A show of support

I gave a DIY PR workshop for small business here at home in Athens, Georgia tonight and to a diverse group of artists, craftsmen, and business owners. In a show of support, another local eatery, Martis at Midday, sent food for our guests! That's love and that's creative marketing! Thank you!

Back by popular demand: DIY PR for Small Biz, Athens, GA

A funny thing happen on the drive home

Two weeks ago I addressed students in the retail-merchandising program at Florida State University in Tallahassee. Anyone who has driven the long, still, back roads between my home in Athens, Georgia and Tallahassee knows of the “Pin-worthy” sites along the way: moss-laden live oaks, dilapidated barns, cows grazing in a junkyard where the cars are overgrown with ivy. But the lawn of gorgeous, weathered ceramic containers picture here, located in a small stretch of road between Warwick and Sylvester, Georgia (just past that field of collard greens on Hwy 300 beyond Albany if I was directing another Southerner) forced me to hit the brakes.  

 I turned around, pulled into the drive and before I could get out of my car, owner, Jennifer Davis, ambled out to welcome me. “You are in Oakfield, Georgia,” she reported in the sweetest Southern drawl, “and you are standing in the middle of my blessing!” Jennifer is a trained interior designer who moved from bustling Atlanta back to her family farm. She bought Purdy Antique’s a few years ago and restored the main shop that now houses a selection of French and English antiques and some contemporary art.  In a warehouse out back, a local craftman designs (together with Jennifer) and builds furniture from reclaimed wood. Also heirloom quality, they are signed and dated before going out the door.  

As for the pottery? “Oh, they’re just my advertising!” says Jennifer. “They are a well-made assortment from Italy, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and they really do get people to stop.” 

By the end of my time at Purdy’s Antiques I had made a new friend, committed to two large vessels that are so heavy I have to go back and retrieve them with a van I don’t even own and, quite remarkably, sold a book. Like a true Southerner, she had many questions about where I had been and about the subject of my talk at FSU and before I could even finish telling her about Recipe for Press she had decided, “I just have to have the book!” Her goal: to see Purdy’s on the pages of Southern Living or Garden & Gun. I’d say she’s that much closer.

 Everyone has a story and, I suppose, I’m the curious type who will always turn the car around to hear another. And I’m a richer person for it. 

The Best Field Trip Ever! Susan Hable Smith of Hable Construction

A few weeks ago the Recipe for Press team had the chance to visit Susan Hable Smith at her Athens studio — a cozy 1918 mill village house with inspiration in every corner. Susan, who co-founded the celebrated textiles company, Hable Construction, encouraged us to wander around her workspace (and allowed us to photograph some of the hand-drawn prints and new patterns in the making!)  She also took the time to share her story, which included important lessons she’s learned over the years as an entrepreneur. 

By PR intern, Alex Laughlin

Images by graphic design interns, Abby Wilhelm and Brittany Robertson

When you realize you don’t love what you’re doing — STOP!

 A year or so into their startup, Susan came clean with her business partner (and sister) Katharine, that she wasn’t crazy about wearing the scarves they were selling. “We decided, on the spot, to move on in a different product direction, which is the beauty of running your own show!” says Susan. Today, Hable Construction is best known for creating artfully distinctive and utilitarian products for everyday living. Susan’s advice: if you notice your ambitions taking you in a different direction, follow them! Passion is essential to keeping business alive.

Stagger the storytelling

Great press can be a real engine starter for a growing brand like Hable Construction. “Recognition by industry influencers has even lead to licensing opportunities with some venerable brands, like Garnet Hill and Barney’s,” says Susan. “But constant media attention could also dilute your brand.”  Be thoughtful in crafting your message and reach out to publications that are a great fit to your company, rather than pitching every editor on the planet. Use media lulls to improve your products or product photography so each time you reappear you have something new to share. 

Embrace change but stay crazy

 Like most entrepreneurs, Susan’s business was affected by the recession. The sisters kept Hable Construction alive by recommitting to their craft and restructuring their company to meet the changing business landscape. Susan traded a pricey New York storefront for a sunlit backyard studio, allowing her to be closer to some of her clients and more involved in the day-to-day of her two children. Win-win!