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C A R E E R C R U S H

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If only we could all be a Brittany Fuson illustration! She shops, she exercises, she vacations, she has quite the social life, and she dresses like a BOSS every day. Ugh, #goals!

The creator herself is just as gorgeous and chic as the women she puts on paper, plus focused, creative, and business savvy. She turned her talents and passion into a fulfilling career, and is spilling her insight and advice with us here!

Creative entrepreneurs, read up!

I admire your job because every day you have the opportunity to create something pretty and original. What do you love most about your job?

I love a fresh start each day, the freedom to create something from scratch with no parameters, no specifics. I try to start with a “warm-up” sketch each day, and it gets my wheels turning and my creativity flowing before jumping into the more tailored projects. Those are often my favorite illustrations because they’re usually a true reflection of what’s inspiring me at that moment.

You earned a degree in Fashion Design, but decided to go into Fashion illustration. When did you make that decision and what helped influence it?

Fashion Illustration was actually one of the last classes I took in college and I was hooked the second I got started. I knew instantly I had more of a gift for illustration than design. While it might seem like the same thing, I prefer to just create head-to-toe looks and complete illustrations instead of focusing on designing a particular blouse, dress, skirt, etc. I feel like I have more freedom than I did when I was designing apparel.

What has been the biggest struggle or hurdle in starting your own business?

Something that’s a daily struggle is staying motivated. I might work on a bigger project for a few months, so I’m putting in work that isn’t going to come to fruition or be published for a while. It can raise questions of those around me of “what are you working on right now?” While I don’t always have immediate project releases, I’m always working on something! I try to let my work speak for me instead of justifying what I do day to day. I saw a quote a while back that makes the late nights and working on the weekends worth it – “Work until you no longer have to introduce yourself”

What would you say has been the biggest reward to being a business owner?

I think what makes work worth it is seeing, reading or hearing a client’s response to their custom project when they see it for the first time. While I don’t strive to be praised for what I do, hearing the joy and excitement when they see their completed illustration is something that will make your day. Working with brands and individuals is something I feel very lucky to do in bringing their visions to life in the BFP voice.

So you’re glad you did it?

Every day isn’t a fairytale, but everyday is unique and brings something completely different to my daily routine. It’s exciting to see what awaits me in my inbox or on social media. Hard work pays off, but hopefully this is just the beginning!

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to start their own creative business?

Start small and stay true to who you are. I did a few projects in the beginning where I sacrificed who I was and my true style. I didn’t stand my ground and completely caved to the client’s wishes. Those projects don’t feel like my brand and my voice, but I learned from those experiences. You occasionally have to turn down big projects if they’re not on brand for you. Learning to say no was a huge stepping stone. It’s still tough to do, but you simply cannot take on every project that comes your way.

What do you see next for yourself? Anything you would love to do in your career that you have not yet done?

I try to never plan too far in advance because you never know what opportunities are going to present themselves. I am always looking for ways to expand my product line, but I’m also interested in live illustrating at events. I’m hoping to transition into traveling more and doing events but also bringing the signature BFP look to more solution-based products. While the “fluff” products are great, I would love to develop more products that are usable and fill a need while also being the chicest version on the market!

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Shop, browse, admire, and gush over all of Brittany’s Illustrations on her site: BrittanyFuson.com

And follow her blog and Instagram for non-stop inspiration!

HANNAH_10 Hannah-Skvarla-Polaroid_large

Have you ever dreamt of starting a business that requires you to travel across the globe with one of your best friends, all while creating positive change in the lives of others?

Yes?

Same here!

Hannah Skvarla, Co-Founder of The Little Market, wife, and mama to her one-year-old daughter Liora, is living our dreams and her very own.

While attending the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), where she met her friend and then soon-to-be business partner, Lauren Conrad, Hannah’s ultimate career goal was to find a way to merge fashion and giving back. Lauren, previous star of MTV’s The Hills, and now NYT Best Selling author and designer of her own Kohl’s fashion line, shared the same interest. Together they joined forces to create The Little Market, connecting artisans from around the world to a broader clientele.

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“Starting The Little Market has allowed me to have my dream job!” Skvarla said in our interview last year. “I always loved design but didn’t know how to turn it into a career path. After traveling with Lauren, we decided to start to The Little Market to empower women around the world.”

Hannah, also a member of Human Rights Watch, divulges below on the rewards and challenges of working with friends, her future goals (because, yes, she wants to do more!), and her best advice and tips to staying organized while changing the world.

What is the biggest challenge of running your own business?

The biggest challenge is prioritizing my to-do list. Everything I put on my list is important. From writing customer thank you notes to planning our next trip to designing new products, I really care about everything I do.

Prioritizing is definitely a universal struggle! Do you have any tips or favorite tools that you use to help you?

Of course!

1) I love the app Asana. It’s an amazing task manager for group projects. I use it to organize my to-do list.

2) I try to complete quick tasks immediately rather than adding them to my to-do list.

3) I like to keep my email inbox as close to empty as possible. If an email simply requires a quick response I try to get to it immediately. For emails that require work, I often file the email in a folder and I add the task to my to do list.

You have the opportunity to work every day with one of your closest friends. What is the biggest reward of working with a good friend?

The best part of working with good friends is that it doesn’t feel like work. Our small team at The Little Market is very close and I really enjoy working with everyone.

What do you think is key to working together successfully?

For me, the key to working successfully with a friend is realistic expectations. It’s important to work together to determine each other’s role and responsibilities.

While traveling and shopping, what kinds of items or styles are you drawn to for TLM?

I am drawn to items that would make good gifts. I love buying gifts for my family and friends and I like to find items that other people can give as gifts.

What is your favorite part of your job right now?

My favorite part of my job is meeting with the talented artisans we work with. I love hearing their stories of how our purchases have improved their lives.

You’ve traveled all over the world and seen some of the hardest working women. What does it feel like when you come back to LA, where we have so much, after seeing such struggle and poverty?

Every trip reminds me that I am lucky to live in LA. We often take for granted the privileges that come with living in the US. Most women and girls around the world don’t have the opportunities we do. Each trip motivates me to work harder to help other women earn an income so they can create a better life for themselves and their families.

What’s your next goal or even a dream that you might have for the business?

I would love to open a brick and mortar store. All of our handmade products are truly works of art and I would love for customers to be able to see each piece in person.

What’s the best advice you can share with anyone dreaming of starting their own business?

I highly recommend working or interning at a company that does work you are passionate about. You won’t even realize how much you learn until you apply the knowledge to starting your business. Change is possible, it is ok to be idealistic!

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Interest and passion can spark a dream, but Hannah proves that dedication, desire, and gratitude will fuel it. Writing thank you cards to customers, appreciating her co-workers, and caring about the artisans she works with, only makes us admire her more!

If you aren’t familiar with The Little Market, read up on the amazing company here before you get your shop on! The work they are doing reaches beyond the artisans and into their communities. Then, go nuts! You’ll know that you’re getting quality, handmade, one-of-a-kind items, and more importantly, you’re supporting other hard-working ladies around the world.

all photos from:

@thelittlemarket | The Little Market on Facebook | TheLittleMarket.com

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