Meet Sean from Secret Society Goods
Say hello to Sean Walsh, the talented Graphic Designer and Purveyor of Lifestyle & Deathstyle Goods for Secret Society Goods. He is based out of the self-titled ‘The Great Void’ (aka his home in Orlando, FL). A majority of his sales are online and through local stockists (The Heavy, Freehand Goods, Miscellaneous, Etoile Boutique), but you may be able to spot him a pop-up spaces, giving us a strong ‘failed magician having a trunk sale’ energy.
Tell us about yourself! What made you want to start your business?
Personal fulfillment. In December of 2015, I had been working for some time as a designer/illustrator for Whole Foods Market, while doing some light freelance on the side. With my 30th birthday looming in the distance, I decided it was time to start making some art just for fun. Like so many other artists at the time, I used Instagram as a platform to launch a small line of dry goods. At launch, I sold four enamel pins, three bandanas, and four keychains. People bit, and the rest is Orlando history.
Tell us about your space! What's a typical day at your studio?
Haha, is there ever a typical day? Since I’m a one-person operation, it’s not set in stone, but I typically wake up, get my exercise, meditation and dog walk out of the way, and then attack my priorities. Client work comes first – answering e-mails, navigating meetings, touching base with current projects in some form or another. Lately, the retail work has been relegated to the weekends when I pack and ship orders. That stuff is fun because I don’t really have to think about it. I write a personal thank-you note with each order, but aside from that, I turn off my brain and make fun little packages for people.
What kind of challenges have you had to overcome as a small business owner? How has COVID-19 affected your business?
A lot of my challenges come from within. It’s taken me awhile to adapt to being my own boss – and just when I felt like I had it figured out, 2020 and all its accompanying madness set in. I won’t bore you with the details, but it’s been a weird year and my therapist is on call.
To be honest – my freelance work has not slowed down this year. If anything, it’s ramped up, which really surprised me. I put the retail in the backseat for most of this year because I didn’t really feel like selling. I know not everyone has that luxury, but we’re all on our own journey, right? The holiday shopping season has allowed me to reconnect with the retail aspect of Secret Society Goods and remind me why I started and fell in love with it in the first place. People are excited about it again, and so am I.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned since starting your small business?
You can work for yourself and still have a bad boss. Routine is important, deadlines are crucial. Goals matter – without something to work towards, it’s all just happening in a vacuum.
Any goals for the New Year?
As a 2020 survivor (knock on wood) I am hesitant to set goals for next year. I actually think I want to pare down my inventory and focus on doing more limited-release merchandise as an extension of my own graphic design work.
What are you inspired by lately?
I’ve always enjoyed nature, but 2020 was the year that I stepped away from my screen to really make time on a weekly basis to hike or bike. I’ve also taken up birdwatching as a hobby, and I find that birds have been a huge inspiration in my work and I have a feeling that will continue.
Any advice for people looking to start their own business?
If you’re thinking about it, do it. Just start – take one step today. Let your businesses be an extension of your authentic self. People appreciate honesty and vulnerability. No joke, if I can start a business, anyone can. Maybe do a little research first, find a mentor who will guide you. That’s something I wish I’d done. You can learn a lot after the fact, but it’s easier to build a house if you start with the foundation.
Any advice for people looking to find their style?
Sometimes a style is something you’re born with and can’t help but have. Sometimes style is achieved through practice. I think I’m doomed to leapfrog between styles forever. I’m drawn to so many different styles, I want to try them all. It took me awhile to feel like that was ok, and that’s ok!
What is your creative process like?
I almost always start with an idea. Sitting down to a blank page intimidates me. I need at least an inkling of what I’m going to do. I work best with a prompt.
You're based in Orlando. What spots/businesses/makers are your favorite in town?
Too many to name! I work with a fair number of bars and restaurants in town, so let me shout out a few recent clients (of whose work I was already a fan, anyway): Whippoorwill Beer House, Easy Luck Coffee & Bodega, Sunroom, Pizza Bruno, Hungry Pants, Purple Ocean Superfood Bar, Warehaus, Rebel Reprints. Also, any of the aforementioned businesses who stock my Secret Society Goods products are well worth your time and a visit. If I start naming artists and makers I could be here all day and I would feel bad to leave any out.