Oceanside mom's Web designs attract worldwide business
By: BEV KANAWI - For the North County Times | ∞
Staci Billhart works on Web site design at her Oceanside home with her one-year-old daughter Claire on her lap.
BILL WECHTER Staff Photographer
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OCEANSIDE -- For a stay-at-home mom with two young children and a business that has gone international, Web site designer Staci Brillhart is the portrait of calm.
Although having a husband whose position as a night restaurant manager keeps him home during the day, and a 4-year-old who attends school in the mornings can be disrupting, Brillhart said she would find a way to get the job done no matter what the circumstances or the distractions might be. Her clients, she said, who are mostly entrepreneurial stay-at-home commerce moms, seem to understand the challenges.
From her "office," a kitchen table in her Oceanside home, Brillhart, 27, recently explained how commonality plays out in her business.
"What I really love about my job is the connection to my clients," she said.
"They become like good friends, and since most of them are moms themselves, we are all sympathetic to the occasional child-related issue."
Sometimes, she added, conference calls are scheduled after the kids are in bed.
"Of course that's a little trickier with my international clients, but we make it work through e-mails and online chats," she said. "It's great that we all understand how a sick child can be more important than work."
As a business Web designer, Brillhart said her designs appeal to more than just the moms.
An Internet search for "hip web design" lists her site, http://quirky-bird.com, fourth on a list of approximately 1.3 million potential hits. This, of course, is no accident. With the knowledge of Internet Search Optimization, she knows how to get a Web site to appear near the top of a search engine -- which is part of a Web design and marketing package she offers to clients as well as providing information on how to run an online store.
When asked how she chose the name quirky bird, she said she went online to Dictionary.com, and searched for a word that best described her business approach.
"I came across the word quirky, and one of the definitions was 'strikingly unconventional' --- I thought to myself that's it!"
The definition also became her tagline, which she tries to infuse into all of her projects.
"Through running my own online store, I learned a great deal about the best way to do pretty much everything, including how to set up a merchant account and even information on the cheapest and most efficient way to package and ship merchandise."
What took Brillhart from a merchant to a marketer was frustration, perseverance and a lot of time teaching herself all about Web design and functionality.
"It was really hard. I wanted to have a great Web site for my store, and there was no single place I could go for all the answers; there was a little information here and a little there. So, I just decided to teach myself how it all worked, and that evolved into the one-stop business I have now."
Brillhart attributes much of her success to having a right-brain, left-brain balance. "I'm really creative, but I love the entrepreneurial side of it, too, and I have a lot of good ideas for how clients can grow their businesses.
Although Brillhart's business is in a niche market, she has clients from all over the world, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and Israel.
" I know it's hard to believe," said Brillhart, "but I really don't do this for the money. I get so much satisfaction from helping my clients fulfill their dreams; they really inspire me, and I try to inspire them right back."
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Sue wrote on Jan 22, 2008 12:02 PM:Staci is my daughter-in-law, so you could say I am somewhat prejudiced, however, I have received creative Christmas gifts from her every year and know first-hand how talented she is. I am so very proud of her; she is not only smart and creative, she is a great mother and wife. She and my son make a wonderful team, they are both so supportive of each other and do whatever it takes to keep those creative juices going.
Sarah wrote on Jan 22, 2008 4:19 PM:Staci is currently designing my website which will enable me to fulfil a long term dream of combining a business selling imaginative childrens products and being a stay at home Mom.
I'm based in the UK and the 8 hour time difference means that I can work with Staci when the kids are tucked up in bed. I'm constantly in awe of her creativity, patience, knowledge and talent. What a gal!
Unimpressed wrote on Jan 22, 2008 5:36 PM:The rates are very high and the portfolio features artwork that looks amateurish at best.
Happy Customer wrote on Jan 22, 2008 8:14 PM:Staci is curently working on our ecommerce site, and we could not be happier. She is so easy to talk to, and such a fast worker. She is ready with lots of ideas and flexible options that keep us moving toward our perfect site. We are jewelry designers, and Staci has created a design that works perfectly with our aesthetic. We are very IMPRESSED. We highly recommend Quirky Bird!
Oside Artist wrote on Jan 22, 2008 9:18 PM:Canned artwork and outrageous pricing for the end result. I'm in need, but require a more professional style.
Amanda wrote on Jan 25, 2008 9:16 AM:Staci designed my logo and graphics for my blog and I couldn't be more pleased! I LOVE her work! Everything she does is so original. She always goes above and beyond in her customer service.
I think she is very talented and creative.
@ Oside Artist and Unimpressed - You get what you pay for. Maybe her quirky style doesn't match yours and that is okay. She always works with her customers to understand their vision and enhance it.
Christie wrote on Jan 27, 2008 7:07 PM:Staci has designed my site 2 times & both times she has created desings that were not only super unique/orginal but exactly want I wanted! They're are so many wonderful things about Staci as a designer but the part the about her that I always find the most amazing is her ability to work with so many different people and personalities and that she ALWAYS is able to design just what they want.You won't find another designer like her:)
To Amanda wrote on Jan 28, 2008 8:10 PM:You're right ... you get what you pay for. It's not necessarily the price that bothers me ... it's the art that is received in return. The portfolio featured on this company's website is just not my style. I'm actually currently on the hunt for a local web designer/graphic artist, but could never justify the expense for such 'campy & cartoony' products. I'm sure it works for some and, by all means, more power to you ... after all ... the bottom line is that you're happy with your purchase. I guess I just have to keep looking.
Tara wrote on Feb 2, 2008 6:46 AM:I am so thankful to have come across Staci Brillhart in my search for a graphic artist and web designer. Since my site went up I sold out of everything I had to sell and had a waiting list. I attribute much of my success to my website design. Choosing Staci was not cost but an investment. She even after months of working with her is willing to answer the most banal of questions concerning my website or other business questions. She doesn't charge for every minute you spend with her like many of the other designers I had come into contact with. Her all-inclusive package which included a ton of other design work is very unusual offering from what I had researched. Most other designers were charging 90-100 dollars per hour for each additional design. Her experience in the retail world and as a mother has been a huge help to me and so many of her clients. I loved working with Staci. For the unimpressed, I think you will find your search to be difficult if you are looking for a small price-tag and great design. I am SO impressed with Staci's growing portfolio. Staci, I'm sure, will have much continued success.
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