Click on pictures for larger view...Two posts in one day! imagine that! I was working on the Homes Display Platform when a lady showed up and wanted to see the Oak Park Mansion. I of course was happy to show her and lead her to the display. Most customers do not want the owner hovering over them whispering..'buy, buy..' so I left her there to take a look. A short time later she came back to me and told me that while she liked the design and features, it wasn't big enough. She wanted a 'grand house' (her words) and the Oak Park (apparently) wasn't grand enough. OK, I guess size does matter, be that as it may, she proceeded to tell me that in the whole time she had been in world, she had never heard of Barefoot Designs and was surprised to find 'Barefoot Homes'. Looking at her profile, she was an old timer just as I was. We had an interesting conversation and the gist of the conversation was, she said I needed to get my own sim and have the entire operation on it, rather then be spread across two continents.
Point taken, but it isn't that easy. Hence this second post. I had to think about this and have to admit, having my own sim might make things easier, but it is also more expensive. Now granted, starting out a business in a sim named 'Snafu' probably wasn't the smartest move on my part, but that is the way things turned out and here we are. This all started with my first 1024 parcel four years ago in Snafu. Some months later, and another land purchase, Barefoot Apparel opened its doors and the rest is history.
Barefoot Designs is the parent company and under that is three divisions. Barefoot Apparel, now located in Zeord on prime (and very expensive) beach front property, Barefoot Homes & Designs which sells office and home furnishings located in Snafu at ground level, and lastly, Barefoot Homes located on the Homes Display Platform at 500 meters above.
Barefoot Apparel is the mainstay of Barefoot Designs. I focus on this more then the rest because the clothing or fashions pays the bills for the most part. Geared for the guys, Barefoot Apparel has a unique look in beach, or casual wear for the guys. Much too my surprise, the gals love it too and we are now offering unisex fashions.
This ad was the last ad to appear in the last issue of Runway Magazine and was declared as one of my 'hottest' ads. This was for the new 'Footy Camo' line of men's swimwear.
Barefoot Homes & Designs offers home and office furnishings such as lighting, office desks, chairs, ceiling fans, and more.
Jeremey's Cove is more of a little hideaway that is used for Seven Seas Fishing events, a micro Barefoot Apparel store and is one of my favorites places to just relax and unwind. The Cove is my way of bringing back something of my past when I was growing up around the lakes. I love the water, and my boats. I get a lot of pleasure when I see other folks drop in and just sit on the dock or dancing . The light house is a landmark in Snafu and has been part of the landscape for almost four years. It was given to me by a neighbor who bought his land the same day I bought my first parcel in Snafu. I knew Niki for about a year and one day he just stopped coming in. A year later his land was declared abandoned and I bought his parcel at auction. Niki had told me that he was a young Asian student and had serious health issues, but never told me anymore then that. I fear the worst for Niki, and the light house stands to honor him and my early memories in Snafu.
Barefoot Homes offers a variety of mid-size homes suited for smaller parcels and commercial builds. One of the reasons I don't offer 'grand' homes is, I simply don't have the room or prims for it. That may change, but not any time soon. The homes that are offered are innovative in design and offer high detail with low prim. I have been actively marketing Barefoot Homes in a variety of ways and I am seeing an increase in traffic and Barefoot Homes is starting to be well known. Anyone knows that there are many home builders out there, some are well known and some, frankly, should not be known at all. I firmly believe that the very name, 'Barefoot Homes' says it all, and is already known for quality and outstanding customer service.
Barefoot Homes Display Platform
Barefoot Homes is more known for the commission work during the last few years. High profile work that most are probably not aware of. Barefoot Homes designed and built the studios for the 'Designing Worlds' TV show on Treet TV. It has been an active build for two years now and is still being used. Barefoot Homes built the SL5B gallery for Prim Perfect Magazine, and before that, the Prim Perfect Publications Headquarters, still in use. Most notably is the former Runway Productions Headquarters Building which became an over night icon in the fashion industry. Sadly, it lasted only six months after the building was dedicated and is no more. Barefoot Designs now once again owns that build and will make it available to the market later.
Designing Worlds Studios (formerly know as Meta Makeover) at dusk.
Too see more pics of this build click on the link below.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/barefoot_designs/sets/72157606659880779/
Runway Productions poster for the new headquarters building. Runway closed without notice much to every one's surprise. Read the story further down on this blog. Barefoot Designs created all logos and art work such as the poster above for the project.
To see more pictures of the Runway Headquarters Building, click on the link below. Photos courtesy of Tillie Ariantho, former Runway Photographer. Thanks Tillie!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tillie/3426575174/in/set-72157616544000656/
And here is a link to the article about the Runway Headquarters by Runway Magazine.
http://en.calameo.com/read/0000043794c5d3a31d8b1
And you can read my blog on my thoughts about the sudden closing down below "Doesn't Make Sense'.
Barefoot Designs is spread out on two continents and for now, it works. In time, I do see a private sim in the future, but that is a ways down the road. Barefoot is known in the SL universe, the little foot print logo is almost iconic in its own way, everyone knows what those foot prints mean and know where that item, be it clothing, furniture, or home came from.
After the conversation with the lady looking for that 'grand' house, I though it might be a good thing to say something on this subject. I am, Jeremey Ryan, proud owner of Barefoot Designs.
After the conversation with the lady looking for that 'grand' house, I though it might be a good thing to say something on this subject. I am, Jeremey Ryan, proud owner of Barefoot Designs.
For that lady out there looking for that grand home, I hope you find it, but it isn't a Barefoot Home...
