Moonfruit Review

I previously blogged about the wonderful package that Barclays Bank offers new start ups and how it included the free website builder Moonfruit. 

I may have also mention that alot of money was lost through independent web developers making a few pages from their bedrooms then running off with my money.  So, thought I would attempt this myself & after trying WIX previously, was confident with trying Moonfruit.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this postings are my own personal opinions and should not represent or reflect negatively of Barclays or Moonfruit.

I consider myself a printer - not a website developer.  Moonfruit is very simple and straight forward the site is very clear and fresh and offers some really attractive templates.  I had looked on the forums and other people’s site and it was very impressive.  With some creativity I could also have something as impressive.

I worked on my site every evening for the past 3 months, it was always a bit of a chore, eye straining and time consuming.  I almost completed my site until I needed to add my shop.  This is where it became non functional for me.  I sell greeting cards and wedding stationery so therefore need the option of my clients buying in bulk quantities.  The Moonfruit shop builder didn’t have this function and only led you to add to cart then to payments.  There was no option for my clients to choose how many they wanted, they could only buy 1, so for example if my average couple wanted to order save the dates for example, for 100 guests, they would have to keep repeating the 'add to basket' 100 times.....errrrrr NO I don’t think so.

Other friends I know have used Moonfruit to publish their work and portfolios and the results are amazing.  For me however this ecommerce platform is not adequate for me.  I upgraded my account to get full ecommerce facility, but Moonfruit responded to me through twitter and email that I could be refunded or I could wait a few weeks for updates.

When running a small business every penny counts and time is also too valuable to waste, so on this occasion I opted to invest with WebCreationUK, who offer:

"......To build a respected and trusted website design company takes time, dedication, passion and hard work! WebCreationUK are one of the UK's fastest growing web design companies and we believe that no other can match our great services at the prices we offer...."

"......Our standard & advanced e-commerce web design solutions provide you with a contemporary, fully-functional online selling platform for your products and services - all at highly cost effective prices....."

It is alot of money to fork out and another business risk after being stung before.  But they were so friendly and cooperative that I am putting my trust in them.

This is also beneficial for myself as it frees up more time for me to concentrate on my design work and get messy with my prints.

At last.................

Making my mind up

Once again the Gemini twins within had a fight and naughty twin won and took over.  I’m blaming my twin, as I woke up this morning to the hurricane in my dinning room and it definitely wasn’t me. 

'Clever Gemini' letterpress & ink artwork

SHE completely deleted the VIP website; SHE then redid a new price list, completely came off the tracks, changed the VIP logo and cancelled a prospective client order...... WHY???  Because SHE is a MAD OVER EXCITED, OVER IMAGINATIVE, OVER AMBITIOUS & PEDANTIC, NEUROTIC PERFECTIONST................

So it’s left to ME to pick up the wreck that is VIP, regain control, detain the beast within, light some candles gather my chi and calm the hell down.........

Despite this madness, not all is lost and not all is a disaster.  The only thing really lost is time…. A whole weekend of work wasted.  But seeing the silver lining I can say that that is one of the beautiful things about being a creative.  The uncontrollable motivation that comes from small ideas.  But the destructive side is that these excited ideas can become too big and unmanageable and often lead to creative blocks, when all can be done is to cry.  Luckily it hasn’t got that bad this surge has only reconfirmed to me what I already knew – walk before running and all the plans for greeting cards, favours, party invites, birth announcements etc can wait.

This was also a good time to recalculate all my expenditure, and even though it appears that the start up costs are low.  This is all starting to add up.  I have to give up on a few luxuries for the foreseeable future in order to buy inks, new typefaces, chase, cards, envelopes, work tops and storage.

Harrington & Squires

All packed and ready to go,,,, off i set.... to become the best printer in the world....... Maybe not as that would be the Adana 8 x5...hehehehe


No seriously, this Wednesday, I am very proud to say that I am off to Harrington & Squires, named after Bob Harrington and Horace Squires, compositors and letterpress tutors at Hornsey College of Art in the late 1960s.  H&S are as a small private press founded in 2002 by designer/ typographers Chrissie Charlton and Vicky Fullick.

I am very fortunate to get trained by the best in one of their exclusive workshop in Tufnell Park, London.

Will update after class!

Sam x

OH BOY!!!!!

Have hardly slept, extremely sleep deprived and frustrated…….  I've been up at the crack of dawn tinkling about with the printer and cant get my head round it as yet…

WHAT THE .....???

Tears have been shed and a lot of things flung round the room. 

This is the depth of my passion and my impatience at not being able to print.

As a beginner, I have much to learn, but I have been a tad hasting in accepting delivery so soon, as now she is covered up in the studio until the rest of my fonts, paper arrive and I complete my course at the great Harrington & Squires. 

I am also very pleased to find other people like me in the same situation - learning about an art form for which there are few teachers & supplies and tools that are expensive and difficult to come by.

Stay with me here my start up is bumpy but my dedication and perseverance remains un-dented.

Sam x

CHRISTMAS COME EARLY

Is it Christmas???? 

Maybe not for you today but it was like all my Christmases rolled into one.  Caslon delivered me my machine beautiful Adana 8 x 5.  I was so excited because this means that I am finally able to print.  Not yet christened but please allow me to introduce you to the newest member of the Very Impressed family.

AMANDA…..

The machine is ready..... but am I?

Adana 8 x 5 Letterpress Printing Machine

Well, taking the plunge and probably going to plunge myself into a very tight few months, but think its truly worth it.  Have put an order in for this baby.....

Letterpress printing is making a comeback not only with print buffs but with people who want something different. It can not be mistaken for a photocopy and therefore provides a degree of security. It has its own distinctive look and feel. It was the process that started the communications revolution and is not dead yet.

We take delivery end of August..... can't wait!

The card that says you are invited

Read this is the Evening Standard yesterday....

"Is that a stiffie in your pocket? Looks like you're off to a good party, then, because if Fendi, Mary Portas, Harper Collins and Missoni are anything to go by, this year's top summer shindigs have replaced e-invites with gilt-edged, shout-out-loud colours and staggeringly thick card invitations.

At bespoke stationer Smythson of Bond Street, which counts Lily Allen and Kate Moss as clients, Emma Woolley agrees there is a definite trend in the technological age where stationery has a new luxury status. "It's not just a utilitarian item now. There's an emotional connection. Whereas you could send off an email, the old-fashioned invite is more special. It's more likely to make people respond, too."
There is also the cost to consider. At £6-£8 per invite, depending on the finish and the envelope, serious thought goes into who should feature on the guest list.

Impressive examples slipping through London letterboxes fall in to two categories. There is the sleek white, unbendable kind such as Victoria Barnsley's for a HarperCollins party. At the opposite end sits the extra weighty vivid orange and purple missive from Mary Portas for last week's preview of her new fashion collection. For this, she employed Essex-based Empress Design & Print.
"The Portas one was extra long so it was tricky but it looked good. If a standard card weighs 400g, that was around 1,200g and we had a wedding order last week for 300 invites of 3,500g, which is five whole layers - the biggest yet. We are seeing a lot more now," says an Empress engraving specialist.
Another noteworthy Empress client is Fendi, whose recent garish gold and yellow paperweight summoned guests to celebrate the launch of the brand's new fragrance, Fan di Fendi. Double the thickness of the Portas giant, Fendi admits that "this relocates the standard of the brand which is about luxury" and that weeks of preparation went into its design, taking into consideration everything from edging to foiling.
So if there's a pile of stiffies on your desk awaiting RSVPs this summer, get to it. Someone with a good guest list really wants you to notice."

Victoria Stewart
columnistarchive/VictoriaStewart

Prestige Wedding Fairs

I went to the Prestige Wedding Fair www.prestigeweddingfairs.co.uk this week held at the beautiful Beaumont Estate in Old Windsor 
beaumont-estate/weddings and had a wonderful evening chatting to the exhibitors and brides.

Prestige Wedding Fairs are the premier organisers of wedding fairs in Berkshire.  At the fair you will findthe best of Hampshire and Berkshire wedding services offering everything from bridal wear and classic cars to cakes and men’s wear – all under one roof.  So if you haven’t been to one already its worth checking out.  I was most excited by the cake pops from The Pretty Pantry, they looked lush, and I would love to use them with my place cards....yumm

The Pretty Pantry

Phhhheew

We are finally over onto Blogger, just couldn't get the creative freedom with the themes and background.

This is not exactly day one, but this is where it starts, the records of our progress as we start up Very Impressed.

Hope you enjoy!

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