HELLO my name is... StickerTraders

[admin]

Interview with StickerTraders
by Dave Combs


StickerTraders Big Sticker Board

Going to the mailbox and finding an envelope filled with cool stickers is one of those little joys in life that always brings a smile. As much fun as it can be to trade stickers through the mail, the down side is that artists are notorious for being forgetful and disorganized. For this reason many trades are never completed when one artist misplaces an envelope, or simply forgets to send their stickers in return. StickerTraders has found a solution to this problem by creating a central trading point where artists can send and receive stickers. StickerTraders has been down with PEEL for a while now, so it seemed a good time to dig a little deeper and find out more about this great concept...

Why did you start StickerTraders.com?
I started the project because of my love of stickers. I’ve been trading for awhile and was not truly happy with the path I was going down, so I re-invented who I was as a sticker artist. I started checking out different sticker sites. Came across sticker switch, then the ideas started to flow. I wanted to provide a dependable medium for artists to send in their stickers into a central hub, where their stickers could be distributed all over the world. So I picked up where stickerswitch.com left off and here I am. I feel so blessed with all the support and friendships that have developed in this time frame.

How long have you been doing it?
I bought the dot com name in September 2005, so a year and a half we have been trading with the global sticker community. I enjoy every piece of adhesive that comes through my door.

Have there been many surprises so far along the way, things you didn't expect?
Many, but there has been a great amount of diversity among the stickers that we have received. But the most surprising things would be the amount of well known artists that have sent in their stickers. I’m excited by this fact. This makes me more motivated to become better and push my own art to the next level.

How many trades have you done so far?
I wish I keep track of everything that came in from the beginning, but I only started to document stuff some months after we started. But I would say we have completed over 500 trades and around 300 or more artists. Anyone could check out my flickr.com page to see the 500 photos of stickers we have received. (http://flickr.com/photos/maddstickers)

Where's the most remote location with which you've traded stickers?
(furthest away/most obscure)
At one point I thought it was insane to get stuff from Italy or Spain, but I would have to say the most obscure would have to be some little town in Africa, I can’t even remember the name. But it was fun getting some twigs and berries.

Does the postage get expensive? How do you finance it? Can people help with the cost by sending stamps or donations when they send their stickers?
Postage does add up very fast. I started this project with the notion of paying for all the shipping, But I have implemented a guideline where if someone does not send postage with their stickers, it might take a month for stickers to get back to them. I still will pay the shipping, it just might take longer than artists may like. If you want to help, just throw some stamps in there or buy some sticker packs from the PEEL shop.

What is it for you personally that makes sticker art so interesting?
The fact that we live in a world so rich in culture and diversity. Then seeing what artists create on stickers from their own unique environments. Then seeing that creativity on a daily basis from the packs and stickers I receive.

What are some of your favorite stickers that have been traded through StickerTraders.com?
There has been a lot, I really don’t want to say or talk about my favorites. It’s just unfair to the people I don’t mention that do incredible work. I will say I prefer vinyl stickers over any other kind out there. If you have the extra $20, get some vinyl stickers printed.

Besides documenting trades on Flickr, do you have plans to document your trades in print? Maybe a StickerTraders zine or book?
Some day I would like to have my blackbook printed. I put almost one sticker out of all the 500+ packs I have received in. It’s something to see, I've only posted a few pages of it on flickr. This is something I will be looking into in the next year or two.






Pages From StickerTraders Blackbook

In addition to trading stickers, you've also organized some multi-artist sticker packs. Do you want to talk about those projects, and do you have plans for more packs?
I have to start by saying when the first pack was completed (Artist Pack #1), I felt like stickertraders really reached a milestone with the creation of this sticker pack. It also validated in my eyes that stickertraders.com was serious in its goals of spreading others sticker art all over the world. These packs were also created to help raise funds to help with the costs of postage to send stickers all over the world. I really owe a lot of thanks to the artists who provided images for these packs. A lot of thanks to Bytedust who made the header designs for all the stickertraders packs.


StickerTraders Artist Pack #1
http://peelmagazine.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=86

Where do you see StickerTraders going in the future?
I want to produce more artist sticker packs; I love to bring different artists together on themes or general ideas. The Posse Pack was an example of how diverse artists could get together with an idea and put out some designs with their own perspectives. I also just want to keep everything fresh with the project and always to come up with different idea’s on how to spread sticker art for others to enjoy.


StickerTraders OYCFUMF Shirt

Get your trade on at: www.stickertraders.com
_________________
SLAPS admin
dave@peelmagazine.com

Take your art and STICK IT!

[EYEFORMATION]

Well done interview, pleasure to read!

Truly appreciate your efforts.

Keep up the great work man.

[freaQ]

[Bytedust]

Nice story ST! I definitly appreciate your entousiasme and always loved to participate wiht your projects. Keep it up man!

Nice t-shirt btw!
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go Bytedust.net
go Flickr

[NOBODY]

Cool interview. Really love what your doing.
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/7827232@N07/

[blurbleblurb]

Sticker Traders is the place...Sticker Traders got me where i am at today with my love for sticker art and trading with other artist...i say we make a pack for sticker traders for all his hard work and effort and money he puts into it all! i am being serious...if anyone is down pm me...

thank you sticker traders !
_________________
Take nothing but give everything.
www.flickr.com/photos/kidtv/
www.blurbleone.com

[StickerTraders]

[nano]

nice one! you doing it! sticker traders blackbook.
man i've been slacking i need to send another pack.
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• me site: all lost in thought
  
• deviant: drunkmonk666
  
• flickr: sketch3030
  

[OMNI]

[Metrik]

yo dude, still waiting on a 25 pack... you said you mailed it out on may 24th....maybe the postal service is being slow... i dunno, but it makes me sad

btw, good interview
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Flickr
Myspace
DripBook

[StickerTraders]

[SniffyOner]

Just sent a pretty dope pack to you guys at Sticker Traders. About 60 stickers. And I made a $3 donation. Nothing much, But it could help with some postage