Business Journal: a place to celebrate wins & reflect - 30th Edition

June’s highlights included launching two new dinosaur stickers at the Field Museum, attending the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Conference, and supplying pride stickers to Peoria Proud for their upcoming River City Pride event.

The Big Wins

• Launched two new dinosaur stickers at the Field Museum. Because SUE has been the most popular sticker of my initial ten designs, it’s only natural that I was asked to create two new dinosaur stickers: a plesiosaur inspired by the current Jurassic Oceans exhibit and a full body version of SUE. (The Field had some clever comments on our IG post.)

• Moderated the Emerging Leaders Cocktails & Conversations event at the Airport Minority Advisory Council Conference in Chicago with Shawnta Young. Just last year I learned about AMAC after participating in the GovCon Airports program through the Women’s Business Development Center, so it is exciting that I was able to get involved after last June’s virtual conference and become a moderator at my first in-person conference.

General Updates + Accomplishments:

• Ran the first four weeks of cohort four of Self-Made Artist Academy. Watching students grow and thrive in their businesses is why I am committed to doing this work. A note I recently received from a student shared that she registered as an official LLC AND gave her first real price quote for a commissioned embroidery piece (and they said yes).

• Supplied stickers to Peoria Proud for River City Pride. I have loved being a sponsor of this premier Central Illinois pride event in Peoria since it began. ICYMI: Check out the new collection of LGBTQ+ designs I launched last month.

• Attended the AMAC Conference and reflected on my journey in the airport space. Highlights of the conference included a helicopter ride at the opening night party, a handful of impactful Emerging Leaders events, after parties filled with networking, inspiring panels, workshops, and luncheons, as well as meeting many airport connections in person for the first time.

• Enjoyed cultural events in Chicago. I attended a range of fun events including the musical SIX, Logan Square Arts Festival, Palmer Square Art Fair, Bloom: Fashion + Drag Show, and a Fem Com show as well as a Cubs game and my first Sox game.

• Visited with extended family and friends traveling through Chicago. My dad’s cousin Jacki and her son Danny stopped by as Jacki flew back to England out of O’Hare. We also caught up with friends staying in or traveling through Chicago. If you’re in the city (especially if you are traveling via O’Hare), send me a message!

• Delivered an initial wholesale order to Love from USA (a goal since 2019). I had my heart set on selling to the I Heart Chicago and Love from Chicago stores ever since I learned about them at my first Chicago Department of Aviation event back in 2019. It felt like things came full circle when their buyer placed the first order with me and then I met the owner Pat in person at the AMAC Conference all in the same week.

• Received over 830 shares on Instagram of my women’s rights designs. This collection was actually launched in December 2020, but is sadly becoming even more relevant as women and uterus-having people’s rights are in danger across America.

June felt like a month dedicated to all things airports and simply maintaining business while enjoying all Chicago has to offer in the summertime.

In July, I am most looking forward to spending time with family, continuing to fulfill wholesale orders for new, independent shops as well as getting some new projects lined up. I have availability for two branding and/or custom art projects in July. Reach out today if you’d like to chat more about how we can work together.

My grandma has been a huge supporter of my business (and essentially the reason these business journal blog posts exist). Her husband, my grandpa, passed away on June 3rd, 2022, so I would like to dedicate this post to them. Please keep my grandma in your thoughts as she adjusts to life without him.

Thank you for being here, for supporting me, and for following along with my entrepreneurial journey.

PS - Have a project you’d like to chat about? Grab your free 20-minute project consultation + ensure your project gets on my calendar in 2022. Bring on all the logos, branded merchandise, + brand identity projects… let’s make some beautiful + impactful things together.