline, it won’t be the end of the world. Your path doesn’t have to be linear—it’s okay to change your mind or take a detour; almost all success stories start that way.

In closing, Marie and Chris debate with the topic of giving up. The two point out that far too many times, giving up is viewed negatively and as a downfall of character. Chris reminds the viewers that “Winners give up all the time; perseverance is good for some goals but not all.” There are only limited opportunities to fail at the same thing—either people will start loosing faith in you or you will start loosing faith in yourself. When you become weary of your track record, debate if your pursuits are working effectively and if you’re happy pursuing them. Yes to both questions? Keep at it. No to both? Maybe try a new plan. Did you get mixed answers? Then alter your efforts and tweak your plan in some way. Especially for someone hard-working and resilient, try to not view quitting in such a negative light. Find the freedom in dropping a weight that isn’t working, even if you thought it was a good idea in the first place. If you give yourself permission to stop constantly beating yourself up about plans that have gone astray, you give yourself room to discover your true purpose.

At Deep South Social, we remind you that you only have one life—use it to the best of your abilities. If you pour your passions into your career as well as your personal life, you have the power to change the world.

Source: http://www.marieforleo.com/2016/04/chris-guillebeau/

Ask the Experts: Dean Street Society

June 23, 2016

Build Confidence, but First, Build a Following

Dean Street Society, a website and lifestyle organization created by Hilary Rushford, is exactly what you’ve been needing to help you achieve your life goals—you just didn’t know it yet. Hilary, living on Dean Street in Brooklyn, created Dean Street Society to help her become a personal stylist, entrepreneurial mentor, author, and expert on photo shoots, writing, and public speaking for the people around her. By building confidence for her clients with style and branding, Hilary makes it her job to help them achieve whatever they have their eyes set on. She has been one of Deep South Social’s inspirations, and we can’t wait to share more about her techniques.

One of the integral ways Hilary has highlighted for building influence, clientele, and revenue for a business is through an Instagram following. With these steps and advice supplied by Hilary at one of her online workshops, you can double your following, and consequentially, double your business.

Instagram, one of the fastest growing and most successful forms of social media, develops a deeper, simpler, and more authentic relationship with its clients than other platforms. In the business world, you can give customers a behind-the-scenes look at your production and management, a priceless intimacy that cannot be created in any other fashion that reaches so many people. This “daily ritual” gives your clients the opportunity to not only know the real you, but to also like and trust you and the services you can supply them with. When customers feel like they are friends with a business, they are much more inclined to make a purchase from them.

Logistically, Instagram has succeeded at much greater strides than any other social media platform. This can be attributed to the fact that Instagram is based on visuals and conversation. Users tend to think that interactions on the platform are more genuine than on other sites, whether it be in comments or double tapping.

Numbers wise, Instagram grew at a much faster rate than Twitter. Think back to its introduction in 2010. Just three months after its release, it had 1 million registered users. A year and a half after that, in April of 2012, 30 million users had created an Instagram account. Today, Instagram has acquired 400 million active users. Those are insane numbers! In case that wasn’t enough for you, Instagram is backed by Facebook, which guarantees it is here to stay.

Hilary Rushford strongly believes that your business Instagram account can be both popular and profitable. These are her “4 Steps for Popular Plus Profitable.” First, develop a professional level profile and realize that first impressions matter. One of the best ways to catch someone’s attention will be in your bio. Elements to include are information about you, your city and email, and a clear indication of why your clients and potential clients should follow you (a.k.a. “what’s in it for them”). Secondly, create your eye-catching content. Always consider giveaways every few posts to make following your account worth it to the user. It creates a return on investment for both you and your clients. Overall, polish your profile by making your username and url easy to find. Make sure your company or personal name is on the profile and delete any old profiles that might add clutter to a search. Third, attract your audience with your growth! According to Hilary, the best way to do this is through photography.

When posting pictures, cater your efforts towards two audiences: new followers and existing followers. New followers will be focusing on the overall look of your profile (about 12 photos at a time), while current followers will be looking at your profile one picture at a time (appearing on their personal feed). When taking photos for your business account, focus on the rule of thirds, a quality lighting source, and framing. The final step to a popular and profitable Instagram account lies in mastering your marketing from start to finish. Your success lies in the fine details, and the best finishing touches will be in photo editing apps like VSCO, Snapseed for shadow work, and Afterlight for light work.

We like to feature our favorite Souther Makers, like ceramic artist and entrepreneur Courtney Hamill of Honeycomb Studio on our page.

Overall, make sure the story behind your brand is evident in your Instagram profile. Come up with a “brand story;” embed one of five themes in your posts to attract potential customers who want to follow accounts that are based on those elements. Your themes could be about style, community, travel, inspiration, and entrepreneurs. These are just examples, so come up with some that pinpoint what your specific mission is as a company! Also, remember to be intentional and thoughtful with your posting—this platform is all about quality over quantity.

Choose a color palate that represents your brand accurately and stick with it when choosing photos. This will make your profile look cohesive and professional. For example, on apps like VSCO, choose a couple of filters and stay consistent. Dean Street Society considers this method to work for all industries, but that isn’t necessarily true. Instagram isn’t the fit for every brand. Consider who your target audience is and how much time and talent you would be able to invest in your account. If you’re targeting an elderly or even middle-aged market, you might benefit more from investing in another platform. Also, if you think your account would turn into an afterthought (posting an ordinary image of your product once a day or logging in once a month and posting multiple pictures all at once), then the effort of having the account probably won’t equal the attention you want out of it.

Heirloomed Collection uses a great color palette and utilization of hashtags.

If you decide a method like this is for you, Hilary’s final two points in her workshop were perhaps the most important. First, hashtags can make or break you. Be sure to choose meaningful ones that will create more traffic if potential customers are looking at related topics; don’t make your hashtags look desperate (a.k.a. do your research). Secondly, balance your spontaneous and planned posts, and make sure that all of your posts fall under your brand umbrella (think back to the themes you want to convey).

Finally, Hilary suggests that you find your mix between personal and professional—this is the key to your Instagram success! Give your followers something to look forward to on their feed and let them know that it is safe to entrust their business with you.

Visit deanstreetsociety.com for more information on their method of how to get the most out of your business.

Celebrating Our Favorite Dads: Gunner & Lux

June 19, 2016

It's Father's Day! We're so happy to be celebrating dads, and turning the spotlight on a top-notch family. John and Riley are a dynamic duo rich in creativity, silliness, and kinship. The playful, inspired design of their jewelry lights up faces (and outfits!). Keep reading for a look into how Gunner & Lux make the most of their priceless father-daughter relationship by harnessing Riley's boundless energy to make fearless creations.

What is your favorite piece from the line?

We are really loving our “Goldie the Alpaca" necklace right now! Gold, Sparkles and Liberty of London Fabric!!!

What inspires your pieces?

Being outdoors, playing outside. Summer Camp. Books, Antique stores, thrift stores!

I learned that we make a good team. - Riley

Who has better style?

Riley does.

I do. - Riley

Where do you see Gunner & Lux in the future?

We would love to continue seeing more and more kids wearing our jewelry!

What is your favorite activity to do together outside of work?

We love to craft projects together, and eat donuts!

What is it like to work with your daughter? Riley, what is it like to work with your dad?

Working with Riley has been so much fun, I get inspired everyday by the way she thinks, by the way she looks at the world. Watching her come up with an idea from start to finish, working through colors, samples, cost, and seeing her face when it all comes together has been nothing short of amazing.

My dad and I laugh a lot when we make necklaces. We also have dance contests, but also get really serious some times too, but only sometimes. - Riley

What have you learned from each other?

I learn something knew from Riley everyday. Mostly, when you work with a 6 year old, patience is key.

What is your favorite thing about each other?

My favorite thing about Riley, is that she is that happiest kid I have ever met.

My dad is the best dad I have ever met, next to my other dad. - Riley

Riley what do you like to do for your dad(s) on Fathers’ day?

Make him feel very happy and loved very much.

Why is it important for Dad to be a feminist?

Because we need more dads to be feminist so that they can help their girls have equal rights.

There you have it! This duo is all about dads, donuts, crafts, and championing the important stuff: Love and happiness. Riley and John show us that Father's Day -- and everyday -- is about showing you care (and doing it with style).

Happy Fathers' Day From Our Favorite Father-Daughter Team: Gunner & Lux!

Fathers' Day Gift Guide

June 15, 2016 in Fathers' Day

Fathers' Day is quickly approaching! So, we put together a guide to help you celebrate Dad while giving him a gift that he will truly love! Take a little time to celebrate you biggest fan in life!

Let Him Kick Back

Bourbon Cocktail Cherries from Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.

What better way is there to celebrate Dad than letting him relax by indulging a little or picking up some of his favorite pastimes? (although we advise against participating in both simultaneously)

Clockwise from left: Nova Walnut Cruiser from Salemtown Board Co., Handpainted navy, red and white solid maple baseball bat from Mitchell Bat Company, Rudy Pack from Jack Rudy Cocktail Co., and 6oz Campfire candle from Great Bear Wax Co.

Make Him Look and Feel Great

Soldier Necklace with ID Tag, Gunner & Lux

Yellow Forrest t-shirt, Salemtown Board Co.

Dad likes to look good too! Help him out by picking him out some fun and comfortable wears.

Clockwise from left: Kilim Wallet from Res Ipsa, Soldier Necklace with ID Tag from Gunner & Lux, Midnight Suede From Res Ipsa, and Yellow Salemtown Board Co. Brand Tee

Find Him Something Special for His Space

Create a retreat for your dad where he can truly thrive!

Clockwise from left: "The Hit King: 1985 Charlie Hustle Screen Print" from Mitchell Bat Company, Waxed Canvas Craftsman Apron from Heirloomed Collection, Wooden Feast Board from Woodkith Designs, and Waxed Grilling Apron from Heirloomed Collection

Most Important, Tell Him How You Feel

"Thanks For Your Support", Breathless Paper Co.

The most essential part of celebrating your dad is telling him how much he means to you or just reminding him he's a great guy!

From left: "My Dad is a Feminist" Pin from Gunner & Lux, "Best Dad Ever" Baby's Breath card from Breathless Paper Co.

Wishing you and your dad a wonderful day together!

www.breathlesspaper.com

ww.resipsausa.com

www.heirloomedcollection.com

www.gunnerandlux.com

www.salemtownboardco.com

www.mitchellbatco.com

www.burnbear.com

www.jackrudycocktailco.com

Ask The Experts: Foundr Magazine

June 03, 2016

Recently, we read Foundr Magazine’s eBook called, “How to get your First 10,000 Instagram Followers.” Despite the title, the book isn’t just about numbers. It is chock-full of how-to’s and strategies for using social media with intention. It is about cultivating community and strengthening brand loyalty.

Instagram has become an incredible tool for entrepreneurs to build the brands of their business, as well as their personal brands. We’re going to take you through some of our favorite aspects of Foundr’s guide, including a Deep South Social’s own take on Instagram and community- building for entrepreneurs.

Why is Instagram different? A big focus for Foundr is on what makes Instagram unique compared to other social media outlets. First, there’s where Instagram began: Mobile. For a while, you could only access Instagram on your phone or device. Even now, the website is never the preferred way to post or scroll the feed. The portability of the social network “makes it a highly personal experience.”

Then there’s the obvious: Instagram is all about the visual. There’s room for text in the post description, and you can use text blocking to make your images into text, but the real punch is packed in the photo. Instagram succeeds at cutting clutter and drawing attention only to the image, and that’s good for any brand. It’s all about grabbing and holding attention, and Instagram makes that easier. Each photo you post has the ability to tell a story, and when you have a creative brand or one with a strong mission statement, storytelling is key.

The lack of hyperlinks is both a plus and a minus. Plus? Again, less clutter. Users don’t feel forced to click on anything they don’t want to. Minus? Generating clicks. Most brands post on any social media network with the hopes of diverting web traffic to their site or to a page where the user can sign up for something, buy something, read something, etc. Being unable to include hyperlinks in the caption is a downer in that case, but if you’re using your images right, having a strategic hyperlink in your profile bio is enough.

Strategies to make Instagram work for you. Foundr loves Instagram (and so does Deep South Social!) because it lets brands connect. In order to connect you have to know your community and “their needs, desires, struggles and language.” This goes back to storytelling, and posting “content that resonates with your define, ideal audience.” In order to resonate, you have to research. Spend some time on Instagram checking out the competition from brands that do what you do, or something similar. See what they post and what works for them, including hashtags, types of images, and captions. But researching doesn’t mean copying. You are your own brand, and the only way to show that is by being different than the other guys. Use your research as a jumping off point, but stay true to your unique selling points.

Once you’ve defined your audience, think strategically. Develop content that covers “the wide range of emotions and ideas that your product supports.” That means not always posting pictures of your product or information about promotions. As Foundr says, don’t talk about yourself too much. That may seem strange, seeing as the whole idea is to grow your brand, but here at Deep South Social we think that focusing on ideas, inspirations and useful knowledge that your audience would appreciate shows them that you care about more than just self- promotion — you care about them. That’s connection.

So, what kind of content should you post? Of course, the content posted will be different for each brand, but there are some guidelines and recommendations you can follow to aid your process of brand growth. Foundr sums it up in three points: Content Alignment, Consistent Delivery and Engagement. Here’s what we interpret that as: Make sure your content matches your brand at all times, post often and at similar times of day, and invite your audiences to interact with you via your posts. One of the biggest takeaways from Foundr’s guide is not to fear Calls to Action, or CTAs. Don’t be afraid to ask or invite your audiences to comment and like your posts. It’s important to note, though, that asking them to engage with you every time you post could come across advertisement-like, and thus discourage that interaction. At Deep South Social, we believe in softer CTAs and letting the content speak for itself most times, but we do think throwing strong CTAs out there ever so often is important to remind your followers why you’re there and why they follow you. A follower is more likely to say, “Hey, I’ll visit that website!” or “I want to buy one of those!” if you’re not incessantly asking them to do something for you. That’s another thing Foundr says about asking for engagement: “You’re asking them to do something that makes them feel good, helps them to engage with their friends, or reaffirms their beliefs and goals.” Make sure your audience enjoys interacting with you. Foundr uses CTAs like, “Tag someone who you know will be very successful” and “Tag a friend that motivates you.” This fits with their brand as a young entrepreneur magazine.

Tips & tricks. So, what kind of tools can you use to make your images pop and your posts get noticed? Foundr’s strategy is often to use text overlays on their pictures. They do a great job of using images that aren’t obvious, but connect on a metaphorical or emotional level to the text that overlays them. At Deep South Social, we like the clean look, so we suggest overlaying text on a colored background or simple texture. Text overlays can be used for inspirational quotes, CTAs and more. However, we don’t believe in using too many of these. Clean, striking images are great by themselves, too. Text overlays should be used to break through the usual and grab extra attention. Foundr’s favorite app for text overlays: Wordswag. Deep South Social’s favorite app for text overlays: Typorama.

1. The description section on the photo is often wasted, even though it’s valuable. “Consider your post description as an extension of all of your other content efforts. Create a consistent voice by setting parameters and sticking with those rules for every post,” Foundr says. We agree! If there’s always nothing of substance in your description, no one is going to even glance there at the times when you do use it for something worthwhile. Add a quick bit of insight on the picture you posted or the message you’re communicating. Keep it short and easy to digest. Foundr uses things like “Double tap if you agree” and more “Tag a friend” style copy. But at Deep South Social we like to keep it insightful and sweet most of the time. We’re all about offering knowledge and inspiration that elicits its own response from users.

2. Don’t put tons of hashtags in your description section. One or two is acceptable, and can work well. Overloading your description section with hashtags, though, comes across as spam or advertising — two things that Instagram so far has little of. Instagram users are less tolerable of this kind of thing, because Instagram is clean and users want it to stay that way. You can however put those hashtags in the comments section. Post your content, then go back and comment. Hashtags drive traffic to your posts, and they are great for that. But too many can ruin your aesthetic and your credibility with followers.

So much advice on how to use Instagram may have you intimidated — don’t worry! It’s all about intentionality. At Deep South Social we focus our attention on creating high-quality photographic and motivational content that hits on the kind of things our group of creative and mindful followers wants to see. Stay consistent, even when encouraging engagement, and don’t get too self-involved. It’s all about building and maintaining a loyal community, and that means caring about the people that are a part of it. Instagram is your tool; use it wisely!

www.foundrmag.com

One Stop Shop

May 15, 2016

Some of our favorite brands at Deep South Social joined the best artists and designers in Atlanta for the annual One Stop Shop, pop-up gift and art show in Vinings. The day was filled with wonderful one of a kind pieces, collaboration between makers, and every once in awhile the threat of a little rain. Enjoy our photo journal of the day and the hard work each of these Atlanta entrepreneurs put into their craft...

Ask the Entrepreneurs, Res Ipsa!

March 12, 2016

DSS sat down with the founders and creators of Res Ipsa, the essential brand for the stylish savvy traveler, to inquire about their brand journey. After years of legal consulting for eager entrepreneurs in Atlanta, Josh and Odini decided to step out of the consulting realm and into curating their own cultivated design. Hinting their legal roots in the face of their brand, Res Ipsa, ‘comes from the Latin phrase res ipsa loquitur meaning, “the thing speaks for itself” ’, which is effortlessly executed in their vibrant and unique marketing campaigns. Their entrepreneurial journey and business model is surely one to be admired by any inspiring business owner or seasoned expert.

Josh and Odini the founders of Res Ipsa USA

Which characteristics of your personality shows through in your merchandise?

We call ourselves modern traditionalists. We like tried-and-true but not stuffy products.

Guncheck Harris Tweed Loafer, Res Ipsa USA

How does your background influence your product and your role in the business?

Our background as lawyers helps us in two ways. First, it helps us as consumers because we are a lifestyle and travel brand, and lawyers do a lot of travel for both business and pleasure. We know what kinds of products we wished existed, and now we make them. Second, we approach business very methodically so we can anticipate the kinds of problems we’ll have down the road.

What do you think is the most difficult process of a new business set up?

The most difficult part is getting the infrastructure in place. There is a lot of work that has to be done that does not result in revenue—but has to be done before you can start marking money. For example, getting a registering with the Secretary of state, getting business license from your city, opening a bank account, getting a federal tax ID number, deciding how to keep your books: Online? Manually? QuickBooks? FreshBooks?

"Square Peg, Round Hole" Budapest, Res Ipsa USA

What are the “red flags” with contract reviews?

Things that are expressed in absolute categorical terms—for example words like “all claims” or “all damages”—are red flags. Also, limitations of liability and warranty disclaimers are usually bad news. The most important thing is to make sure the scope of services is explicit: state in detail what the service provider will be doing?

When is trademarking absolutely necessary?

A trademark is protection under by federal law. It creates a presumption of validity, which makes it easier to defend your products from infringement if you are going to export them to other countries where they could be knocked off. Simply using your trade-name and products in commerce creates a common law trademark based on your prior use—your rights are superior to anyone using that name or selling that product after you.

"Saturday. Loosen Your Belt and Relax", Res Ipsa USA

How do partnerships grow your business?

Partnerships and collaborations can create awareness by leveraging another brand’s sphere of influence. It makes people aware of what you’re doing while communicating that the brand is open to new ideas and new ways of reaching consumers.

What is a tip you felt yourself repeating to those who came for advice?

Be fearless. Call that store you really want to sell to, and if they say no, ask them why not. Whenever possible, do business in person. And if you can’t, do it over the phone. Email is the least preferable option.

What is your biggest tip for new entrepreneurs?

Be bold. If you listen to all the people who tell you why you won’t be successful you’ll be as miserable as they are.

"Confidence is your best accessory." Peacock Formal Loafer, Res Ipsa USA

What sounds scary in theory but is easy in process? And vice versa…

Being bold sounds scary because it doesn’t come with instructions. But the more your just do what needs to be done without thinking about how “hard” it will be, the easier it gets.

How have you been surprised by becoming an entrepreneur yourself instead of just advising?

It is infinitely more satisfying to operate your own business than stand on the sidelines and watch someone.

"Picking Kilim for our new loafers, totes, and travel bags." Turkey, Res Ipsa USA

What makes having a brick and mortar location still permeable in this digital age?

If you sell a physical product, people will always want to interact with it before they buy it. The best way to do that is in a store. Even “direct-to-consumer” brands like Bonobos & Warby Parker are opening a brick and mortar stores.

"All About the Colors, the Kilim Chukka", Res Ipsa USA

How do you see yourself growing as a brand?

Developing a devoted customer base who will advocate for us to their spheres of influence.

"Women in Kilim, Well Traveled and Well Worn by Asiyami Gold", Res Ipsa USA

How do you use social media tools like Instagram and Twitter to grow your brand?

Selling a physical product is a visual experience. Instagram helps communicate our brand identity visually. Twitter is more fleeting and it captures a spontaneity and sense of humor that is hard to communicate with a photo.

How do trade and gift shows expand your exposure?

Trade shows introduce you to people who are not necessarily looking for you. When you’re a new company, many buyers don’t know you exist so trade shows are a platform to introduce yourself to stores.

What influences expansion more, social media or sphere of influence?

It’s a chicken-and-egg problem. Social media expands your sphere of influence by making people outside your sphere of influence aware of your brand.

Who inspires you? Any speakers or entrepreneurs?

Ralph Lauren, Elon Musk, Mark Cuban, Seth Godin. And lots of small business owners who had the guts to do their own thing.

We are continually inspired by Res Ipsa, not only for their beautiful designs and ad content, but by their specialized and crucial knowledge of entrepreneurship. We thank Res Ipsa for taking the time to answer our questions about their brands and their entrepreneurial process.

http://www.resipsausa.com/

This blog entry is the first of many entrees of our new entrepreneurial series! Check back here for more tips and advice on how to improve the marketing and growth for your brand!

Hello, Gorgeous!

February 19, 2016

We are pleased to announce the newest member of our DSS family, Tutu Moi!

Rebecca Shady, the founder and designer of Tutu Moi, has brought her creative background as a dancer to her professional expertise resulting in cornering the market as the authority of the designer tutu. She flawlessly balances a vintage appeal with modern notes making her styled tutu a desired staple in everyone's closet.

Get to know Rebecca and her carefully crafted brand further through these insightful excerpts from her blog Q&A..

"We take a classic silhouette but allow for a modern fit so that the skirts are relevant to today's styles. This allows our customers to take a tutu and make it their own, no matter the style or the occasion."

"A tutu is timeless and morphs you into whatever state of mind you're in."

"To this day, I'm usually wearing a 'new' piece with something I've had in my closet for years. I tend to purchase things that will age well and will easily pair with more than one item I already have. And that's definitely one reason I have such an affinity for the tutu."

"I challenge most customers to try our tutus with something they would typically wear, something that is already in their closet - like one of their favorite tanks, or that staple leather jacket you've had for years. Make it fun, but keep it YOU."

"We've got styles for every body shape and for each style, the silhouette that the tulle creates flatters different body shapes. But all our styles accentuate your waist and are the most flattering styles for most women's shape. Tried and true, timeless skirt silhouettes are the inspiration for each of our styles."

"How would you describe your personal style?" "Timeless."

DSS is very excited to welcome Tutu Moi as part of our team. We cannot wait to see how we can work with Rebecca to make her unique brand grow even further. You can read the full interview with Rebecca Shady on her blog featured below.

www.tutumoi.com/blog/

Valentine's Gift Guide

February 07, 2016

With only a week to plan something special for the one you cherish, DSS has your S.O. covered...

LOOP GIVEAWAY!

Check into our Instagram page @deepsouthsocial Monday, Feb. 8th at 8pm through Thursday, Feb. 11th at Midnight for our Valentine's Day Loop Giveaway! One lucky participant will win this special Deep South Social bundle!

From left clockwise: Breathless Paper Co, The Sercy Studio, Honeycomb Studio, and Heirloomed Collection

AmericasMart Gift Show

February 05, 2016 in Entrepreneurs

While January is usually a fairly lethargic month for many businesses, for DSS it is a lively time filled with busy gift shows and inquisitive active buyers. The AmericasMart January Gift Show was no exception. These are just a few shots from booth #614 in the High Design Building, where DSS lived for a couple of days.

Honeycomb Studio Porcelain Salt Cellar with Silver Tipped Spoon, White Tail Deer Antlers, Heirloom Christmas Ornament, and Bitters Bottle

Breathless Paper Co. 16 Card Spinner Displays

Breathless Paper Co. collaboration with Lantern Press

Heirloomed Collection Railroad Stripe Apron Set

The Honeycomb Studio Waxing Moon Bottles

The Sercy Studio Blessing Beads and Small Blessing Beads

Breathless Paper Co. and Lantern Press Mugs

Woodkilth Board Sample and Wood Preserve

The Sercy Studio Keychains and Ornaments

Heirloomed Collection Professional Display

The gift show weekend went by in a flash. There was lots of coffee, long hours, and solid effort that made everything worth while. As said perfectly by Jessica of Breathless Paper, "Just like that, the Atlanta Gift Show came and went. We prepared (a lot!), set up our booth, had four non stop days of the gift show and then broke it all down. It was a whirlwind as always and now, we are in the midst of all the other shows with our awesome reps." The Gift Show continues to be an excellent and worthwhile venue for Deep South Social. We are so fortunate to be part of such an amazing collaboration with some of the best artists and designers in Atlanta.

If you would like to see some more behind the scenes photos of the AmericasMart Gift Show, check out "And That's How It's Done" on the Breathless Paper Co. blog page.

Merchandise websites:

http://www.honeycomb-studio.com/

http://www.resipsausa.com/

http://thesercystudio.com/

http://www.breathlesspaper.com/

http://www.heirloomedcollection.com/

http://www.woodkith.com/

Meet the Owner

January 05, 2016

Gail Silverstein, the owner and operator of Urban Cottage, reflected to Deep South Social the insights of owning her own small business with her daughter over the past eighteen years. The creative lifestyle boutique nestled in Virginia Highlands is know for offering a cozy atmosphere for selling unique homeware and gifts created by local artists and craftsmen.

What inspired you to start Urban Cottage? How did you decide on the name?

I have always loved home decor and making my surroundings comfortable. As far back as I can remember whether it was watching my mom make our house a home or sewing drapes in college, I was involved in making interior spaces "home". And when it came to choosing the name, it was easy. It was a cottage in the city. So, hence Urban Cottage.

Accessories from urbancottageatlanta.com

What do you love about being a shop owner? Is there anything you don’t like?

What I like about owning a shop is I get to do what I like for the most part. And I love watching it grow. But the most gratifying part is developing long-standing relations with customers who come back over our 18 years and sometimes bring their children who are now building their homes. It is a good feeling to know they are loyal and appreciate our sincere efforts to maintain our integrity and give outstanding customer service. We are a family business and that is utmost importance to us.

What are your top five favorite product categories to pick out?

I truly love tabletop. Our categories have expanded since moving to Virginia Highlands so it has been fun to expand this area. Besides tabletop, furnishings and lighting is another favorite along with books. I enjoy perusing through the books before ordering and making sure the illustrations show well.

What do you want to share about Urban Cottage?

Urban Cottage is definitely a labor of love. Over the past 18 years we have weathered ups and downs. It has definitely evolved from our "little cottage" in Buckhead. Our items have expanded as well as our services; our interior design service has grown as well as our customer base. Urban Cottage's parent company uses old barn wood to create beautiful pieces of furniture as well as picture frames and other items. We have local carpenters and metal workers who create custom pieces.

Barnwood Frames from @urban_cottage_inc Instagram

What are the ‘goals’ for your brand and where do you see Urban Cottage in the next couple of years?

We have and will continue to increase our “Kids” section. We hope that more people will come to know that this family business is worthy of receiving their business.

"Urban Cottage Kids" from @urban_cottage_inc

Why do you carry southern made and designed goods? What is your favorite southern food, recipe, or town?

We love carrying southern made goods, because we support local and other small businesses. And we want to support these creators. Charleston, SC is my favorite southern spot. It offers so much history and culture. Plus it is by the water, a real love of mine.

Urban Cottage is a fantastic venue for not only selling one of a kind items, but also a place for other small-businesses to come together and find support. It is exciting to see mature businesses still evolving and planning for the future like Urban Cottage. It is no wonder Urban Cottage has become a staple in so many people's lives.

Website: www.urbancottageatlanta.com
urbancottage@bellsouth.net
Address:
998 North Highland Avenue
Atlanta, GA30306
404-815-9993

Mackenzie Williams holding "Elle" Blessing Beads from thesercystudio.com

Meet the Maker

January 02, 2016

Mackenzie Williams, the founder and artist behind, The Sercy Studio sat down with DDS to discuss her inspiration, creative process, and the rapid growth of her company. It is very appropriate that The Sercy Studio was born from her first sercy of blessing beads, which she gave to her friend in 2012. Just a year later, she opened her studio in Atlanta and let others bring these cherished goods to their loved ones.

Painting Wooden Beads from thesercystudio.com

What inspired you to start The Sercy Studio?

"Blessing Beads and Other Sercies" from thesercystudio.com

Back in 2012, my aunt Ruth was sick and received prayer beads as a gift. She really loved the gift, and I loved the gesture! I soon designed my own version and called them "Blessing Beads". Ruth, also used the term 'sercy', [a southern term to describe a little unexpected gift], and was the queen of giving little gifts just out of love. Plus, she was an artist! She was a big influence on my business for all these reasons.

What was your initial vision for your designs? How did you decide what materials would be best?

I knew I wanted my blessing beads to be one-of-a-kind and handmade. Making each pendant out of clay and hand-painting the beads made the blessing beads feel special.

What are you favorite materials to use?

I use wood beads, clay, twine and lots of paint! I buy everything from US vendors.

Wooden Blessing Beads from thesercystudio.com

What makes your process different?

Lots of love and attention goes into one strand of blessing beads! They are a true labor of love. Some steps along the way include, hand painting each bead, forming pendants (crosses and hearts) out of clay, firing the clay, and dressing everything in gold leaf. Once all the parts are made, we use twine to string everything together.

Are you working on any exciting new goods?

Yes! I love Valentines Day, and it is the perfect holiday to give a sercy. I am working on a few Valentines projects. I will also have new blessing bead styles to share in 2016.

How was your first trade show experience? What did you like about it or dislike? How many shops are now carrying your line from the show?

I was both overwhelmed and excited with the idea of scaling up my business. The show was lots of fun! Our booth looked amazing (thanks to Jessica and Ashley of DSS) and being part of Deep South Social was a great way to show at the Atlanta market. Before my first trades show in July 2015, I had about 10 wholesalers carrying my sercies. Now, I have about 85 amazing stores that sell blessing beads. I would say the experience was a success!

Is there anything further that you would like to share with us?

I have so many people to thank for supporting me and encouraging me. It took me a while to believe that someone would want to buy something I made! Thank you DSS girls for introducing me to the wholesale world and supporting me along the way.

Mackenzie Williams' sercies are the perfect example of bringing classic charm to our present day. Each strand and ornament is laden with adornment and devotion reflected to the receiver of such a gift. We certainly cannot wait to see her progress in the New Year.

Americas Mart Gift Show with Deep South Social

Our favorite picture of Mackenzie holding many strands of Blessing Beads

Photo from Southern Rustic Cabin — Photo from *Southern Rustic Cabin*

Urban Cottage hosts author Emily Followill

December 24, 2015

Recently, Urban Cottage, a creative lifestyle boutique situated in Virginia Highlands, hosted author and photographer, Emily Followill’s book signing for her newest hardback, Southern Rustic Cabin. Emily Followill is the artistic eye behind many captivating photos featured in publications like Better Homes and Garden, Southern Living, Atlanta Homes, Veranda, and many more. Deep South Social had the pleasure to ask Followill a few questions prior to the event...

What inspired you to write Southern Rustic Cabin?

After working with James Farmer on one of his books, his publisher, Gibbs Smith, approached me to create a book! They gave me a couple of topics, which they felt needed to be filled on their shelves. One of them was log cabins in the South. Realizing that I had already shot three cabins for various clients, I reached out to other clients to see if they had any log cabins they had created or restored for clients. Several of them responded with a, “yes!” From there, I started talking about it and more cabins kept coming!

What has been the most unexpected thing to come from this book so far?

I’ve been amazed how many people have a connection to a cabin, log cabin or similar. Seems like half the people I mentioned the book to knew someone with a log cabin or had one in their own family!

Who is your target reader for this book? Who do you think will best connect to what your book has to offer?

My target reader is anyone who has owned, visited, or loved log cabins or cabins of any kind. Anyone with a dream to build a log cabin or a home with character and patina would also love this book. It’s the perfect gift for anyone with a lake house, mountain house or rustic home… or someone wishing to create one!

What are your future stops for your book signings? Where have you already presented your book?

The day of the southern trunk show and book signing at Urban Cottage

I’ve been to the Cashiers, NC Show House in August and Hendersonville, NC in September. Also, Erika Reade and Peridot West in Atlanta. I’m looking forward to being at Urban Cottage and then the Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles “Home for the Holidays”, Huff Harrington Home, and Holland and Company at ADAC. Many thanks for having me to your store in Virginia Highlands! I’m looking forward to it!

What is it about the tie to the south that makes this book and the cabins it features so unique?

I’ve lived in the south my whole life, so it has been a joy to discover more beautiful places and homes in the south. Some are in places I’m familiar and others have been such a treat to discover and enjoy for a day. I hope I can bring this excitement to each of my readers. Lisa Frederick, my writer, did an incredible job telling the story of each homeowner, designer or architect in a way that helps to weave the photographs and adventure of the cabins together.

It’s clear that this Atlanta native has a beautiful outlook on these unmatched southern retreats. Her “balanced” and serene escape photos will have every reader enticed to dream of another place to dwell. We wish Emily Followill all the success for her new book Southern Rustic Cabin.

Living Up to the Name, Louette

December 17, 2015

This is the first interview in our series highlighting the makers and designers of our favorite southern brands. Deep South Social sat down with Heather Quinn, the owner of Louette Boutique, to discuss her thoughts on entrepreneurship, inspiration, and tradition. This lifestyle boutique is situated on the idyllic Hilton Head Island where Heather calls home.

What inspired you to open your own small business?

Handmade Bud Vases from Honeycomb Studio

While working in marketing in Atlanta after college, I had the opportunity to create relationships with many different types of businesses-- big and small. As a person who has always worked a "million" jobs at a time, I got involved with event planning and worked with some local boutiques. I became inspired by shops that were their own little world, once you stepped through the door you were in a different place. I loved the idea of opening a lifestyle boutique. Fast-forward about six years... some tough life experiences led my husband to say, "why don't you do what you have been talking about for the past few years and work on opening a shop?” So... I did (with his total support and love). My inspiration for the look and feel of the shop came from my Grandmother, Louette. She has always been beautiful, classy and a bit complicated. "Grandy" was never the grandmother waiting with hot chocolate chip cookies for us growing up. Rather she was the Grandmother that spoke about great achievements and going out and "doing". Starting a business has been the scariest, most rewarding and most frustrating process I have ever been a part of, but all of those feelings keep me going and "doing".

Greeting Cards from Breathless Paper Co.

What was your initial vision for Louette?

My vision for Louette has always been to create a shopping experience, and not just sell "things". Everything in the shop has been carefully thought out from our clothing racks made from reclaimed doors circa 1920, to our lines that include an array of familiar brands mixed with local and regional designers. My Grandmother, whom the shop is named after, is an artist. I keep the creative aspect of running a business at the forefront of my decision-making. We handcraft the majority of our displays and work really hard to create a space that is inviting yet inspiring. We want anyone, no matter your age or background, to find that perfect, special "something" at Louette.

Who gives you inspiration? Where do you see Louette in the future?

I am extremely lucky to have an army of creative and strong women around me. My grandmother's style and mother's work ethic have shaped my vision for Louette. I am also really lucky to have close friends in the business that have been mentors for me. She would not like me giving her a 'shout out', but my dear friend Jessica owner and designer of Breathless Paper Co. has been a huge support for me. Everyone needs a cheerleader and she has been that for me.
Louette is ever evolving. My hope for the future is that we keep changing and evolving-- I think our Louette customers like being part of the journey. I would love to expand the number the independent and local designers we carry in the shop. My belief is that it's imperative to support local artists-- it builds the local economy and community-- not to mention there are so many talented folks out there with amazing ideas and goods to share.

Barnwood Frames from Breathless Paper Co.

Why do you carry southern made goods?

I get super awe-struck by anyone that can create and turn that creation into a business! Many of the Southern designers we work with are women who own their own business-- which is amazing. These women inspire me to work harder and just when I think I can't manage my business while having babies (literally), my family I come across an amazing product that has been designed by a "momprenuer" from the South. It keeps me on my toes and keeps me motivated!

What is your favorite southern food, tradition, and town?

My favorite southern tradition comes from the Lowcountry-- there is nothing better than a good Lowcountry boil! I have lived on Hilton Head Island for over eight years now and have truly fallen in love with the mystique of the Lowcountry. From the Spanish moss to the water, it is a truly beautiful place to call home.

Louette’s creative approach to retail creates a wonderfully unique experience for every customer. We are truly thankful that Heather opened up her store to us to discuss her traditions, stories, and perspective. We look forward to seeing how Heather will continue the Louette name.

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