stINQers Candle Co. - Building a Brand or Spreading Positive Vibes

StINQers Candle Co. isn’t your average Candle Company. What makes us different? Well, to put it bluntly.. we stINQ! We hand make our candles with 100% soy wax, pure essential oils, and a positive attitude to give our candles that extra good stINQ! We at stINQers believe that life is meant to be lived. We travel to find beauty in nature and cultivate those experiences into scents that revive memories of summers past. Whether it’s hiking in The Redwoods, or sunning on the lake, stINQers is here for you. Our soy wax creates longer lasting, cleaner burning candles with a large scent throw to keep your #endlesssummer going.

Clean burning, 100% Soy wax, loaded with vitamin E and essential oils.

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     Building a brand just gets me going, it allows my mind to wander and my creativity to flow. For me it is much more than an icon or logo, it's a story both visually and emotionally. This means building a brand takes time, research and the understanding of what your ultimate goal is. I love creating and finding a meaning behind a brand. Building the content that drives it. From creating brand guidelines to setting up, photo and video shoots to promote your service/product. 

The ultimate goal of any brand is to get noticed, to drive sales and to grow. Investing in a solid foundation is key to any building or structure. Hence the reason it is called "Building a Brand".

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I originally started stINQers Candle Co. as an example of what I can do with brands. becoming passionate (as I tend to do), the brand took hold and started to grow. More and more candle sales every month. Creating content is always fun and building a brand around positive vibes and the idea of doing something good for someone else is refreshing everytime you work on it. What started as a portfolio piece turned into more of a business. In some ways a therapy tool, always something to make you smile.

THE INSPIRATION STATION

     So where does your inspiration come from...? What is inspiration? What is the difference between stealing and being inspired by? Questions, every creative will continuously ask themselves or at least should be. Being inspired is truly unique for each and every person, as really anything can be inspiring. Personal life events, or reminders of good memories, colors and music, seeing the way others create etc...

Being inspired can be tricky though, when is it "copy-cat" or too close to someone else's work? Especially in the visual world we live in today. It was in a book once, something like this...

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is
that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.”

     For me inspiration comes from staring into the ocean and thinking about all the life I can't see. Music puts me into the correct mood depending on the style of work I am going for. You want something dark from me... I can handle some black metal. Being someone that is passionate about action sports and the outdoors, I am constantly being pushed and inspired. In fact the first time I realize what graphics were, was in the eighth grade flipping through the old "CCS" and "CSE" skate catalogs. Wanting to own every deck, simple because the graphics were so on point. They spoke to us and connected to our punk rock thoughts and emotions. 
 

FLAMEBOY... YOU'RE BURNED INTO MY HEAD!

For me I try to create things that make me laugh and think, I constantly worry that I am creating something that someone already has and would hate to look as if I had copied something... Though I have been accused of it twice! It was a pretty hard thing to swallow as I knew I would never claim someone else's work. I have way to much respect for creatives for one, on top of knowing 100% what the artist struggle is like. Nothing I said was convincing enough and in the end I felt like a turd, just because someone "thought" I cheated. I hated that feeling and truly these days it's what drives me to be that much better. People will accuse you out of jealousy or their own inner battles, try to claim they did it first, in the end turn it into what drives you. Focus on you and doing you, do what drives you and create things that inspire others. I am an artist of over 20 years and I still trace at times, I constantly focus on understanding how others created a piece in order to make myself better. When someone copies my work I take it as a pat on the back, I am obviously doing something right! 

GOOD designers lost the BAD attitude

     As a designer with around 15 years experience working with clients both large and small. Being an Intern, In-House designer, and a Creative Director a time or two. I have have come across my share of problems that get most feathers pretty ruffled, and for good reason too! You know those times that make you feel left out on a limb, or feeling like a tool. I have been there, many-a-times! I have experienced that frustrating feeling of disbelief on so many occasions.

     Don't you fret little friend, it will never change... it's just part of the game. Let me share with you how you can deal with it. It is not meant to discourage you from the path of being a professional designer, but rather to remind you that you're not alone.

     First and foremost you are in control of your mind. 
Look yourself in the mirror and repeat after me, 
"SUCK IT UP BUTTERCUP" 
Laugh at yourself and everything will be all better.
well... Not really... But it's a great start!

     I have literally showed up for interviews with brands that dominate in their industries, to wait in the lobby for 45 minutes after my scheduled interview time, which I was 30 minutes early to already. To then not even meet with the person/s I was supposed to interview with. Talk about a serious let down. I had rearranged my day, pushed paying client work to the side and even drove  an hour and a half to the headquarters to make this happen. The feelings of excitement that quickly burst like a bubble in a cactus field. It sucked and I had to drive home holding back tears of straight frustration. Questioning my every word, my attire and posture... everything.
     Always remember you are interviewing them as well, they might not be a good fit for you and that's ok. At the end of the day you need to be happy where you work. Things happen and it can be out of everyones control... Roll with the punches

     I have spent 11 months on projects lead by a "VP of Marketing" that was never around, and changed project goals each time he did come around. It's like working in a circus ring. In the end you just have to put your all into the project, do what you know is your best and leave it at that. Fingers will be pointed and blame will be pushed, you can always laugh inside thinking that's three more pointed back at you. Honestly though stay true to what I call the C-SQUARED... Be confident in knowing you are more than competent to finish the task at hand. {Confident and Competent = C-SQUARED}

     Don't even get me started on the non paying clients, or the fake internships, the offer of ownership to something that doesn't even exist yet. The salesman telling you how your kerning is off, or even the project you're supposed to do for free so they can see your work... (portfolio?).

I know I have missed a ton, please comment below and share your stories, would love to learn from you as well. 

     You see the life of a designer is not all sparkles and pretty pictures. Their is real life shit that you have to learn to deal with in order to make it in this industry. Above all you have to get a thick skin, for me it's about keeping a smile and just doing what I can to make the client happy. Keep a hockey puck around with the words "Harden up Fucker", sometime I need a reminder too.

You have to understand that opinions are like a$$holes... everyone's got em, they all stink and you can't run away from em! (lol, I added that last part!!). Seriously though, you have to be open to critiques, even by people without the ability to clearly explain what they do or do not like. Know that you can not possibly make everyone happy and that's ok. It will be the one of the hardest thing to face-off with during your design career. It will also be what makes you a better designer, it will make you dive deep to be the best you. Choose to loose the bad attitude towards the unexpected design life fails and you will go much farther in your career. 

A wise man once said "Don't worry, Be Happy!"

History of Gardena, CA

Currently calling the Southbay my home here in sunny California, more specifically Gardena, CA.
Hawaiian food can be found on many corners with some of the best "Loco Moco" I have ever had. Life seems to slow down just a little bit here in Gardena. Gardena has welcomed us with open arms and is truly an amazing place.  #hawaiilove

Never thought I would find neighbors like my good friend Paul. At 70 years old, he keeps me on my toes and is always ready for a BBQ or a good chat. He watches my house whenever I am gone, races me to the trash cans to bring em back in, and grabs packages off the porch, to bring them to me at the Jeep as soon as I get home. I really have come to love this guy, he is just truly a special kind of person still kickin' it here in LA. #respect

I am a craftsman and designer by trade, for me getting to know the history of places helps me better understand the people of the area. It helps for me to feel more at home and in place, settled in so to say. I can focus myself into my work, but the bad vibes of an area will find it's way into my work. I need that peaceful, calming place to go home to and Gardena provided that for me here in LA #home