When your business is creativity can creativity get in the way of business? We're in the process of planning two future special issues that will fly under the BeadStyle banner in the next 9-10 months.
I can't really reveal the topics yet (though I'm dying to), but special issues are something we've done well in the past, but as beading gets more popular, the newsstand gets more crowded. So our instinct is to do something that at it's core what BeadStyle does best, but is presented a bit differently and really stands out from the competition.
If we present it the way we have in the past (one piece of beautiful jewelry centerstage on the cover, a few little images on the side) our special publications, like out issues will sell well. If we do something a bit unexpected, a bit less "BeadStyle" in presentation we might do great, or we might confuse people and tank. So what do we do? Take a creative risk to shake up the status quo, or be happy with our secure — if predictable — place?
How often do you risk something to raise the bar and shoot for a bigger payday? Have you ever made some spectacularly funky jewelry rather than what you know will sell? Was it a success? Even if it wasn't, are you happy you did it? Or does your businesswoman trump your artist (just a bit) when the chips are down?