2023 Annual Planing Retreat
This past month we got the opportunity to meet for our Annual enCourage Co. Planning Retreat. It has been a highlight of owning a business. I am a dreamer and a starter, and an entrepreneur. So sit me down with a blank sheet of paper and a pen and I am juggling visions and plans and new ideas all at once. It is a blessing and a curse. Focus is also a valuable asset which is why I enjoy and need this retreat time.
Our time consisted of 3 sessions over a period of two days… with some fun sprinkled throughout. Yes, delicious breakfast and pedicures were involved. And a lot of planning. We asked a lot of questions…
What were the highs of last year?
What were the lows?
What do we continue to pursue?
What do we need to let go of?
How do we implement this plan?
When do we task each project?
We started broad and zeroed in on our plan of attack. It is good for me to allow myself to dream big and then narrow in on what makes sense for the business. I find that if I don’t allow myself to dream I can be distracted by the what ifs I didn’t explore. Allowing myself the time and space to get them out of my head and then analyze what we focus on has been so helpful for me in my business journey.
So where is enCourage Co. going this year? What’s in store. First of all, this is so vulnerable to tell you our dreams and plans. It’s putting it out there for others to have access to, pick apart, tear down (be kind), judge. BUT, it’s also an opportunity to let you in. To see what happens behind the scenes, and to offer accountability to myself to work hard for the vision I put out there.
Main priorities:
1. Design Services
I have some truly amazing clients. I am grateful to be working with them and that they trust me with their brands. This branch of eCo. looks like serving my current retainer clients beyond their expectations and executing on one-off projects that arise throughout the year. Another facet of design is Minted challenges. I have been a member of Minted since 2012, but haven’t been serious about it until this year. Minted supports independent artist through design challenges. If you haven’t visited the site, please do yourself a favor and go get lost in the dream design and beauty. I hope to direct you to some of my designs in the future.
2. Lettering Workshops
This year we will offer in–person workshops (not monthly like we have in the past), offering private events (let us know if you’d like to host your own event), and pursuing creating an ONLINE Lettering COURSE! Get excited, I definitely am… and scared, and overwhelmed, and doubting… but mostly excited!
3. Wholesale Products
Uplifting good(s) - Creating new lines of cards and products, and expanding my wholesale relationships. I’d like to start locally, and build quality relationships and expand from there. This will be a steady long game to play. If you know of shops that would be a great fit for our brand, please reply to this email or on social media and let me know! I would appreciate your insight. I already have a running list and it’s growing.
4. Surface Pattern Design
Surface pattern design is a new avenue for me, but I am beyond excited about the opportunities. Surface design is the creation or application of artwork specifically for printable product surfaces or digital products. Think wallpaper, fabric, notebooks and paper products, clothing… anywhere you see a pattern/artwork on a product that is a surface pattern designer behind it. Now that you know, you will see it everywhere! I am excited to explore my style and curious about where that takes me. I’ve implemented a rhythm of creating each month and hope to have 30 patterns by the end of the year! Can she do it?! We’ll find out together.
5. Licensing my artwork
A lot of this will be with surface pattern design, but also lettering and design assets.
6. Recurring Offerings
This includes ready-to-order canvases online, selling the enCourage Script font on other platforms, the online lettering workshop course, and a printable shop (instant downloads).
This 2023 Planning Retreat has me feeling…
Excited
Motivated
Steady
Focused
Hopeful
I know this season will require:
Hard work
Diligence
Consistency
New habits
Belief in myself
I’m up for it! Are you ready to follow along? Which category are you most excited to watch unfold? Get ready to watch me try, and fail, and get curious, and try some more, and hopefully have a few wins! If any of these offerings are something we can help you with, please reach out. We are currently booking for design services 2 months out and we would love to talk more about design needs you may have.
Thank you for making it through and your support! It does not go unnoticed.
Here’s to 2023! Getting curious and making it happen.
