#seniordesignthesis

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Color studies for branding.

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Hemp Cord: A durable, natural, and (most importantly) biodegradable material

I've decided to make the hanging structure from hemp. While originally I wanted to avoid hemp because its aesthetic seemed to similar to the original macrame hanging planters, it is one of the most eco-friendly cord materials on the market. With the right vision, I can create a modern indoor hanging planter using the product's original materials.

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More Than An Expert

David Stokes // Winthrop University 

Expectations: After having Stokes as a professor my sophomore year, I knew I wanted to discuss my thesis with him. I really appreciate the way he is able to explain his ideas and his gift for looking at situations and projects in a completely different, unique light. Also, with his experience, I was fairly certain he would have some good advice to pass on to me. I was curious to hear what he would have to say about my thesis ideas and what new thoughts he would be able to plant in my head about it.

Results: I left my meeting with Stokes equipped with several new thoughts about my thesis. He seemed to be on board with my concept and how it would help people improve their environment. We discussed the packaging of my product and how to develop it in such a way that it also would be eco-friendly. With this in mind, I want to strive to make my end product have as little impact on the environment as possible. This will entail researching recyclable and biodegradable materials, as well as attempting to minimize the carbon footprint. To start moving more in this direction, I am reconsidering the main materials that I will be creating my planters with. The recycled glass bottles will be great, but I think I want to use biodegradable hemp or cotton cord instead of nylon to make the hanging structure.    

Most importantly, Stokes passed on the exact words of encouragement I needed to hear in order to keep on keeping on. No one ever really mentions this in class, but this type of working lifestyle can certainly wear on your well-being, physically and emotionally. Stokes helped me turn my perspective around, so that instead of focusing on the stressful aspects of the process, I can now view the process as an adventure in which I get to create something that I am really excited about. However, he explained that the stress is simply a reality, but that I can plan my production accordingly so that it will have less of a negative impact on my life. From here on out, I will be working on my thesis everyday, even if it is just for a few minutes. Having it constantly on my mind will keep me from lulls and improve my thesis development. I also plan to keep a journal both on and offline of my daily interactions with my thesis, the physical and the emotional ones. Lastly, Stokes has offered to stay along side me while I continue through to the end of my thesis, not only as a professor to give his input, but also as a trainer of sorts to keep me moving along. I received more advice from Stokes than I even expected, and I look forward to learning more from him as my thesis project develops.

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A Creative E-commerce Expert

Amanda Wright // Wit & Whistle // witandwhistle.com

Expectations: I have followed the Wit & Whistle blog for a few years now, and when starting this project it crossed my mind. Amanda Wright blogs and sells her own creations through this site. I wanted to talk with her because I am pursuing a similar venture. I hoped to learn about how she succeeded away from Etsy and how she juggles all aspects of running a small business on her own. I was not sure if she would be able to respond, but I am very glad she did.

Results: Amanda was able to point me to some valuable information regarding the start of a new business via an older post on her blog that discussed just that. I learned that Amanda started out with a graphic design degree, started working for a firm after college, but eventually decided to start her own business to follow her own creative endeavors. She actually started out selling her products in an Etsy shop. As her brand developed more and her customer customer base grew, Wit & Whistle branched away from Etsy onto its own website.

Amanda also had some great advice for how to be successful on Etsy or when starting your own business. She stressed that photography of your products is a key to improving sales. She suggested to use only natural lighting and keep a consistent set-up and background in each photo. Amanda said that when starting out, start small. Doing things on your own can help you save money on the front end, which helps in the long run. She started out printing, trimming, and packaging her product all herself. Lastly, she offered words of encouragement, saying that starting a business is a process; it does not happen all at once; and that the important thing is to take the first step and get going.

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A Succulent Expert

Linda // Succulent Oasis // etsy.com/shop/succulentoasis

Expectations: I hope to not only create hanging planters but also to sell them them with plants ready to display inside. I knew I would need to talk to an expert on plants as well as an expert on plant retail. After stumbling upon Succulent Oasis on Etsy, I decided to contact the store owner, Linda, because she seemed to share the same love of plants as I have. I asked her specifically about how to use Etsy as a marketplace, how to handle plant life as a product, and about plant care. I was not entirely sure if she would be able to offer me the type of information I wanted to learn, but I thought it would be a good start. As it turned out, she was a great resource.

Results: Linda was very helpful with all questions I had about plant life. I learned that it is best to ship plants bare root, or not in soil, wrapped in newspaper. The newspaper cushions them and keeps them moist while traveling. I was also given a great set of care instructions for succulents. Lastly, Linda was very encouraging about the use of Etsy as a marketplace. She actually has two successful shops on Etsy, both which sell plant products. She said that is has taken some time, but both are very successful and have even built up repeat customers. Having talked to Linda about plant life and Etsy, I have decided two things. I need to give myself a better length of time to focus on the packaging and marketing part of this project. The packaging will be vital to successful shipping, so it needs to be a major focus. I also am now thinking that I would like get my Etsy shop up and running maybe a little sooner than planned. I think the sooner I get my products out there, the sooner I’ll realize what will work best to market them.

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A Marketing Expert

Dr. Stephanie Lawson // Winthrop University 

Expectations: I wanted to talk to Dr. Stephanie Lawson because she a part of the Marketing Department here at Winthrop, and I thought she would have some good advice for the business side of my thesis. Going into this meeting the Dr. Lawson, I expected to learn more about the marketing methods and some basic textbook resources that would help me through my thesis process. I received so much more.

Results: Dr. Lawson was a great marketing expert. She was very interested in my idea to create, brand and sell planters. We began by discussing my project and my plans to sell it. Dr. Lawson thought Etsy would be a great site to start selling my product on, as it is easy to use and is the center for all things handmade. She helped me work through how I can price my product, showing me how to figure how much each one will cost me to produce and how to price it make a profit. We also discussed how to create a business plan, and she offered to help me work through mine as I write it. I also learned that there is Small Business Development Center at Winthrop that could be a helpful resource as I complete my thesis. Overall, Dr. Lawson was very encouraging, enthusiastic, and a great resource

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Reap the Benefits

A few sources describing how it is beneficial to bring plants into your living environment...

On Huffington Post: Spring Cleaning: Bring Plants Inside the Home

"Indoor plants can enrich our lives in many ways. One of the benefits is that they can help bring our stress levels down and put us in a better mood."

- Sally Augustin

On Rodale News: Pot a Plant for a Happier Household

"A recent review of the psychological benefits of indoor plants published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that our leafy friends can boost mood levels, reduce fatigue, improve reaction time, lower stress, and even boost pain tolerance."

-Leah Zerbe

On GreenSpaces blog and via TED: How to Grow Your Own Fresh Air With Plants

Get the details about how this company found that there is a 42% probability of increasing blood oxygen by 1% if one is inside their building for 10 hours, as a result from their use of indoor plants. 

On Mother Nature Network: 15 Houseplants for Improving Indoor Air Quality

With input from NASA's study of houseplants as a way to purify the air in space facilities, here are 15 to consider.

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ORIOLE & TWINE

Currently at the top of my list as a brand name.