I was looking through old pictures yesterday with my daughter and ran across something that made me giggle a bit. You see, before I took on the job of Momma, I had a paying gig. I worked in retail like a lot of kids out of college and I even had one of the three most coveted "cool" jobs: coffee shop, book store and mine, the music store. Unlike most kids though, I stayed there for seven long years before we were run out of business by big box retailers, but that's a story for another day.
One of my management duties was P.O.P merchandising. This is a real fancy was of saying that I made displays using point of purchase materials, a.k.a. posters. It was one of my favorite tasks, just me a stack of posters and flats, a staple gun and a huge wood base. The purpose of this task was to create and photograph a display so we could prove the the record companies that we were advertising for them and they in return would continue to send us more posters and promo Cd's. I was actually quite good at this otherwise useless skill.
Now I'm wondering how I can parlay this recovered knowledge into a technique for my etsy store. I learned that people love images that pop, basic colors surrounding a central image or repeating patterns that emphasize a theme. I guess I've got the theme down with the repeating frame around each of my photos, but I think I'm still lacking the pop. Maybe my mannequin head has got to go, but I still lack a proper model or photography skills for that matter. I guess I shall put away this lesson until another day. It was sure a nice blast to the past though.
Challenge Update: We now have 7 participants! There are plenty of medallions left, so please join us and make something amazing with tatting.
I miss those record stores....I remember wondering as a "kid" how those displays happened, and thinking how cool it would be to do that.
ReplyDeleteJust know that someone envied you that skill! ;-p
I still feel like I missed out on something by not working in a coffeehouse in college....
I used to be amazed at those displays in both music stores and video stores (neither of which were big box stores - they are DULL in the presentation)!
ReplyDeleteI'm certain you will find a way to make to bring those skills to bear again (pop-up books?)! :)
Sounds like a pretty cool job to me! Wish I could find one like that now.
ReplyDeleteThose were the days!
ReplyDeleteI have had some convos like that with my mom, she worked at an art supply store and an ice cream shop.
ReplyDeleteIm going to tell my kids I worked as a custom hemp jewelry artist by the beach the summer after college... haha. I feel like they will have a bunch of questions...haha
Oh man! I hate that record stores like that are so few and far between now.
ReplyDeleteMixed. Media. Collage.
ReplyDeleteGirl you must get on creating some & selling them, your work was rad! There is definitely a market for it. Start with some digital imagery and add in other fun stuff you like.
This is a great example of how cool it can be
Decorated House
Oh & PS, you are still cool
ReplyDelete:~D