IN A NUTSHELL
I started with a fine arts and photography background, then to a career in pre-press, printing, photoshop and all things digital imaging which led me back to my love of dogs, photography, and nature. In 2005 I became an green entrepreneur and founded Verysupercool LLC, a green greeting card company featuring dogs and their stories. While in the process of marketing my business I soon discovered that social media marketing was in my DNA.
GREEN BUSINESS & SUSTAINABLE MARKETING
We launched Verysupercool LLC in November of 2005. At the time, there were no photography greeting cards available that were printed on 100% pcw paper. We wanted to raise awareness and raise the bar for the big boys; Hallmark, American Greetings, Avanti Press, Papyrus and others. I’d like to think we did.
It’s still hard to believe that in 2006, at the annual National Stationery Show in New York, we were the only exhibitors printing cards on 100% post consumer waste paper. There wasn’t even a green or recycled category for stationery! My husband and I have tried to educate others, while continually educating ourselves, regarding sustainability and green living. See how Verysupercool is green.
In 2008 I wrote a column called “The Green Room” for Stationery Trends Magazine. It’s a brave new world for many retailers as they learn how to incorporate green practices into their business. Here are links to my Green Room columns below:
Be an Eco-Conscious Store Owner-Starting Now!
Ten Steps Show You How
The Three R’s
Recycled products are a smart choice.
Just ask Plato – or Curious George.
To me, social media marketing is sustainable marketing because the costs are low and the energy consumption is minimal, no printing, no gasoline, etc… Like many companies, we started in traditional media and quickly gravitated toward social media marketing techniques. We have had no lack of Verysupercool Press in the last couple years, that’s for sure!
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY & RETOUCHING
I’m a bit of a digital imaging geek. I am confident that I can make any bad photo look really good and a good photo look great! And of course I can retouch with the best of ’em.
Regarding photography, it seems that I have a Verysupercool talent for capturing the soulful gaze of man’s best friend.
Regarding commercial retouching, you don’t even want to know what I’ve done. It’s a bit embarrassing; making some body parts bigger, while making others thinner. I’ve melted cheese on burgers, caramelized onions and even had the honor of making a plate of deep fried chicken look less greasy. Yummy,… NOT!
And I’ve been sworn to secrecy for the retouching I’ve done on Chuck Norris and Charles Schwab. I’ll never tell. Well… maybe never.
Sue Rostvold