Tell us about Quirky Bird Designs
Quirky Bird is a web and graphic design firm for small to medium sized businesses. We provide content sites, ecommerce and community websites with fun, unconventional designs and flat rate pricing.
Company website: quirky-bird.com
What inspired you start your business?
I owned my own boutique designing gear and clothing for kids and needed a site! I cracked open photoshop and dreamweaver and started tinkering around and enjoyed it so much. I had a friend who needed a site so I helped her, then she sent a friend to me who then told her message board and it all started there!
How long has Quirky Bird Designs been in business?
I’ve been designing sites since November of 2004.
What did you do in your past work life?
I waited tables for years and years through college, then opened an online baby boutique.
What is your ideal workday like?
My ideal workday: wake up at 8, check email and sip my java. From 9 till 1130 or so I answer emails and take care of scheduled calls with clients, then break for lunch with my family. Afternoon is my quiet work time, I like to hide up in our office and work on designs until 5 when I break for the night.
What have been some of your major successes and challenges?
Working from home with my two girls has been a huge challenge for me. Sometimes it’s hard to be on the phone and focus on the art I’m creating. Also, for a long time I was the only person working for Quirky Bird. To be the only one who can help my clients is a stressful thing!! I want them to be taken care of promptly but I still have so much work to do, so I’m very thankful that I have such a great team helping me and my clients.
Major successes – I’m #2 on google for hip web design and have climbed 2 pages (from #44 to #22) for boutique web design in only a few weeks. I’ve gotten fantastic feedback from my clients and they’ve been so great to recommend me to so many people. We’re also booking four months in advance, which is so amazing for us!
On those impossible days, what motivates you to keep going?
I really love my job. Really, truly, and deeply. So even on the days when I’m having a hard time, I’m still happy because I love what I do! I’m helping people, being creative, and I own my own business, who could ask for more?
Do you have a motivational quote?
Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
If there was one piece of advice you could give to your children about running a successful business, what would it be?
Love what you do and take care of your clients/customers. I owe my success to my fantastic clients!
What is your balancing secret in managing a business and family?
My secret is my relationship with my husband. He is so supportive and helpful – I couldn’t do this without him!
Do you have a favorite business tool and/or resource?
I really love istockphoto.com for stock images for home pages and dynamicdrive.com for fun fancy coding goodies!
What advice would you offer to aspiring mompreneurs?
Find a niche for your business. Figure out what’s going to set you apart! Choose a good name, get a good domain name. If you’re primarily going to be working online make sure your website is amazing! It’s the first impression people get of you and the more they like it the more likely they’ll be to buy and buy often. And just as I would tell my kids, love what you do and take care of your people — it will come back to you in a positive way and motivate you to be the best that you can be!
What is next for Quirky Bird Designs?
Our little family is growing as we welcome an administrative assistant next month. She’ll be helping out in so many ways, we’re so happy to have her! After that, who knows, the sky’s the limit! We’re planning on keeping our business small, I love designing and don’t want to move into management.
Your two cents sales pitch?
Whether you’re starting from the ground up or redesigning your site, we’re here to help you create your web presence with style! All of our work is a collaboration with you to create a site that you love, and we won’t stop until you love it. Unlike other designers, we have different standards and practices that focus around your needs and our customer service. We do not have any hidden or extra fees, nor do we charge hourly rates. We’re a “What you see is what you get” company, providing you with beautiful design, friendly and helpful customer service, and just about anything that can be connected with your site we will help take care of for you — all included in the price of your website.
