Kicking off a new small business series, I have interviewed Fraser Valley photographer and writer, Leanne Campbell about her Fraser Valley-based business.
One of Leanne’s cards for sale at House of James in Abbotsford
Leanne Campbell got online in the early days of the world wide web and quickly realized that it was the future of business. She built her first website in 1999 and soon found that blogging was a natural fit for her.
“I like the immediacy of it, and it’s a brilliant way to engage people! I’ve taken photos since I was quite young. I’d take pictures of my bare feet and people would comment on how weird it was. Funny how 20 years later you see foot photos all over social media.”
After being a self-employed Barber Stylist for many years, she retired and created an online stay-at-home business.
“Photography is my passion so when the idea of “girly brilliance” came to me, it was a perfect fit for my photography. And out of that, my greeting card collection came to be.” Leanne recalls the “old days” when getting a postcard or hand-written letter from a friend in the mail was such a treat.
“I say it’s time for a Snail-mail Revival! In this digital world of texting-smexting, Facebook-crawling, Instagram-posting, let’s get back to really connecting with those we love! And everyone loves getting stuff in the mail, right?!”
Starting your own business is always a challenge, and a leap of faith, but Leanne says she was able to find her groove. “Find what works and stick with it. Being self-employed means I wear several hats, and I love it! And I’m an in-house kind of gal, which means I built my own website, and write my own content. You can save a lot of money when you can do it all yourself.”
Leanne’s card collections are also available in a few Canadian retail stores but online is where the bulk of her business lives.
“Having an online business has meant the world to me. It allows me the freedom to work at home, work independently, creating as the ideas come. I operate my business as I do my life: I keep it simple and honest, and drama-free.”
Some of the best parts of being her own boss? She has no commute and every day is different. “The joy of creating products people love. Create & ship is my business. You can’t beat that. A special shout-out to all the Canada Post carriers – you rock. My business is nothing with you!”
Her main offering is original photo greeting cards, and since Leanne’s a local through and through, I had to find out what what her favourite subjects were to capture.
“I’m an outdoors-kayaking kind of gal, so that question is easy to answer. Nature. And things naturally settled in the outdoors. Petals, old barns, a rickety fence with wild daisies bursting through, rusty metal… the list goes on. I see the photo in my mind first, then take the picture. To see nature come to life on a greeting card, and have it resonate with so many people, is pretty cool.”
In the Fraser Valley in particular, she says that Fort Langley is a special gem, as is Clayburn in Abbotsford, and Mission. “But I’d have to say my favourite place to take photos is my family farm in Aldergrove. After a nice visit with the folks, I like to meander and capture the lovely things around me. An old claw bathtub. An old wheelbarrow. Wild flowers. Fresh garden grub. And of course, there’s always a foot photo in there too.”
If you would like to check out Leanne’s beautiful work, she has offered up a 10% discount when you use code Miss604 when you shop Girly Brilliance by November 1, 2016. The promotion applies to your first purchase and she can ship orders across Canada.
If you run a small business in Metro Vancouver and/or the Fraser Valley and would like to be featured, please email Rebecca through Miss604.com/contact.
The Richmond World Festival is coming up September 3rd with reigning Juno Group of the Year Award winners and international YouTube sensations Walk Off The Earth headlining the free event.
Richmond World Festival
Where: Saturday, September 3, 2016 from 11:00am to 10:00pm When: Minoru Park, Richmond Admission: Free event, presented by Coast Capital Savings.
“The Richmond World Festival is a fun, free celebration of the rich diversity we enjoy in Richmond and all across Canada,” said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “It’s a great opportunity to sample the sounds, tastes colours and other unique cultural characteristics that are all part of our community with entertainment and activities for all age groups and interests.”
Joining Walk Off The Earth on the evening YVR Main Stage will be popular local favorites Delhi 2 Dublin. Mixing bhangra, Celtic and other beats earned them the label “United Nations of rock ‘n’ roll.” Coupled with an incredibly energetic live show, their cross-cultural fusion has made Delhi 2 Dublin a popular festival favourite across Canada and around the world.
The festival features over 60 music and dance performances on nine stages, an international food truck festival with more than 40 food trucks and the Culinary Stage, the Global Village with interactive cultural activities and performances, the Your Kontinent Digital Carnival, Artisan Marketplace, Wide World of Sports and more.
Win a Meet & Greet Prize Pack
I have a very special opportunity for one lucky Miss604 reader. I have a meet & greet opportunity available with the headliners, Walk Off the Earth, PLUS $50 in food vouchers for the festival! Here’s how you can enter to win:
RT to enter to win a #RichmondWorldFestival prize pack w/ @WalkOffTheEarth meet & greet from @Miss604 @FunRichmond http://bit.ly/2bVyXB6
For updates follow @FunRichmond on Twitter and the tag #RichmondWorldFestival. I will draw one contest winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, September 1, 2016.
Miss604 is a proud media sponsor of the Richmond World Festival
This Saturday Miss604 is proud to support the final free family outdoor movie of the summer at Holland Park in Surrey. Arrive early for entertainment and activities starting at 5:00pm, with the movie beginning at dusk.
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend
Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green.
Never miss my TOP PICKS for events in Vancouver! Receive this event list right to your email inbox by signing up for the Miss604 Weekly Events Newsletter below:
Check out the full August event listings here and if you have an event to include, please send it in by email for a free listing. Follow Miss604 on Twitter for more daily updates.
The 7th annual Walk for the Kitties benefitting VOKRA (Vancouver Area Kitten Rescue Association) is coming up on September 18th. It’s a walk on the beach that supports and volunteer-driven non-profit that cares for more than 1,800 cats and kittens each year!
VOKRA Walk for the Kitties
Where: Beach Path, West of Jericho Sailing Club (1300 Discovery St, Vancouver) When: Sunday, September 18, 2016 at 11:00am Participation:Register online now for the 5km walk for $30 (plus fee). Dogs are welcome to tag along and you can grab a free ticket for them online as well.
Each Walk for the Kitties participant pledges to raise funds for VOKRA to help in their mission to end cat overpopulation and homelessness. VOKRA is a 100% volunteer driven organization that relies on donations and fundraising for their support. In 2015, they took in over 1,400 cats and they don’t even have a shelter! They rely on a foster network of over 350 homes in the Lower Mainland to care for these animals.
Donations, pledges, and support from the Walk for the Kitties will help VOKRA buy food, litter, and even spay/neuter treatments for local cats. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Dive into water-themed films this September as the Victoria Film Festival presents the Wild Water Film Festival. Featuring extreme sports, adventuring, water issue films and speakers from around the globe, it’s a film festival for those who love all things water.
Wild Water Film Festival
Where: The Vic Theatre (808 Douglas St, Victoria) When: Thursday, September 22 to Sunday, September 25, 2016 Tickets: Passes are available online now for $40-$120, and can also be purchased by calling 250-389-0444.
Wild Water has splashed together a collection of feature-length and short films to fill the entire weekend.
“[It’s] is a film festival for those who love all things water. This international water festival screens daring people thrilling to it’s beauty, its possibilities and its integral role in our environment,” said Festival Director Kathy Kay. “It’s our greatest resource, Victoria is surrounded by it and there are many exciting adventures to be had.”
Kicking-off on Thursday, September 22nd with a fundraiser benefiting the Vancouver Island branch of the Surfrider Foundation, If By Sea features a silent photo auction and short film screening at Canoe Brewpub with drinks and light appetizers.
On Saturday, bring the kids for free family activities – make a bioluminescent fish, watch a live stream from the depths of the ocean, learn to use signal flags and more between 1:00pm and 4:00pm.
Catch all the films at Victoria’s only licensed theatre, The Vic, there’s even an option for an all access pass. Features include Chasing Niagara following pro-kayaker Rafa Ortiz, and his decision to paddle over Niagara Falls; extreme surfing flicks View From a Blue Moon and It Aint Pretty; and a whale of a great film, Sonic Sea, presented by Ocean Networks Canada.
Some of the best parts of being her own boss? She has no commute and every day is different. “The joy of creating products people love. Create & ship is my business. You can’t beat that. A special shout-out to all the Canada Post carriers – you rock. My business is nothing with you!”
