We were lucky to catch up with Carolynn Lemke recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carolynn, appreciate you joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

My main business goal even though it takes longer is to create one of kind custom art work from the ground up. I draw each portrait by hand digitally. Its important to me that it is my art work and not running a photo through a filter.

Carolynn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I went to college for fine arts and communication design, I worked for a small marketing firm and was let go during the recession. This is when I had to pivot quickly , and start creating for myself. Blogging and social media like instagram was newer at the time and I started making things I enjoyed. Wedding invitations, illustrations of pets, branding small businesses. I started to get business from word of mouth and people sharing my work. My pet portraits started to become something I never imagined. A few years down the road the Today Show shared my pet portraits and things took off from there ! I think what sets me apart to this day is my art style and business model. I create customers pet portraits and allow them to keep that illustration on file forever and order things with their pets on them years down the road.

I am most proud of the fact that even when things get hard I dont give up and think about how far Ive come. Rome wasnt built in a day and this business has taught me perseverance and patience.

Okay – so how did you figure out the manufacturing part? Did you have prior experience?

Manufacturing my products for Noble Friends is something that is both fun and challenging. I wish that I could just manufacture all of my own products in house but its not realistic so I try to find the best quality products as I possibly can while keeping it made in the USA and also keeping the price point reasonable. Once I find something I love like our beach towels and wrapping paper I pray that they never are discontinued through my vendors !

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I have a mailing list to keep in touch with clients and also a lot of my clients follow me on social media. I offer deals through there on upcoming products. My biggest thing is once a pet portrait is drawn since it goes on file for forever I have a connection to each client based off of they can always come back and order more of their pets !

Contact Info:

• Website: noblefriendssop.com
• Instagram: noblefriendsshop
• Facebook: noble friends
• Linkedin: carolynn lemke

Image Credits
Alice Patterson – Loving My Company