We recently connected with Jessica Battista and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

As a Freelance Illustrator and Graphic Designer, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a wide range of craft breweries, small businesses, larger companies like Osprey, and nonprofit organizations like The Nature Conservancy. I love connecting with different types of people, learning about their unique brand and mission, and helping to turn their visions into a reality.

This experience of collaborating with so many different types of brands has inspired me to create my own personal product line, Small Deeds Studio. Through this brand, my goal is to make better choices and small changes as a means of always becoming a more conscious creator and consumer.

As a vintage lover with somewhat of a thrifting addiction, I struggle with my desires as a consumer. There is an undeniable high you get from rifling through racks of secondhand clothing that is at odds with the disappointment in knowing that these discarded items are a direct result of fast fashion. As easy as it is to turn a blind eye, the social and environmental impact of this industry and our throw away culture is undeniable.

I source secondhand clothing and add my own personal touch by block printing directly onto the fabric with stamps that I have carved by hand. This breathes new life into a previously loved article of clothing and makes it new again. Something that was previously discarded can now be a one of a kind piece for the next person who chooses to own, love, and wear it.

The ultimate goal of Small Deeds Studio is to make strides by taking baby steps. What we choose to create and consume leaves a big impact on the world around us. As I make daily choices to embrace the imperfections in existing materials (and myself), I hope to encourage others to do the same. Small Deeds Studio is an outlet for my creativity and ideally an opportunity for conscious consumers to shop just a smidge gentler.

Jessica, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Small Deeds Studio is still in its infancy. So, I try to focus on nourishing these early stages rather than getting hung up on all the ways I need to improve my practices, grow my business, and reach a wider audience.

I want the same for the individuals who choose to support my shop. When someone purchases an item from me, I hope it sparks joy in that moment and satisfies their urge to obtain something that is connected to who they are as a person. I also sincerely hope that my products will serve their needs for a long time to come. In a quiet and non judgemental tone, I want to encourage others to buy better and buy less.

In addition to my block printed and upcycled clothing items, I also put my illustration skills to use and create original artwork that promotes a positive message or at the very least puts a smile on someone’s face.

There is much happening in this world that is out of our control. Yet, our individual actions and personal choices have an impact far beyond our recognition. In my mind, I liken our small contributions to Myrmecochory, seed dispersal by ants. This worldwide distribution is also known as the “Circular Dance”. If an itty bitty ant can help shape a landscape and feed an entire ecosystem, what is stopping us? We try to conquer the mountain before climbing the ant hill and forget that it all begins with one small deed.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Even before making the leap to freelance full time in 2018, word of mouth has always been the way in which I have been able to grow my clientele. I certainly have plenty of room for improvement when it comes to self promotion and my. consistency in sharing my work on social media. However, fulfilling the promises I have made to my current clients has been the most effective strategy for me. A personal recommendation goes a long way. I believe that leading with honesty, meeting deadlines, and creating work that I am proud of is the best way to attract clients that have the same level of integrity in their business.

How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.

Perspective clients can contact me and inquire about my Freelance Illustration & Graphic Design services on my website, jessicabattista.com. For my personal brand, Small Deeds Studio, I currently use Etsy as my Ecommerce platform of choice. In the future, my plan is to ultimately build out a site for online shoppers to purchase directly from me. In the meantime, as I juggle my workload as a freelancer and continue to grow Small Deeds Studio, the marketing services provided by Etsy allow me to reach a much wider audience than I am able to currently do on my own.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jessicabattista.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicabattistaart/
• Other: Small Deeds Studio Links: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SmallDeeds Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/small.deeds.studio/

Image Credits
Jessica Battista