With Gratitude
by Ari Takata-Vasquez
As I mentioned in my last blog post, 2016 was a rough year. But every cloud has a silver lining and so I'd like to take a minute to reflect on some of the good things that have happened in the last year.
1. We got some love from the press
This year we finally got noticed! This year we were featured in a number of different publications. We were in SF Chronicle's Style section, featured a couple of times on 7x7, Oakland Magazine, and surprisingly even Norwegian Airline's in flight magazine.
2. Our team grew!
We now have a whole Viscera team and we have so many different skill sets. Brittany and Kaitlin joined out team, and have made all the difference with our copywriting and graphics. Karis, who has been with me as an intern, now is our sales Associate and holds down the shop so I can get some much-needed rest.
3. We brought in new local designers
This year we put a lot more focus on local designers. We brought in Only Child, Lacson Ravello, Modern Shibori, We Love Eyes, and Alamere. The Bay Area is filled with so many creative people and we love showcasing their work. While we've always been committed to focusing on American-made products, we're brought in more local makers that we could build relationships with.
4. Viscera Magazine is in the works
If you follow us on Instagram, you've seen our magazine teasers. We've been working on developing Viscera magazine for several months now and will have them available in store in December. It's a highlight of all the work we've put into building Viscera as a storefront, brand, and community asset. We can't wait to share it with you.
5. We donated to nonprofits we love
With your help we donated to a number of nonprofits we absolutely love. During out adoption event with Oakland Animal Services we raised money to donate to the shelter, through the sales of our Nasty Woman tees we donated to RAINN, and at our UnValentine's Day event we contributed to Girls Inc.
6. We launched other small businesses
Through our pop-ups and special events, we've partnered with other small businesses to help them start their brick and mortar presence. We happily hosted Saison Beauty, Ursa Major, and Esperanza's workshop.