TheDailyScrapper:
Why do you choose to open a digital scrapbook store?
Sherrie:
I started designing shortly after I started scrapbooking digitally. It's just something that I really, really like to do. At first I applied at somebody else's store and sold my products there for a while. In terms of opening my own store, I was looking to have more control over tracking where my visitors were coming from, access to real-time sales reports and the ability to compare data to analyze what sort of advertising and marketing efforts worked and what didn’t. In the store that I was selling, I didn't have that accessibility.

My husband happens to be a web application programmer so there was an opportunity for me to open my own store with his help. In terms of a digital scrapbooking, sometimes there isn’t as much revenue generated in the industry as there could be in others, but I really enjoy the community

aspect, getting to know the people and I really enjoy designing. It's been a lot of fun. Building a creative team and getting to know each of the team members individually has been wonderful. It’s also been that same rewarding process now that we have other designers in the store. When I started out, it was just me in the store. Now we have six other designers and I enjoy the experience of getting to know them personally and professionally as well as helping them along the way. The designers and creative team have become like family to myself and one another.

TheDailyScrapper:
How did you get to the name 'Pixel Gypsy'?
Sherrie:
That was the name I chose when I very first started designing. I tried to think of something a little bit unique. I'm kind of an eclectic person. I like unique things, unusual things, and that's where I think the idea for 'Gypsy' came from. 'Pixel' came obviously from digital nature of the business. It popped in my head one day and I thought, "I like that. That captures me."

TheDailyScrapper:
Tell us more about what it really takes, what's the difference of just having the idea of selling your products, and then actually getting it done, running and working?
Sherrie:
In terms of designing you have to have a tough skin. You have to be able to look at what you are designing from a different angle, not just from that of your personal taste. You have to look at what the audience is looking for, what they want, what they need. In terms of running a store, you have to commit yourself to customer service, to think about what kind of service that you would want from a store. I do look at it from a very professional angle because I think if I treated running the store too much like a hobby, it wouldn't work. I need to dedicate myself to it, like I would if I were to enter an office, 9 to 5, working for somebody else. Just because I happen to run a business from of my home doesn't mean that it isn't a business.

TheDailyScrapper:
Did you have any background or previous professional experience that could help you set the store and management up?
Sherrie:
I didn't have any professional designing experience. I am self taught in Photoshop. As far as the business aspect of it goes, I've done direct sales in the past and went to college for business and related subjects. We have a very strong interest in business around here. It's something that runs in my side of the family. My father was always in business for himself and my grandfather was as well. My grandmother is an economics major. My husband is also a very business oriented person.

TheDailyScrapper:
You told us your husband helps you in setting up the website. Is there anyone else helping you with the management and promotion of the store and products?
Sherrie:
Our creative team leader, Laurie helps keep the girls on track and motivated. She's the point of contact for them if they have questions or maybe they need to take some time off. She also helps get new creative team members signed on and started. We also have Whit who is our community moderator. She’s been wonderful in helping with the community and welcoming new people and things of that nature. She’s been very busy lately. Mari moderates the gallery, making sure layouts follow the posting guidelines and get the recognition they deserve. But I still do a good chunk of all of the back-end work, administration, advertising and marketing legwork myself [laugh]

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