EWINT helping immigrants entrepreneurs in the United States….

Dear all, I have been out for a week resting. I took a week vacation to St. Louis MO with my family and it is about to end. But I have spend precious time with my family, slept many hours (that my body needed) and I’m now feeling fresh to go back to my normal and workaholic routine…

While I was gone I received and email that I was featured at the EWINT blog. They are so proud to share with their followers that we are going nationwide with Uno Alla Volta.

I have tremendous admiration and respect for the founder of EWINT Marga Fripp. She came to this country like many other immigrants with no English but a goal to succeed, help others and provide the best for her family.

Here is Marga who came to visit me and meet my little Tyler

With small funds Marga Fripp created Empowered Women International. EWINT has been recognized as one of the Best Small Non-Profits in the DC area (Catalog of Philanthropy). and recently Marga has been nominated to receive the Living Legends of Alexandria recognition.

I met Marga during the winter of 2006, at One Woman Story Shop. Her then headquarters and the space she created for artists. There she featured, helped and show work of artisans from around the world.

I remember she gave me so much information about where to sell my pieces, and started to talk to me about if I had a portfolio. Which I didn't. As of now I have three different portfolios. Over the years I learned how important is for an artists to carry its own portfolio.

Then Marga mentioned the Entrepreneur Training for Success Program which I did take and it helped me in many ways. I can still remember the play rolls time, those were based on how to present our work to different boutiques & galleries. A role that now has become so easy for me. But then I was scare of knocking on doors introducing my work. Building and having a professional looking portfolio gave me confidence to introduce myself to others, too.

The Entrepreneur Training for Success Program helps you in many different ways. If you are serious about your art work and want to take it to the next level. If you want to see there are other immigrants just like you trying to get into the business world and learning about marketing your art, selling your art, etc., etc. This program is for YOU!

This program helped me take off my career. And it is so amazing to know that I truly have a family of supporters. Even though we don’t get to see us as often as we want whenever we DO see us I feel like a daughter coming back to the EWINT town.

When I graduated from the Training for Success Program, I remember I was in tears. I wasn’t used to speaking in public and I had my husband there supporting me. Although I missed my whole family I wished they could have been there. Instead my new EWINT family supported me and applauded my work. And now speaking in public has become my favorite cup of tea. Specially if I can motivate others through my personal story and work.

That same year during the 2007 EWINT Christmas celebration I was called to received the 2007 Outstanding Artist Achievement Award. I was soooo surprised! I never thought that I could get an award in my new country and that my work could be recognized. All I did since I launched Evelyn Brooks Designs is work hard to bring more and more innovative designs inspired in my Peruvian Heritage with modern designs.

We have been blessed that the work of Evelyn Brooks Designs has been featured and recognized nationwide and internationally.

Still lots and lots to come 

Hasta la proxima…

Technorati Tags: ewint,empowered women international,marga fripp,training for success,entrepreneur training for success program,evelyn brooks,evelyn brooks designs

Going nationwide with Uno Alla Volta

During the Buyer’s Market of American Craft Winter wholesale show I did in Philadelphia,  I had the opportunity to meet with different buyers. Among them, I met the buyers of a company called Stony Creek Brands in North Branford, Connecticut. They stopped at my booth intrigued with my red & black seeds, the meaning behind them, and my craftsmanship. After looking over at my line they said they really liked it and they will place an order.

It was the 1st time I was asked to send my samples and then after reviewing them they would make a final decision about which pieces would make it to the catalog and the online store.

I did my research about who they were and learned about their company. I was thrilled to know that they are a very reputable company, very trusted, and have been serving many customers for quite sometime.

My experience working with the buyer’s since the beginning has been very professional. They have attended every concern, question, request in a timely manner. We communicate often until the final pieces were chosen and anytime. Most of the designs chosen by the buyers are exclusively available through Uno Alla Volta and you won’t find them anywhere else.

For more information visit www.unoallavolta.com, ….Order you catalog NOW

Counting the days for the Buyer’s Market of American Craft…

 

I must say you I have learned a lot since my 1st show during the BMAC Summer Show  of 2010. We worked hard and kept our fingers crossed that everything was going to be fine, and that we would get more wholesale orders so Evelyn Brooks Designs would be seen and purchased nationwide at the most prestigious museum shops, galleries and boutiques.

For those who don’t know what the Buyer’s Market of American Craft is, it is the premier show for American artists to showcase/sell their work. During the show which usually lasts 4 days, buyers from all over the United States and owners of the most prestigious museums, galleries of art and upscale boutiques meet and  place their wholesale orders.

The Buyer’s Market of American Craft (BMAC) has opened the door of many artists and has helped them bring their work to where you want your work to be at.

For example at my last show in Philadelphia, a lady came to me and said: Are you Evelyn Brooks? and I said: YES!? ohhhh it was Linda Marks the buyer from the National Museum of  Women’s in the Arts. We have spoke a lot on the phone but never had a chance to meet  in person and it is always good to see your client in person and built a personal relationship with them.

It is not easy for an artist to hit lots of galleries and museum shops during the 1st wholesale show (BE PATIENT) or perhaps you are the luckiest artist and your work hits the right clients and you make tons of sales on your 1st show…you never know…, I have heard it takes at least three shows to get more and more people interested in your work. Maybe I am wrong but my honest experience is that it hasn’t been bad but I still need to work hard especially because I have to explain that I work with natural seeds and mix them with silver and gold. Again I have learned a lot and that is what matter to me.

One of my biggest client now is Uno Alla Volta. Uno Alla Volta is an upscale boutique which sells through catalog and online. They represent artisans from all over the world. We will go nationwide beginning July 2011 with them. If I haven't’ been  last February at  the Philadelphia Show, I wouldn’t have met them and established a working relationship with them. I truly look forward to have them and new buyers that I can build a relationship with, for many years to come.

Getting ready for the show…YES it is exhausting! But I do this for living and I can’t wait to show my new collection to more buyers And it will also allow me and my work to be in more states in the United States. Thanks to the BMAC, Evelyn Brooks Designs can now be found in Philadelphia, North Carolina, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland.

Watch the  Preview of the 2011/2012 Jewelry collection on YouTube.

On Sunday July 10th, join me during the BMAC Collector’s day. It is the only day that the Buyer’s Market of American Craft will be open to public. BOOTH 2108

Don’t miss this opportunity! Stop by the Baltimore Convention Center.                     
Remember July 10th (1p-5p)                                                                        

a>

                   
For buyers it is open from Monday July 11th-13th (11a-6p) – BOOTH 2108

Send me all your positive energy and good wishes to have a wonderful show!

Sincerely

Nos vemos  

Technorati Tags: Buyer's Market of American Craft,BMAC,Uno Alla Volta,Baltimore Convention Center,Evelyn Brooks Designs,Moschik Jewelry Collection,Artists jewelry

Working 24/7 has its rewards in many ways…

Do I work 24/7 ….YES; unless we go somewhere where I don’t bring my laptop. But there is always my blackberry, right? And when you have your own business that is the nature of it. Being an entrepreneur has its up’s and down as in anything in life BUT I love doing what I do; I love being innovative and bringing new jewelry design ideas as well as services to my clients.

Media coverage is soooo important and it becomes more helpful for your business if the media coverage of your product featured is free of charge. We have paid in the past for advertising in different magazines and honestly it did not really bring us much business. Perhaps we didn’t advertise with  the right magazine, too.
Although I noticed that when there is a story written about yourself or a magazine asks you to write an article, etc., etc.…it is more beneficial for your company and gives you the opportunity to let people to know you better.

It was Sunday night June 26th and I got an email from Mr. Carlos Vasallo (CCO of LatinVision Media Inc.) telling me that I was selected to be featured in their Financial website as one of the most active and prestigious entrepreneurs within the US Hispanic Business Community. I read it more than once and I was thinking WOW Evelyn Brooks one of the most active and prestigious entrepreneurs in the Hispanic Community. What a compliment, huh!?

            Carlos Vasallo from LatinVision Media INC – Photo credit LatinVision

All I do is work hard, all I do is be professional in everything I do and I am sure there are people watching every step you take. Otherwise I am pretty sure  I wouldn’t hear from Carlos Vasallo, right? and other media outlets that have featured Evelyn Brooks Designs

Just like me I am sure there are many entrepreneurs that represent well their community and that are professionals in their business. To all of those my respect and my sincere appreciation for all their hard work. Besides someone watching every step of your business. God is always watching for us too. And I am sure he has a plan and we are in God’s hand every step of the way.

Without further do let me share with you LatinVision’s  fresh interview with Evelyn Brooks  available in Spanish & English.

http://hispanicentrepreneur.blogspot.com/ – English
http://emprendedoreshispanos.blogspot.com/ – Spanish

Hasta la proxima  

P.s.- Learn more about LatinVision Media INC and Carlos Vasallo  innovative work through the creation of Latin Vision.

Technorati Tags: LatinVision Media INV,Carlos Vasallo,Hispanic Entrepreneur,Evelyn Brooks Designs,Hispanic Community,Prestigious Hispanic Entrepreneur,Latin Vision New York