Recently a customer messaged us on our Instagram page @modocreative.com with lots of pictures of her lovely home with loads of Modo bits everywhere, in almost every room actually and it made us so happy! We photograph our products in a fairly simple way, against a wall or garage door etc but maybe we don't show enough of our stuff in situ. So we took a few shots at home because our house is drowning in various bits at various stages of completion!
One day we might try again when we've got more time to make them look more profesh.
We have 3 sons and all of them have been brought up in a very gender neutral way. They played with whatever they liked, two of them did ballet, two of them did football, one of them loved cars. They've all had long hair at various stages of their lives and we avoided anything that labelled them. Letting them play with dolls has not made them 'gay' or 'straight', having long hair has not made them a 'girl' or a 'boy'.
Despite the various comments over the years (from mainly older generations) they are well adjusted and confident young people who know who they are and what they like.
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We bought an old scruffy brown piano that smelt of damp and looked very at home next to our victorian fireplace. It aged the room and as much as we loved it, its huge dark presence was not to our liking so we looked at selling it. At this point we learnt that you couldn't even give pianos away anymore and they were been tipped all over the country. WHAT! These beautifully crafted instruments suddenly worthless!]]>So we painted ours white. It felt like a crime but we never looked back, we love its new look and no longer feel guilty about giving an unwanted item another go at winning our hearts.Recently we have turned our love (and skill!) of finding unwanted and neglected items and giving them a touch of Modo! We try hard to respect the integrity of the original piece and carefully research our finds before work begins. Everything here is a one off, carefully curated, cleaned up and sometimes tweaked by us and once it's gone it's gone.We hope you enjoy looking at what can be done without the need to produce an abundance of new materials xxx
so take it away Oli!
What is your favourite Modo product to design and what makes it special to you?
I have two which I really enjoy designing. The first one is the Alzheimer's Cushion, these are satisfying to design to get them looking and reading their best. I always take a minute to read the text provided to get a feel for the person they are for and learn about all the wonderful adventures and achievements they have accomplished in their life. My Nana has Alzheimer's and I often think how her cushion should read, and whether or not we should include the time she tried to boil an egg in the microwave. "Excellent chef, doesn't let the laws of physics or electrical fires get in the way of her and a good meal". My second favourite product is any painted oak product we engrave on the Laser Machine. Whether that is the Musical Wall Hangings, Birth Plaques or Letters. Often there is just a name to engrave, a really simple design which stands out and looks great. I love the contrast between the engraved wood and the off white paint.
What Modo product is a current bestseller?
Our cotton prints are very popular at the minute. The wedding one in particular. We get to work with some fantastic, vibrant images with loads of contrast which look amazing once printed onto the cotton.
Which Modo product is the hardest to design/artwork?
We sell a number of intricate items which have a lot of detail. They look great and are well worth the extra time to design to get them looking their best. The birth story hanging is a great example, there is a lot of information which needs bringing together from various sources to create the print. Birth stones, Star signs, Name meanings etc. Another product which is tricky to design compared to our newer products is the Family Sayings Print. I really enjoy designing these. It's great to read the sayings to get a feel of the conversations which take place within the family. Any sarcastic one liners which you can imagine flying back and forth throughout the house, are a favourite to read. "Where are my glasses" must be the most popular saying we see.
What do Modo customers value?
Modo has very strong set of values which can be seen through our products. Customers are very savvy these days and want to support businesses who share their values. These can be seen from the sentiment of the product through to the packaging we use to post the order. A great example of this would be our oak letters which are a great christening gift, these are made from reclaimed wood, by another local business. They get packed in a cardboard box with shredded paper instead of plastic bubble wrap.
What do you love about working at Modo
I love the diversity Modo offers, the fast paced nature and the flexibility and readiness to work on something you weren’t expecting to be doing that day. We all get on like a house on fire as well which makes for a great place to work.
]]>It’s been brought to our attention that we don't talk enough about some of the good things our business does.
We are not big fans of doing good and then shouting about it, we don’t do it for that reason. However recently you lot (our customers) have started to show more interest in the behind the scenes and a few of you have encouraged us to discuss it more. So here it is....
Firstly we try and make products that make folk feel good. Either good about a choice in gift or good about the message it conveys. We try and make products that help people say something meaningful and lift people up. Sounds bit mushy huh? It’s true tho. That makes us really really happy and is ultimately what inspires us to make stuff.
We make it our mission to support as many smaller and preferably local businesses as possible. We are living proof that making good connections both with suppliers, other businesses and the people we work with can transform your company. Over the years we have got to know many of our suppliers really well, sharing family news with each other and really valuing and enjoying our working relationships together.
Many of our products come from a circular economy. This means that we use other peoples waste/off-cuts/left overs and rework them into something lovely. Imagine if everyone did a bit of this, the difference we could make to landfill and the environment!
Some of our products make a donation to various charities close to our hearts. We have a serotonin necklace that donates to Mind, a cushion that donates to Alzheimers and a bracelet that donates to PANDA
We are passionate about young enterprise and welcome work experience at Modo along with supporting young people in our local community where we can. We have recently been awarded a Disability Confident Committed badge which we are very proud to be part of.
We are constantly striving towards using less plastic in our packaging, bubble wrap is still a work in progress but everything else is recycled. We don't use plastic bags in our bricks and mortar shop.
We're not perfect and still have things we'd like to do better. We don't run our small business for the money. We do it for the kind of life we want to live and the impact we want to have. If our business is sustaining our family and allowing us a more creative life, along with paying our staff, supporting other small businesses, doing good things and making positive impacts on others then we don't actually need much more!
We consider ourselves very lucky to have such great customers. You’re a savvy bunch and you care about where your money goes and who it’s supporting and we are grateful to have you all. Thank you for supporting Modo.
]]>Perhaps you've got one or two, or seven coming up this year and are wondering what to buy the happy couple. You may know one or both of them and their tastes very well or you may not quite know what their thing is and so need that all-round, crowd-pleaser of a gift. It may even be your own special day fast approaching and you're looking for some last-minute inspiration.
Ahem, not to mention the rather large royal one the whole country's invited to on the 19th of May. Do you remember the avenue of Maple trees that filled Westminster Abbey at Kate and Will's wedding a few years ago? No doubt this year's lovely royal couple will have some similarly impressive touches but that's Planet Royal Family right?
Us mere mortals will be happy thank you very much with those special touches that our guests will appreciate and remember as uniquely ours. And the touches that celebrate the love that is so special to us and the whole reason we're all there! And without wanting to blow our own trumpets, we here at Modo think we do these special touches, and special gifts, quite well.
Introducing!
Our brand-new Wedding Boho Fringe Hoop!
On a similar dreamy theme, is our Summer Meadow Theme Cake Topper.
And for the important little people involved in the ceremony, why not try our 'They've Promised Me Cake' Wedding Sign? For a real showstopper, there's our Personalised Special Words Backdrop. For those of you looking for the perfect wedding gift, you could try our Bespoke Oak Wedding Day Box.
Come and have a mooch around our wedding section :)
]]>50 years ago, if someone had been asked to describe a stereotypical dad, it would be a pretty clear cut image. A hard working man who came home at the end of the day, put his feet up, smoked a cigarette, and maybe managed to give his kids a quick pat on the head before they fell asleep. Too often, we fall helplessly into the roles society arranges for us, accepting with little resistance the way we think we ought to be. 50 years ago, those hardworking men probably felt that their worth was measured in the food they were able to put on the table and the quality of life they were able to provide for their family.
These days, our idea of a ‘dad’ is very different. Some dads like football and beer and talking about cars. Some dads like watching Call the Midwife and drinking gin and tonic. Some like both. Some like neither. Some dads pretend they want to watch the rugby but then spend 92 minutes stood behind their daughter’s armchair watching a feature length romantic comedy with the idea that they’re not really watching it because ‘I’m not sat down.’
Modern parents are certainly redefining the role of conventional mums and dads, and we couldn’t be more in favour of this. Dads these days are writing blogs about fatherhood, giving us a running commentary on Twitter about their child’s latest misdemeanour, and creating Instagram accounts dedicated solely to their journey through parenthood; and people love it. Got a video of someone falling during their first dance? Okay, great. Send it to You’ve Been Framed, get your £250, and have a quick laugh showing it to your mates in the pub. Got a video of a dad putting French plaits in his daughter’s hair for her first day at school? Your video probably just went viral.
On the one hand we are celebrating our changing roles and the freedom to be any sort of 'dad' we choose but when it comes to Fathers Day gifts it would seen we still like to celebrate the old stereotype! So if we can find a fathers day gift that ticks both boxes then we are winning!
So if you’re a dad who likes the football, or a dad who likes period dramas; if you’re a dad who stays at home and cooks and cleans, or a dad who works overseas and gets home once every three weeks; if you’re a dad who sees his kids on a Sunday, or a single dad raising his kids alone; or if you’re some or all or none of the above but simply just a dad, who loves his kids…
This one’s for you.
]]>"When a baby is born, the first thing people tend to ask about is the child’s gender. It’s not necessarily some socially constructed norm where we have to ask because we think gender is the most important thing about a baby - it is simply because there is nothing else to ask. Children aged over 3 or 4 have interests. They like farm animals, reading books, climbing trees or listening to music. But babies? Well, for all of their adorable aspects, they can’t yet voice their own interests - and even if they could, their interests probably wouldn’t expand past a plastic teether, which begs the question – what on Earth do you buy for a Christening gift?
Christenings were originally for the purpose of cleansing a new child of sin and welcoming them into their religion, so it would have been appropriate to buy a gift that has some kind of religious aspect to it, like a child’s first bible, a prayer book or a Christening candle. However, as society becomes increasingly secular, less people are having their babies Christened, instead choosing to have a non-religious naming ceremony to celebrate their child’s arrival.
When purchasing gifts for these occasions, it is so easy to buy something meaningless or press a ten pound note into a card, fearful of giving the impression of a discourteous guest, but also lacking in ideas for what to buy a brand new baby. Naming ceremonies are to welcome a child to the world, to introduce them to the people who are going to be there throughout their life. We love personalising our gifts – words never go out of fashion, and buying a gift that is so personal, that can offer words of comfort or joy, words of wisdom to help them through the turbulent ascent into adulthood, words whose meaning will change and grow with the child, will mean more than any number of chewable zoo animals."
]]>March already – how did that happen?! We’re not sure, either, but somewhere between our croissant filled breakfast meetings and our standing around the kettle making endless cups of tea (you know, for motivation…), January & February has passed us by in no time. Fortunately, March has brought with it a fresh start and a brand new website - we hope you enjoy having a look around!
Let’s start with saying that the first part of the year hasn’t all been carbs and cuppas; we’ve been getting inspired in the studio, designing and creating some beautiful new products. Over the winter, we’ve been embracing the Danish concept of hygge. There is no literal translation for what hygge actually means, but once you’ve felt it, you’ll know. It’s a roaring fire in a cosy den whilst a storm rages outside. It’s warm socks, a book, and a steaming cup of cocoa, or a gathering of friends with an abundance of mulled wine. In short, it’s being the cosiest you’ve ever been, whilst everything inexplicably smells of cinnamon. Given that our little business is based in the middle of the wild and blustery Yorkshire moors, we figured that we could get on board with an ideology that almost demands hot cocoa and roaring fires. We take inspiration from a myriad of things and, over this past year, a lot of our products have been formed around a blend of hygge and the spirit of adventure. We want to explore; we want to run and climb and swim; we want to delve into a voyage that will take us over glen and dale and drench us to the bone in the process. But, also – we want hot chocolate.
Keeping up with trends is only part of the process. We’re inspired, more than anything else, by people. We like to see people enjoying themselves, feeling loved and valued, and we like to see people being understood and celebrated by those surrounding them. One of the greatest things about working with personalised products is getting to see the heartfelt messages that people wish for their loved ones. Dance to your own beat, sing like no one is listening, wear odd socks if you really must! The most common theme is simply just be yourself. We want our products to help share memories, spread messages, encourage forgiveness and emphasize the value of relationships and family. Words have a way of bringing people together, and whether it’s written on a cushion or engraved in the back of an oak letter, the message is clear: we love to capture a moment and have our sentiments remembered.
So why not get yourself a large hot chocolate and settle down for a browse around our new and improved shop!
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Job vacancy! Studio Assistant- part time. Based in Haworth, West Yorks We are looking for a hardworking and reliable individual to operate our laser engraving machines, make and package orders and other ad-hoc studio jobs. The role starts on a part time basis (2 days per week) with a view to increasing hours and responsibility for the right person. The ideal candidate will thrive under pressure, enjoy a creative environment and work well as part of a busy team. Full training will be given but a keen eye for detail, a 'can do' attitude and a methodical approach is essential. For more information please email emma@modocreative.com
]]>We love our phones. They are the window to so much if our world today. Our work, a great many of our friends, the news, pictures, weather, information and entertainment rah rah rah. We confess that we panic a bit if we don't have them with us. We are quite old fashioned at heart so being so preoccupied with our phones makes us uncomfortable. It was the end of a long day recently and we were both moaning about how intrusive our mobile phones can be. It's hard to separate work from home when your phone allows you to do both so easily and constantly beeps or flashes at you. In fact this particular day was a sunday evening and emails were being checked whilst teeth were being brushed and it suddenly felt so wrong. It was agreed that a box with a lid and some words of encouragement would be such a good idea to remind us to take timeout from our phones. So we made some plans (using our phones of course!) and did some research (there are actual addiction clinics for phone use!) then started developing our phone time out box. So without further a do please be upstanding for the no phone challenge!! Available now £15
]]>Its a very big part of our job thinking of new ideas and developing new products to keep our little business going. Seeing a new product launch looks easy, sometimes even obvious but take it from us it's not.
Inspiration is one thing, little sparks of excitement about the way a colour looks against another or a flicker of an idea that takes root in your chest and turns to butterflies as it grows is the easy bit. However these initial flickerings often don't come to anything because the dots don't join up.
Its one thing to have a good idea but its quite another making it work for the masses. Every step is like a carefully laid path, the idea needs to be great but the figures need to add up, the communication needs to be spot on, the photography, the product description, the customer reflection, the personalisation example, the styling, the social mood, the packaging, the processes, delivery etc these are all considerations that can scupper even the best ideas.
In a nut shell the route (both mental and physical) from the product to the customer needs to be clear and quick (preferably instant) and the only way to acheive this is through proper product development.
All too often we see products out there that started life as someone else's product and have been developed from this half way point. We can spot a product like this from 100 miles, they will almost always have lost some of their meaning and the path will be a little cluttered. Its easy to see a good idea that is selling well and try and start a new product from this point, its the wrong place to start, resist the temptation. Ideas that are formed from a real starting point, a real beginning, like a gifting occasion that you are attending or with a special person in your mind will, without doubt, produce better products with more heart and soul.
]]>Meet Antonio Leon - Designer. Antonio joined us towards the end of 2014 and is one of our most multi-tasking members of the team, jumping from designing to packaging to making a good cup of tea in one seamless move. He knows his fonts and is our go to person for anything web related. He is also king of biscuits, sometimes even making them himself!
Describe your job and what your average day looks like?
My role at Modo as a graphic designer is to translate our customers special occasions (weddings, new home, new baby) into printable artwork that they can enjoy on their wall. My average day starts with organising orders, prioritising the ones that need it to be print and sent that day. Then I jump onto the design which takes up the rest of my day. I do manage to have a cup of tea, some lunch and help with customers enquires. But most of the time I am translating customer orders into beautiful pieces of design. Normally when I first look up at the clock I realise it’s home time!
What product do you enjoy designing and why?
The product that I enjoy designing the most is the Birth Date Print. The design we use is very flexible and uses beautiful well thought out fonts which makes my work a lot easier when it comes to putting the artwork together. I also like the colour palette which is used for the print, it really brings the final print to life and makes a beautiful gift.
What job did you want to do when you were growing up?
Mmm, well thinking about it, I think I wanted to become a skateboard maker. I was really into skateboarding when I was growing up, but what I found most fascinating was the design of the boards themselves. I really loved the feel of the wood curving perfectly to shape my skateboard. I always wanted to know how a skateboard was designed and created. Living in Peru in the 1990’s meant google wasn’t on the tips of my fingers! Now I know.
Do you come from a creative background?
Yes, I think so. My granddad used to be a street artist and travelled all over South America performing and one of my older brothers is a performance artist/director, professional juggler and a DJ, and my other brother is doing a Masters in film. I have always looked to my family for inspiration and think they have helped me become the designer that I have become today.
Where do you get your creative inspiration from?
My inspiration comes from anywhere and everywhere, it all depends what I am working on and what I want to achieve. But I do always try to keep an eye on what the creative industry is doing, subscribing to Creative Review and constantly being caught on Pinterest.
How does working for Modo differ from other jobs you've done?
Modo is such a special place to work because everyone there is super friendly and has a great sense of humour. I feel lucky meeting such a lovely team and really do enjoy going to work. Modo is a very special place indeed.
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Sometimes I long to be a steady and traditional mother who cooks and cleans and walks to the shops and dawdles in playgrounds etc. I'm not tho and pretty sure I'll never achieve it. I'm mainly quite frantic, full of plans and constantly on the go. Me and my children seem to fly through our lives having lots of fun but forgetting P.E kits, being late for bed, having messy hair and eating my strange cooking..just generally making it up as we go along really! They seem well adjusted and I hope they are having a lovely childhood but I often feel like my head is about to spin off!
I wonder what it's like on the other side? Does that mother exist anymore, did she ever?! I like to imagine that even if I was dawdling in playgrounds and sitting under trees on summer afternoons with my offspring tumbling around me- my head would be still full and longing for a different pace of life, maybe more excitement and more spontaneity.
Do we ever think we are doing it right? Is there a mother out there who thinks she is perfect? Hands up!!
It's taken me a while (3 children) to realise that we mothers chase perfection but it doesn't really exist does it? Children see to that. Life gets busier and washing piles higher, suddenly if you manage to get dressed in the morning you have achieved the near impossible. We all have the 'grass is greener' side to our imaginings but that's where it should end. We should enjoy imagining a better life, it spurs us on to be our best but anything more ambitious and it starts to undermine us.
Yesterday I looked at my children when they brought me my 'mother's day' breakfast in bed and promised myself that I'm going to try and remember that I might be rubbish at remembering PE kits but there isn't a day that goes by where i forget to thank my lucky stars for their lovely little messy heads :)
]]>Meet Oli Firth - Designer. Oli joined the gang last September and brought with him a wealth of design cred and some really really great jumpers. He is super efficient, has an excellent eye for detail and will work wonders with your words!
Describe your job and what your average day looks like?
I am a Graphic designer. My day usually starts by logging on and organising the orders to be designed for that day. Me and the other designers will start with any express orders, then move on to designing the variety of prints and gifts which have been ordered.
What product do you enjoy designing and why?
I really enjoy designing the personalised sayings prints. Not one is the same and it's great to read the various sayings people have. You can really get an insight into the home where the print will be hanging on the wall.
What job did you want to do when you were growing up?
Once I grew out of wanting to be a truck, train and lorry driver, I aways wanted to be a designer. I love every aspect of design.
Do you come from a creative background?
I was always fiddling and messing about with things as a kid and then that sort of developed into really enjoying graphic design and resistant materials at school, which led to studying product design at university.
Where do you get your creative inspiration from?
How long is a piece of string? I am always on design blogs and creative websites to see what is happening in the world of design. The Modo office is a very creative environment, so that helps as well. Creativity breeds creativity.
How do you take your tea/gin?
I'm not the biggest fan of tea, or gin to be honest. But I quite like the odd vodka and lilt.
]]>Meet Maxine Dyson - Creative Assistant. Maxine joined us last summer, she is super calm, very hardworking and makes a mean cup of tea. If you order something from Modo, the chances are it will have passed through her creative and nimble hands at some point.
Describe your job and what does your average day look like?
Max - I am a creative assistant I am in charge of framing and rolling the large prints and heat pressing cushions and hoops. A typical day for me involves big framing 1st thing then getting the heat press orders done in the afternoon if I have time after that I get some prints rolled then get all orders packaged ready for the post. With the odd cup of tea in between!
What product do you like to work on the most and why?
Max - I love framing the birth prints and reading the messages of love parents have for their children and also the wish prints/cushions. It's lovely to be part of that process as we have played a part in getting those important words documented and framed as a piece of art to be loved and cherished so that feels good.
What job did you want to do when you were growing up?
Max - I always knew I wanted to do something creative I just didn't know in what area.
Do you come from a creative background?
Max - Yes my mum is very creative she is an amazing painter although she would never say so herself. I was always drawing or painting when I was younger then ended up studying photography at college.
How does working for Modo differ from other jobs you've done?
Max - Modo is like a breath of fresh air, previous jobs have been in formal office environments so walking in to Modo every day is like a dream come true for me, it's a very relaxed chilled out creative environment, everyone is kind and everyone has a good heart. It's a pleasure to go to work everyday with such lovely human beings.
Describe your best day at Modo since joining the company.
Max - Every day has been great I especially enjoyed the day I had a challenge to get lots of big frames out in the Christmas rush, everyone pulls together to get the order out, it's great to be part of such an amazing team.
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We believe that a product should look as good out and about and in the rest of the home as it does in the nursery and, with this grown-up feel in mind we’d like to introduce a few new products. Monochrome style was a hit on the 2014 spring runway and here at modo we agree that the clean, modern aesthetic of white with black accents makes the perfect starting palette for your little person’s nursery. Not only will they gaze for hours at the contrasting colours, but it’s the perfect way to decorate a nursery whilst still keeping the gender a surprise. Just add peachy pink and hints of on-trend copper for girls and a cadet blue or sea green for boys. Or make like us and add bold pops of bright colour. Our wide search for inspiration has revealed an emerging palette of colours that we just can’t get enough of! Bobo Choses, in particular, with its earthy shades of Sienna and Indian red and muted slate and steel greys are right up our street. The clothes are garment dyed to give them a vintage feel and the hand drawn, whimsical motifs and fun and appeal to our playful side. Watch this space for these thoughts influencing upcoming new products……..
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We love books. We especially love books about colour and design. So you can imagine how delighted we were when a brand new interior design book dropped on to our mat yesterday with one of our prints gracing the pages!! The book in question is Bright Bazaar http://www.brightbazaarblog.com/ by the super talented Will Taylor who has a keen eye for colour and provides a never ending source of inspiration through his design blog. Our personalised motto print hangs above his home office desk and appears in the book no less than 3 times...we even got a credit at the back! We are big fans, so in celebration we have posted a few colourful corners of our own home :)
]]>Thought it was high time we posted about our new work space....and more importantly our new baby! At almost 7 months pregnant we jumped ship from our last place just before we went under, we were actually sinking in packaging and bubble wrap and the lines between home and work were becoming very blurred indeed. Five months later and we have a lovely baby boy named Otis (thats him snoozing amongst our personalised stars) and 3 whole rooms dedicated to Modo. Otis is a lovely little bundle of pure joy and has slotted right in to our family like he's always been here. He arrived a week early and we think he brought all this lovely sunshine with him as its been glorious almost ever since. A flurry of new products always follows the the birth of one of our babies and we have just added personalised cushions to our range inspired our new little man. As for the new office, its so nice to stretch out finally and regain some order. Our employees have desks and swivel chairs and our modo stuff has shelves and drawers, we have thrown open the windows, painted EVERYTHING white and bobs yer uncle its our new Modo home! We feel right growed up!
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