Spreading Positivity

Spreading Positivity, Positively Everywhere...

We tasked Sarah Lawrence, Founder and Owner, This is Iris, to gather some good news and positivity posts from her colleagues and friends in the art and licensing industries. They certainly didn’t disappoint!

Sarah Lawrence, UK Art Licensing Agency, This is Iris

“It has often been said that flexible working is beneficial for people’s mental health, this is something that Iris has always supported and although this is a worrying time for everyone, everywhere we need to keep working together to find ways to stay positive. It has never been more important for people to keep in touch with their colleagues, business partners, friends and family through phone and video calls. We’re able to keep to our scheduled meetings with the majority of our partners via Zoom and we thank those who are remaining positive and enthusiastic throughout this time. We are currently working on a number of new briefs and finalising projects which were initially on hold but are now heading back in to production which is really encouraging. It seems our licensees are also finding working from home a positive move as the calmer environment is allowing them the time to explore new ideas, which is great for us! Take care and keep talking.”

This is Iris Artist, Ailsa Black

“I have been creating a number of new images for our partners as well as a new a new Clap for Carers image each week. I have been encouraging all my social media followers to put their hands together and join the Clap for Carers celebrations during these difficult times. I have also added a free gift wrapping and card writing service to my online shop so people can send gifts direct to friends and family from the safety of their homes. I am also in the process of expanding my colour me in range which has allowed me to add free colouring downloads to my site so those with time on their hands can print these out at home. I am lucky, I am able to work from home and am trying to adapt and move froward.”

This is Iris Artist Amy Crabtree from Cakes With Faces

Catalina Estrada, represented by This is Iris for the UK

“From Cakes with Faces’ Bakery Motivation series of wisdom from the world of cakes and baking. Art is so important right now to lift people’s spirits and remind everyone of all the good things in the world. Part of Cakes with Faces’ mission is to provide a distraction from all the bad news in the world with fun drawings and cute characters, so I’m continuing with that aim in mind, now more than ever. If I can make people smile even just for a moment, I’ve done my job.”

Ian Downes, Start Licensing “I am lucky to have a lovely dog. Tess the Whippet. We take her out everyday for our daily exercise. At home she has helped fill the day with her constant enthusiasm for chasing down a ball in the garden. She seems to have endless energy, and is a welcome break from seeing myself on countless Zoom screens!”

“I believe that now more than ever we need the power of colours and beauty! Colours give us strength, beauty gives us hope. I think the only way out is for us to work together with optimism and creativity. And poetry of course... “To make a prairie it takes a clover and one bee, One clover, and a bee, And revery. The revery alone will do, If bees are few.” -Emily Dickinson”

Brand Owners House of Turnowsky, Israel. Represented by Iris for UK & China

“Thomas Paine said in 1776 “these are the times that try mens’ souls”. He had a different crisis in mind when he penned those words, but our situation is a modern crisis, a pandemic, and a significant challenge for the world. It is trying to the souls of companies, managers, workers, economies and families...but it is also an opportunity which we at the House of Turnowsky grabbed with both hands. As a small international Art & Design licensing company which its headquarter is located in Israel, relatively far away from our customers, we are used to reaching out to our customers mainly electronically. Within a few days, even before the official state order, all of our 15 creative staff moved into their home office. As such, no matter where our people are, from Tel Aviv to Berlin, from Cleveland to the Napa valley, we are all connected. Zoom. Skype or WhatsApp – we use them all to connect between all departments, like nothing has changed… We create e-cards for our customers, in order to reach out to retailers while putting the health of our employees first. As much as social distancing is required now, we truly believe that social expressions are essential for all human beings – so we continue to design beautiful greeting cards, stationery and gifts hoping to touch the world soon again….”

Iris Parizer, Ginja Licensing, Israel

“This is a special time that challenges us in our personal life and in our business, while at the same time we are discovering new approaches to our life. Restarting things we left behind, developing creative thinking, relax & enjoying the little things around us… and enjoying being at home with our love ones Stay safe everybody!”

This is Iris Artist, Jo Rose, creator of Deer Little Forest

“For our family, we have found positivity through creativity and by collaborating on projects together. We have been thoroughly enjoying combining home schooling and learning new skills and have created some fun arts and crafts videos for the children in our son’s school, to keep them feeling connected and laughing.”

Sarah Stephens, Product Manager Ravensburger

Ltd. “Although we’re living through strange and worrying times, my work continues, just in a different way. I’m finalizing development of Autumn launch items, and planning and briefing designs for our January 2020 range, which is exciting and encouraging. In many ways, not being in a busy office has given me more time to think! My partner and his 2 cute dogs are keeping me company!”

Brand Owners PABUKU, Austria Represented by

This is Iris. “Even though we live and work in the same building anyway, it took us a few days to reorient ourselves and deal with the situation. We at PABUKU try to master this challenging time by making plans for what we want to change and do better. We also do small actions to stay in contact with our retailers and support e.g. small booksellers with free greeting cards from PABUKU so that they can add them as goodie to their customers’ online orders or we did a little bit of yodelling on our social media channels just to cheer up our friends, customers and fans. The feedback was heartwarming! For us it is also very interesting to analyze our greeting cards in the context of the crisis - it is very exciting how pictures and captions can get a new meaning. What we want to say to everybody out there: take care, stay tuned, keep going and make this planet a better one!”