Anyone in Sonoma County, CA printing wedding invites or need extra space?

Hi Ladies (and Gents), I’m posting to see if I can find a letterpress printer near Santa Rosa or in the North SF Bay area who wants more wedding work  — or — who has a press and needs a work or retail space ? or — who wants a press/space and would like to have a partner.

 

I am new here on LoLP, but have been working with letterpress for about 10 years.  I don’t have a press yet, though I hope to someday.  I have used letterpress primarily in my book arts work, but have done a few small other projects like wedding announcements and such. I am also a professional photographer.  I am moving to Sonoma County, CA this summer (exact location TBD).

 

I am starting up a collective there in collaboration with 3 other ?wedding artists?: a floral designer, a dress designer, and an accessories (veils, jewelry, etc) maker.  I am the photographer in the equation, though I am considering bringing other photographers into the space/collective.  All of our work and branding is fairly high-end but I would also like to set ourselves apart from the prevailing ?Sonoma Wedding? aesthetic by pushing the artistic envelope when we can (while still able to satisfy more ?traditional? clients).  I would like to bring in a letterpress printer.  Though I?m entertaining the idea of offering letterpress services myself, it would make a lot more sense to bring in someone who is already set up to do it with their own press.

 

The participation of a letterpress printer in the collective could take a few different forms. 

Option 1) as a physical location for a press, though since the space is shared it would have to be non-toxic-fume-style (i.e. vegetable oil cleanup;), and either quiet-ish or with noisy time flexible around client meetings (I think photo shoots and most other of the space?s activities could tolerate press noise without a problem).  The lease would likely be 3 years initially.  I would be open to sharing press-moving (or possibly press-purchase) costs in exchange for privileges to use the press as your schedule permits.

Option 2) as a showroom for letterpress samples and space to meet with clients.  The dressmaker and the accessories person will have their workshops/inventory elsewhere, and would be using the space as their public face in a higher-traffic area, with display samples and to meet with clients.  This option could take the form either of

a) sharing in the rent/collective costs (as a ?partner?), or alternatively

b) as an ?associate?, having display/samples there in exchange for a commission to the collective on any jobs booked through us.

 

The idea behind the collective is of course to generate referrals and foot traffic for one another, and also to have access to a commercial/retail space that we could never afford each on our own.  Right now we are talking with the owner of a fantastic space in Railroad Square, Santa Rosa and just need another partner to make it happen.  It?s 4000 square feet, very lovely with exposed brick walls, very classic and old-timey-industrial looking.  It?s a second-floor space but we?d have a corner display window and signage that would be visible from the main drags and (eventual) train depot.  As part of the concept and to generate more foot-traffic and therefore business for all of us, we would aim to host frequent events at the space to showcase our work and generate a buzz (art openings, music shows, etc.) and also possibly to generate income (bookmaking workshops, makeup/hair/fashion shows, or other ways to leverage the huge space, ideas welcome).  Obviously a press area could be roped off for this kind of thing, and you?d be welcome to host your own events there.  I am considering displaying book arts stuff there in order to give the space a little more appeal beyond strictly weddings.  A printer could do the same displaying art/cards/other inventory.

 

Depending on how many partners make the commitment and how much space each person wants, monthly costs for a partner/space occupier could be in the $400-$800 range probably.  If you wanted no monthly cost but just want to have work referred to you by us, the commission would be negotiable, I suppose.

 

Anyway, would love to hear from anyone interested (and even just local printers who might consider renting me press time!)   Feel free to post here or contact me directly at sarapress [at] gmail [dot] com.    If you?d like to see my print/book work it?s at deeplygame [dot] com, and my photo work is at sarapress [dot] com.  I can give links to the collective’s other wedding artists? sites if anyone wants.

Cheers!

Sara

 

Hi Sara, 

I’m here in Santa Rosa and work at Invitations by Ajalon. I am working on starting my own press here in Sonoma County (http://foldingbonespress.wordpress.com), but can’t even imagine a studio space yet. This sounds like quite the opportunity! I have been working out of my garage and at Ajalon.

I am going to read your post in more detail after work today, but feel free to keep in touch: nealon.katie@yahoo.com!

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