Taking care of business: Printaholics Presentation

Printaholics Website

I created the website for the store.

I wanted it to be very simple and plain so that the main focus of the customers could be the product.

When scrolling through the web page the first column would stay fixed while the other 4 would move up together.

Logo Design

As the purpose of our business is for things to be handmade and original, we decided a hand drawn logo would be most appropriate.

I did some research into some hand drawn type, the image above is some of the examples I found.

This was my first sketch. I kept the letters block like with kerning, inspired by when people must print their handwriting so that it can be read. I wanted to make something clean and clear.

The drop shadow dots were used to represent the half tones that are added to images you want to screen print. It also gives it more of a personal feel.

Finished logo.

We decided on combining two of our designs (Melissa designed the "aholics" you can see her full design process here), the script and the sans serif work well together 

This logo was created to be our smaller logo. That would be used on social media signs where the profile pictures are square. Printaholics a quite a long work so the P works as a simple minimal representation.

Cost Sheet

Using hypothetical figures I estimated how much we would need to set our wages at and what we would need price the products at to cover a years costs.

To start up the company I worked out we would need £4,723.28.

The yearly costs come to £2,803.28. This figure has removed things like the scanner and printer as they are one off purchases for the business not yearly ones.

Wages (720hrs a year for the two of us & £9 per hour)- £6,480

Years Profit- £676.72. This money will be spent to expand the company. Allowing us to print more pieces and spend more on advertising.

To begin with we believe that the business won't sell many items. We will spend the first year trying to advertise the company with the hope of gaining more customers. This is why with the profits we with that the business will make we think that this would be a sideline business until it kicks off.

Partnership Agreement

50/50 split, but either partners initial start up contribution won't be included in that, they can get back what they put in if the business fails or is dissolved. Any decisions made need both members of the partnerships consent.

Taking care of business - Manifesto

Printaholics Manifesto, written by Melissa.

Wrapping paper and gift packaging is often mundane and tedious. We feel a necessity to change the outlook of gift wrap. We believe it should be appreciated as artwork itself instead of simply torn through and disposable.

We aspire to consistently create unique and interesting artwork.

Beautifully crafted printed products are always our priority.

We wish for print to be everlastingly celebrated within art and design.

We believe in the charm of handmade products.

We strive to create intriguing gift wrap which will both excite and inspire the receiver of your gift.

Taking care of business - Printaholics

Our company name is Printaholics. Which I randomly came up with one night after watching an episode of "Workaholics." We both took a liking to it straight away because it is a fun name. We also thought is was important for the name to include to word "print" so that people knew what the company was about.

Taking care of business - Different kinds of businesses

For this project melissa and I decided to work in a small group. Here  you can find a link to melissa's blog where we researched the pros and cons of the different business structures.

Partnership - A partnership is owned by two or more people.
Sole Traders - They are owned and controlled by one person, however they may employ workers. They are usually individuals who provide a specialist service e.g. hairdressers, plumbers or photographers. As we are a group, and want equal control over our business this would not be suitable for us.
Limited Company - A limited company is responsible for its own right of everything it does and its finances. Any profits it makes is owned by the company, after it pays corporation tax.
Limited liability partnerships - A partnership where peoples personal assets are not at risk if a business fails and cannot pay its debts. Business and personal money are separate. This business stucture is only reccomended if you earn over about £25,000 a year. As we are a small company this is unlikely to happen in the early stages, so a Limited liability partnership is not suitable for our business.

A partnership would be best for us. 

Taking care of business - What our business will do?

The business will be an online print based store. Who for the early years rend to go and screen print. Then is the future hopefully we can buy our own screen printing equipment.

We want to make screen printed wrapping paper, gift tags and gift bags. The handmade feel of the gift wrap will make the wrapping just as appreciated as the present. The store will be online based to begin with and will hopefully have a store in Leeds city centre in the future if the website is successful and we would also like to have other artists design for us too. Most businesses fail in a year, so this is why it is best to be a web based at the beginning with room to expand.

Our client base? People who enjoy handmade quirky items and one off pieces that won't be seen everywhere. The type of people who keep a carrier bag or leaflet just because they like how it looks.  

We are yet to think of a name. A print related name would be most suitable.

OOh deer is a similar website to what we want to do. But our will be different because we specifically want to sell wrapping paper and gift bags.