Can we make this breadline more “fun”?
When Matt and I started to mumble about this site, this company, and this collective over our plates of al pastor burritos, the economic climes were a bit…er… more “robust”, as the pin-stripe class may say. In an increasingly diversifying market that asks for advertising and content of ever-more-niche markets, we thought there was a seam we could take advantage of, since we’re fairly young and cool and we know how to silkscreen and code and we own cool sneakers. And then, as we all know now, The Biggest Downer of A Dinner Conversation Evar happened in September of this year, and every day since, the prospects look a little grimmer.
The fun part of trying to do something weird and slightly risky is that it makes you seem like a bad-ass, and it was was so when Matt and I would discuss our idea for an infinitely expandable collective of creative souls that could handle whatever request was put to us by our clients. People seemed genuinely excited for us and what we were going to embark upon. Not so anymore. When I tell people that I’m part of a start-up in this economy, they stare at me with a look reserved for members of a leper colony, and, placing a gentle hand upon my shoulder, say something along the lines of “Well, maybe you can sell your computers for scrap when you need food. You know, for eating?”
I remain pretty upbeat, though, for a few reasons, all of which, thankfully, are also reasons we felt the idea was a smart one in the first place, hobo-based economy or no. It’s all about being the Little Guy in a recession.
- The Heavies Are Slow Punchers As someone who’s worked for larger firms and agencies that deal with huge clients, I know how nice it is to have a holiday party with an ice luge. I also know how ponderous and expensive these companies can be to run, and as a result, how much more they need to charge clients for what they do. In the past, going to large firms for content and advertising carried with it inherent benefits, like relationships with printers, access to the highest tech equipment, and the deepest rolodex. However, like everything else in this krazy Interweb life now, the advantages for them have severely fallen away. More top notch talented creatives are freelance than ever. With a few grand, small firms have access to identical software and tools. And with POD and digital printing, as well as the depth of resources out there to freelance web massagers… I guess the big firms can impress you with leather couches, but we have a pretty sweet beanbag chair you can sit on. Just kidding.
- Jugbands Are Back In What’s nice about operating a business in lean times is that it asks you to cut costs yet still be effective, and hence, forces creativity. There’s nothing better than being forced into an interesting position and having to think your way out. It’s where are the great ideas come from. And maybe this is the New England Puritan in me, but I think this is good for us. For far too long, we’ve rolled the silk carpet out ahead of us and tramped our muddy footprints all over it: it’s time to get back to burlap. That’s basics: fundamentals of good design, good business, good social responsibility, good government, and less screwing around. It’s time to work, and lean times rewards the hard workers.
- It’s All Relative I’m under no illusions that these will be a few hard years, but I also believe that there is no better a crucible for a strong, long-lasting business to be forged in. I bet it was pretty sweet setting up a company in 1998: you had more foozeball tables than you knew what to do with. But I can’t say I trust too much the advice of someone who started then, and got out before it was bad, because it seems like a simpler task. Business and individuals who choose to (or are forced to) make a go of it in these times will be the pinch, but it will also make them that much stronger with the balance sheets return to normal. And what a gift a normal economy will seem like.
