A Story in a Globe

CONNECT Queen of Snow Globes A Story In A Globe Thanks to Carrie eah Andrews was having a seen before,” she says. Curious which produces bespoke snow Bradshaw, Leah Lquiet afternoon to herself, to see what other exquisite globes for famous and not-so- Andrews creates enjoying one of her favorite TV globes were on the market, she famous clients around the world. awe-inspiring, sitcoms, HBO’s Sex and the City. surfed the web, only to find Over the years, Andrews has bespoke snow In the episode, Andrews watched the results turned up short. designed personalized pieces for globes for her list as the pint-sized, bubbly and “Most of my searches returned Steve Martin, Channing Tatum of growing clients. ever-so fashionable New York those kitschy, cheap, travel and Kurt Russell. Her work columnist Carrie Bradshaw globes and plastic domes. I was has been at the heart of media by Danielle Renda (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) quite disappointed!” celebrations, like her Best Fiends shook a large, dazzling snow Looking to pursue a new snow globe, created to celebrate globe of Manhattan. The scene, creative project, and with the the success of a smartphone Andrews explains, foreshadowed underlying drive to become her game with more than 80 million changes—the “shaking up” of own boss again (years earlier she international players; a La La things in Bradshaw’s relationship. owned two businesses in different Land snow globe to promote Little did Andrews know that it industries), Andrews ordered a the musical’s Blu-ray release; would soon symbolize change for simple snow globe-making kit. and custom globes for the pop her, too. The rest, she says, “is history.” duo Daft Punk and the cast and The snow globe wasn’t like Some eight years later the crew of Priscilla, Queen of the anything Andrews had seen “Queen”—a nickname that jibes Dessert, The Musical; Quentin before. “I was captivated by the with the name of the company, Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight; globe, as it was quite beautiful Queen of Snow Globes— the Netflix series, Narcos; and and bigger than most globes I’d continues to run her business, Tim Minchin’s Matilda The 74 | APRIL 2019 | CONNECT Musical. She’s also designed it into the makeup world, as everything I do is driven by globes for philanthropies, like my career remained in the making my customers happy, Convoy of Hope and the Pacific music products industry for the and I’m very lucky that I get to Whale Foundation in Hawaii, next 25 years. As a singer and produce a product whose sole and occasionally, she receives multi-instrumentalist, I loved purpose is to make people smile. requests for engagement gifts the industry and found myself and wedding favors. Andrews progressing through the ranks PPB If you could offer advice also offers custom, glass-blown of sales to support, product to someone who’s just Christmas ornaments for her management and eventually beginning to pursue their clients as well. Two years ago, higher-level marketing for passion, but who is hesitant she got into the promotional companies like Yamaha Music about the challenges that lie products industry and exhibited Group. However, I have always ahead, what would it be? at her first PPAI® Expo. had an entrepreneurial spirit and The truth is that I spent many whilst I made a good employee, years learning about business PPB What are some of the I was always destined to be my before my success with Queen campaigns your snow globes own boss and I made a much of Snow Globes. I started two have been a part of? better businessowner. businesses in my younger years I’ve been truly honored to work that folded for various reasons, with some incredible corporate PPB How do your snow and leading up to starting this and high-profile clients. I have globes move from conception business, I was experimenting honestly enjoyed every single to completion? with gazillions of ideas, only project I’ve worked on, but there When a client first contacts me, knowing that ultimately I wanted have certainly been some rather usually I suggest production of a to be my own boss. Every day exciting requests I’ve received. digital design, which I do with no driving in to work, I would The first one that blew my mind obligation and before anything listen to podcasts about online was when actor/comedian Steve has been agreed to. This allows business and marketing, and Martin asked me to make snow the client to get a better visual I just kept applying things I’d globes that he would give to his of how their design might come learned over and over. Making friends and colleagues at the AFI to fruition. From there, once a snow globes was a happy Awards ceremony, where he was project is confirmed, my team accident that I stumbled upon inducted into the Hall Of Fame uses the visual, along with many just looking for something in 2015. Steve gave those globes other images and detail, to hand- creative to do—it only turned to such luminaries as Tina Fey, sculpt the inner setting. At every into a business when I applied Amy Poehler, Lily Tomlin, Mel stage, clients can request changes all my growing knowledge to Brooks, Dan Aykroyd and many at no cost until we confirm the something I felt truly passionate more entertainers I have huge sculpture, which is then made about. My advice, based on “Snow globes admiration for. Talking to Steve on into a mold for producing the all of that, would be to never are really quite the phone was a career highlight quantities. After that, every single stop learning. There is so much a traditional for sure, and something I’ll piece must be hand-painted and free information out there on product never forget. hand-assembled. Snow globes are running a successful business, requiring a ton really quite a traditional product that there’s really no excuse for of hard work; PPB Tell us about your requiring a ton of hard work; most not being educated. My No. 1 most of it can’t professional background. of it can’t be automated. To me, recommendation is a man be automated.” Straight out of college, I this gives each piece a charm of its named Pat Flynn who runs a trained to become a professional own that doesn’t exist with more website and podcast called —Leah Andrews makeup artist. In order to stock-standard products. “Smart Passive Income.” And earn money to start my own yes, I’ve also made a snow globe business, I started working PPB What do you enjoy most for him! at a very respected musical about your business? instruments store in Melbourne, Without question, the Danielle Renda is associate my home city. I never made customer relationships— editor of PPB. | APRIL 2019 | 75.

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