Editing The Pen Addict 656/transcript (section)

== Challenges in Ink Production and Packaging ==

* And I reached out to a, an ink maker who does the inks for me. Cause I don't, I don't make the actual liquid. I just bottle at home and they were just very, very easy to work with.
* And we went back and forth on the colors of samples and everything. And the biggest challenge of course is sourcing your bottles and like, you know, designing the packaging and like measuring and the labels. And that was probably the most challenging thing out of the whole project. But also the most fun. So yeah, now I have my, my three little inks. I do have like a, just like a love hate relationship with my current labels, just because, you know, between us, you and I, and the listeners, I was kind of rushing that as well. And I had to work with what I had, you know, I, I doodled with the inks and then I went to the library to scan the, the, the doodles, but then the colors didn't come out correctly, but I didn't have Photoshop to edit the colors. So like, it is what it is, or, or I will sit on these inks for like three more months because I had the liquid, I had the bottles, I had everything. I was just waiting on the art. And to be honest, I was very inspired by Birmingham pen companies labels. I wanted to have something as fun as what they're doing with every color has a different, just beautiful image. But I was like, I don't think I can afford that right now. So I'll do it on my own. Yeah. It will be what it will be. And, you know, I, I will forgive myself. And then later on, I will probably do a, a relaunch of the inks with a different label, but I just wanted to get them out there because they were, they were just too good to just be sitting. They really are. They, they really are. And I was sitting here thinking like, number one, this is the, the joys of running a small business. Right. But like, you know, just for you to put out that ink bottle and I'm sure I'm going to leave something off. Right. Like you have, you have the ink, right? You have the liquid. You have to source the bottle. You have to source the box. You have to make sure that they fit together. There's a label on the bottle. There's a color sticker for each color. And then there's, um, artwork for the boxes. And then you have to figure out how to ship them. And this is just for one ink. Right. And then you just, so like, and I'm sure I've left some, one of those pieces out, but like. You forgot the cap. Oh, and the cap. The cap is separate. Yeah. You got it. And you got to make sure, oh, does the cap seal correctly? When I shipped these across, like, like all of this stuff to get one ink out and like, like, why can't you go faster, Eric? Why?
* No, believe me. I was so like just getting frustrated because when I finally had the, the actual liquid, the ink at home, I was like, okay, I'm ready to go. Let me order my, my bottles. And by that time I had already sampled different bottles, different, you know, so I went to order them and they were back ordered. So I'm like, well, here we go. That was in May of last year. And then three months go by and I still haven't heard anything about like when they're going to get new, like stock. And I finally reached out to them. Like, Hey, will you guys let me know? Like, do you anticipate having these again? Or should I just look for something else? They're like, oh no, yeah, they're here. So I somehow they didn't, they didn't tell me, they didn't let me know. So I ordered the bottles and then it was another month of waiting for me to actually do it because everything was here again. And thankfully in December, I had like a whole week off because each color took me four or five hours to fill package label and get ready to, to send out, to ship out. Yeah. So we're going to have a link in the show notes, all the Amarillo vibes stuff. So tell me last thing and then we'll, we'll, we'll, we'll close it out here pretty soon, but I got to know about the Amarillo vibes colors and like the name, the naming, like, because like, this is just some of the coolest names. So what was the, what was the whole concept behind here? And y'all will see this in the, in the show notes. I will have this in the, in the show notes. Y'all need to go check this out. Well, thank you, Brad. Yeah. So I knew I, again, with, with working with this graphic design team in Mexico, I have a whole, uh, manual with my colors, with my branding. So I have my primary color palette, which is the, the mascots colors. And then I have a secondary color palette, which I use randomly on my, uh, Instagram. So I looked at the first color palette, the, at the mascot. I'm like, well, I think I want colors of, of each of those, those colors. I need inks in those colors. So that was the inspiration, basically the, the, the mascot. And then, you know, I still didn't have names for them. I was coming up with the concept and I talked to a few friends. They're like, what if, what if you do a beach? What if you do something? I'm like, no, like that's just not vibing with me. So eventually I started using Amarillo vibes to describe this little mug that I'm showing you that I probably show a lot of my Instagram as well, which is full of stickers. And I was like, these are Amarillo vibes. This is like the vibe of my store. So eventually through that year, just when I figure out, uh, I came out, came up with this Amarillo vibes concept and the concept turned out to be the mascot. And so I just, all of the names relate back to what he's wearing, his little pants, his little shoes, what I call a belt, which is the equator. Cause I didn't want to call the equator. So instead we have teal waistband, right? For the waist and a blue suntan for, for the globe and orange kicks, which I should have, I should have worn my, uh, orange kicks today. I wore them yesterday. I should have done that today. And then we have toasty joggers, which is just brilliant. Like it's just freaking great. They're fun. I mean, you get to make something and then smile about it and have fun doing it. Exactly. That's a lot of it. Right. Like I, that's the way I feel about it. Product creation and design and things like that and getting to have fun. And also, you know, Oh, by the way, we're going to, we would like to sell some of the products too. Right. Let's be clear, be clear. Like where, you know, we'd like to sell some too, but it's just, I just love everything about what you're doing at Amarillo. So what's, uh, what's next? What have you been working on for a year already? That's like another year out, like any, any, any fun stuff. You don't have to spill all the beans, but you know, if I can pry something out of you, I'll take it. Honestly. Yeah. Well, I have had my notebook designs for two years now. Yeah. I'm just waiting for that to settle and just to let's find some common ground here. What are we doing? Well, you know, we can do a whole episode on, on just like on just paper and like building a notebook. Yeah. So that's, that's sitting in the background. I have that ready to go. Um, but I think the next thing I need to work on is just washi tapes just because I already have a second. Like ink line working. I, my samples arrived. Oh, okay. But I just need to test them out and give some feedback and whatever. And I think I also have a concept settled for that. So I look, that'll be more toward the end of the year, probably. Oh, and I have a Christmas ink in mind, but I only have the name. I don't have the color yet.
* That's where I'm at. People want my next ink. I was like, I've got some good names, but I haven't settled on the colors. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, if anybody has like Christmas ink suggestions, a Latin American stationery shop, let me know because I can give you the name. The name is the least Navidad.
* I think it goes perfectly with what I'm trying to do here. Yes. Which is like fun stuff. Exactly. But I just, I just need an ink color. Like, what would that look like? You know, I don't want to repeat what everybody has done for Christmas or any existing colors. Um, we just don't want to add more. We just want to enhance our stationery. Right. Exactly. Exactly. So I love it. All right. So last thing, uh, show schedule. You, uh, are you doing Chicago again this year? Yes. Yes. So in actually a week and a half, um, I will be doing the Chicago stationery fest. Oh, right. Yeah. Yeah. That'll be my first show. And then I have the Chicago pen show. I have this in Louis pen show. I have San Francisco for the very first time and then Orlando. So I'll be booked and busy this year. I love it. I love it. So I got to figure out where I'm going to see you out on the road, man. That's not going to Chicago. Not coming to Chicago this year. Um, just cause I have a crazy, crazy busy April leading into that. So I'll, I'll be just like toast. I'll be toasty joggers. Uh, then, um, Orlando is very much in play right now. Probably not San Francisco. Um, but I will be up in your area in August at the, uh, Atlas, uh, sidewalk event. Uh, well, I may see you here then. So you might see me before then. Uh, but you will see me online for sure. And everyone can find you online anywhere you want to shout out besides the shop. And I'll have you on Instagram, all the links in there. Anything else you want to shout out? Um, I have a little YouTube channel that I like to every once in a while post a little video. I mean, they may not be the best quality, but I entertain myself and may entertain a few others. So there's that. Yeah. Awesome. Awesome. So I'll have all those links in the show notes. Uh, and that's a wrap for this week's episode. You're the best, Eric. I miss seeing you in person, but it's always wonderful to talk to you. So until next time, say goodbye, Eric. Goodbye, Eric.
* Bye.

[[Category:Podcast Transcripts]]
[[Category:The Pen Addict Podcast Transcript]]