Creative Entrepreneur Tips Blog
After eight years of running MONOLISA, I’m sharing 35 things I’ve learned about creativity, customers, art shows, business, taking risks, building systems, and learning what works for me as an independent artist.
After participating in more than 200 art shows over eight years, artist Lisa Ramos shares her observations on the changing handmade marketplace. From rising material and booth costs to the growing presence of imported goods, this article explores why handmade may be harder to find at some art festivals and why transparency matters for both artists and shoppers.
Is social media really the best use of your time as a handmade business owner? After more than 20 years in e-commerce and nearly a decade building MONOLISA, artist Lisa Ramos shares why she focused on her website, content marketing, videos, and customer relationships instead of chasing social media algorithms. Learn what actually helped drive traffic, sales, and long-term growth for her handmade business.
After more than 200 art shows and years of running my handmade business, I've learned that growth isn't always about doing more. In this article, I share lessons about hiring employees, evaluating profit versus revenue, reducing travel, and building a business that supports both your goals and your quality of life.
When I started MONOLISA, I never imagined that choosing the right vehicle would become such an important part of my business. After years of loading, unloading, and traveling to more than 200 art shows, upgrading from a minivan to a custom Ram ProMaster transformed the way I work and helped create a more sustainable business.
