Give Simple is already such an important part of my life! It’s already becoming an integral part of my vacation time.

Thursday, I got an email from Jessica Pope at Working Class studio, announcing a new product line. Working Class Studio is a division of the well-known Savannah College of Art and Design (SCUD). In Savannah, of course. And I am planning to be in Savannah for the weekend with my Women’s Initiative friends. So I called Jessica and set up a visit for Friday. If I hadn’t gotten her email that day, I might have gotten all the way back to Houston before I figured it out!

Savannah is a charming southern town with a tremendous history, plus a substantial art community – perfect for one of our girls’ getaways. They say Savannah has been welcoming guests since 1733, and certainly has one of the largest National Landmark Historic Districts in the United States at 2.5 miles. We’re looking forward to amazing architecture (Federal, Italianate, Georgian and Victorian), a ghost tour, fabulous food and the Telfair Art Fair, as well discovering wonderful galleries, shops and museums.

Just getting to the Studio was an adventure. The studio is in a building that is a little out of the ordinary. My cab driver, a perfect southern gentleman, would not leave the first building we stopped at until I could confirm it was the right spot. Lucky me, because we were several blocks away. When I called to get more specifics, Darra, the WCS shipping and customer service genius, said we should drive under the bridge up ahead, because the studio is BUILT INTO THE BRIDGE. Sure enough, on the other side of the brick bridge is the corrugated tin façade of Working Class Studio. You walk into a large open room, with several wide industrial tables running across it, and look up to see that the roof arches to mirror the shape of the bridge support. Interns were busy working to apply silk screen designs to birch placemats for next week’s trunk show when I arrived.

Working Class Studio manufactures a line of modern home accessories and lifestyle products based on designs created by artists of the college. Each academic quarter 10-15 students are selected as interns to form an interdisciplinary design team led by studio directors. The students work on both corporate partnership projects, and on Working Class Studio designs. This unique concept for an educational institution marries function and fine art to create cutting edge design. Working Class Studio has been in over 40 magazines this year, and is sold in many museum shops and other fine retailers. Give Simple has had great success with the melamine platters and stationery, because WCS suits the Give Simple commitment to useful products that have interesting design and great value.

Jessica Pope, Sales and Marketing director, gave me a tour of the Studio. Jessica is herself a SCAD grad with a degree in Fibers and Textiles. She is also a printer who makes beautiful cards and books. (I bought some of her exquisite cards at the SCAD store on Bull Street.) In addition to the current product line, she told me about several new products launching next year, including tumblers and bowls, plus paper plates and napkins that will complement the existing melamine tableware. I’m sure we’ll showcase some of the new items on Give Simple.

With an internet business like Give Simple, it is not unusual to purchase from suppliers you have never met. But I love to meet people face to face. I love the personal side of business, like learning about Jessica’s art while she gave me a ride back to the center of town. I love it when friends in Houston stop by to pick up a gift they have ordered on line instead of just having us ship it.

Give Simple is truly spilling over into all aspects of my life, and I love it!

Be happy, Give Simple!
Christine