give us dirty laundry

Another fun guest / vendor post and giveaway from Erin Durband and laundrybags.etsy.com…

Hi, my name is Erin and laundry bags are handmade by me, a photographer, for other photographers. They were born out of frustration of not finding any stylish or trendy bags in which to carry my canvases and albums when I met with clients.

My style of photography is popularly known as trash-the-dress, or as I call it, dirty laundry…hence the ‘laundry bag‘ name for my photographic art carrying bags.

These bags allow you to stylishly carry around a canvas or framed art sample to show your clients when you meet with them away from your studio. These deluxe bags are all one-of-a-kind, are fully lined in a contrasting fabric, and feature unique, fun handles.

I’ve also come up with a handmade and affordable packaging bag! These babies are sewn from deconstructed t-shirts and come in many fun solid colors. And, because they are solid, feel free to get creative with them and add your own embellishments to tie them into your current packaging and branding.

You can buy them one at a time, as you need them, and they come in a couple of different sizes. Since they are made of t-shirt material, they have some stretch to them, they are super soft, and they are completely reusable by your clients. (I take mine to the beach!)

You can buy yours at laundrybags.etsy.com and one lucky Paperie reader will win a set of THREE laundrybag packaging bags in either black or white (your choice!)!!

You can find more about these great bags here:
http://ekahd.com/blog/?p=1950
http://ekahd.com/blog/?p=2090

How do you win? It’s simple! You have four chances to win!

1. “Like” e.kah.d on Facebook

2. Follow @ekahd on Twitter

3. Post the following on Twitter (and tell us where you did it):
Win three ‘laundry bag’ packaging bags from laundrybags.etsy.com / @ekahd at PaperieBoutique.com / @paperieboutique – http://is.gd/gpjjp

4. Post about laundrybags.etsy.com on Facebook (and tell us where you did it)

Then come back and comment here that you’ve done so – each entry requires its own separate comment. (In simple terms: If you want FOUR chances to win, you have to do all four things listed above, and then make four separate comments telling us how you did them.)

Comment(s) must be posted here by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, October 31st. You can enter up to four times total. Post that you have “liked” the Facebook fan page, followed on Twitter, posted to Twitter (with link), and / or posted to Facebook (with link) – in separate comments to have multiple chances to win!

ATTENTION: All links you post must direct to public-access accounts. We cannot verify links on private, friends & family only, or passworded accounts and they will not be eligible to win this item. If we have to subscribe to your feed, a website, or forum – or request permission to see them – your entry will automatically be disqualified.

You can enter / post up to four total times – one entry each for the four options listed above.

You have four chances to win, but only one chance PER OPTION – please do not post the same link multiple times. Duplicate links will be removed. Each entry requires its own separate comment to have multiple chances to win!

Comments on this entry will be numbered in order of posting. The winning number will be chosen by Random.org, and the winner will be contacted within 24-48 hours of contest’s end to claim their prize.

UPDATE: The winner has been announced here – go look and see!

Good luck and thanks so much to laundrybags.etsy.com for such a cool prize!

sold!

I love being able to put up posts like this. It’s confirmation this site isn’t just random words floating out there into the ether. It really is helping people kick-start their businesses and launch their brand. Keep ‘em coming and pay it forward, I say! But first, enjoy a new guest post right-quick featuring a beautiful charity auction gift basket by Elizabeth Sethi Photography.

I started my photography business about a year ago, and have avidly read your blog for 6 months.

Through you I found Leah Remillet / GO{4}PRO who did my custom logo – and I have learned so, so much about creative packaging and marketing.

Last week was my very first charity auction, and my basket (thanks to all your blog posts and vendor ideas) was the hit of the auction! The ladies setting up the show spent at least 15 minutes “ooh-ing” and “aah-ing” over my packaging, my basket items, and my very own ‘Martha-esque’ bow. Without this blog I never could have created something so special, and set my photography business apart from the rest of the donors. I just had to share.

P.S. – I just got my Zazzle stickers in the mail…I’m in love!

ATTENTION PHOTOGRAPHERS: Show us your packaging! If the features here have helped you pull together your own look, please share with the class and pay it forward. Contact Robyn (e-mail link in the sidebar / robyn @ this domain) to be added to the posting schedule.

ATTENTION VENDORS: We tuck business cards, coupon inserts, and promo pieces inside of our prize packages. If you are interested in having yours included, please contact me (my e-mail is in the sidebar and is robyn @ this domain – or you can leave a comment). Also contact me if you are interested in having your business packaging, marketing ideas, or photography-related products featured on Paperie Boutique.

If you are interested in advertising with Paperie Boutique, please contact todd @ this domain.

real page turner

(Originally posted to Flickr forums in January 2009.)

My album company offers swatch-sample sheets. They’re very nice, laminated and “fancy”. However their name and logo are very prominent and that’s information I like to keep to me, myself, and I. I wanted a way to present the samples to clients that was also functional. So I ordered a 5×7 sample album and got out my paper trimmer.

I basically turned one of the albums into a scrapbook so not only are clients able to hold an actual album sample in their hands (and see the cover fabric, page thickness, etc.) but they also can view color options and styles available to order.

I also bring a sheet with the different cover types listed under thumbnail images (front and back), and we both can mark down and discuss their cover choices in person before ordering. There’s a notes section at the end for them to write in and check off the titles of their favorite swatches. I used the album company’s online sample images to put the album order sheet together and I leave that sheet with my clients after I go. My clients place their orders online so this “try it before you buy it” is essential for my sales.

I’m working with a handful of photographers to add more guest posts to this site so it’s not filled with my ideas and photos/demos only. (Don’t miss Christina McCall Photography’s blog entry about her recent guest stint here.) If you’re interested in having your packaging, marketing ideas, or products featured please contact me (my e-mail is in the sidebar and is robyn @ this domain – or you can leave a comment). It’s always fun to share and “pay it forward“! Not to mention improve your SEO in the process… Win / win!