We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Vivian Du. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Vivian below.
Hi Vivian , really appreciate you joining us to talk about a really relevant, albeit unfortunate topic – layoffs and getting fired. Can you talk to us about your experience and how you overcame being let go?
I’ve always thought getting laid off was going to be the worst thing in the world. It is, but in my case, it was kind of a blessing in disguise. If I had never gotten laid off from my previous tech job, I would have never pursued my art full-time and found my passion. Once, I got news that I was going to be laid off, I was scared of course, but I also felt relief. I had already been pursuing my art, but only part-time and selling at pop-up events on my weekends. Being laid off meant that I would be able to do art full-time and really try, like give 110% of my effort, to creating art that would allow me to live comfortably and be my own boss. The only way I was able to overcome my layoff was the need to make my art and my small business work.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Growing up, I never would’ve thought that I could be making a living with my art. It was never even a thought because it was instilled in me to get a “real” job, like a doctor or a lawyer. Now, I get to create art, sell my art, and make a name for myself. If you haven’t heard of Homie SF yet, I’d like to introduce you.
In the vibrant soul of San Francisco, Homie SF embodies a fusion of artistry, friendship, and diverse personalities. Founded in January 2022 by me and my partner, Earl, the brand echoes the intertwining spirits of its creators, celebrating Vietnamese, Chinese, and Filipino heritages. Within Homie SF, I discovered a vibrant canvas that allowed me to spotlight my identity as an Asian American artist. It became an avenue to liberate me creativity, where I explored new artistic horizons while fostering authentic connections. While my partner Earl, became a visionary force behind Homie SF, infusing the brand with his exuberant energy, celebrating community, innovation, and joy while shaping its visionary path.
Now, where did the the name Homie SF come from? It stemmed from me wanting to meet new people and make friends. But “Homie” symbolizes more than just friendship—it embodies a spirit of camaraderie and community. It’s a place where connections are forged, akin to a close-knit gathering—where art isn’t just observed but experienced together. “SF” isn’t just a label but a promise—a space where cultures merge, personalities mingle, and creativity flourishes.
Homie SF evolves as a tapestry where diverse spirits unite—a celebration of art, friendship, visionary ideas, and San Francisco’s dynamic soul.
I truly feel like Homie SF is so special, because of the connection we foster when we meet new homies at all of our in-person events and online! We are so happy we were able to create a little community surrounded by people who we love and who love and support us.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three qualities that were the most impactful for me on my journey has to be persistence, resilience, and creating friendships. In my journey so far, my persistence and resilience has really pushed me. My persistence of wanting better and to do better in my life and in my small business has gotten me to where I am today. My resilience is what aligns me and my passion and pushes me to work as much as I do. But truly, creating friendships is what motivates me to keep showing up for Homie SF. Whenever I’m selling in-person at events, I feel a great sense of joy and fulfillment as I create this small community of homies.
For someone starting out, I would definitely tell them to keep going. No matter what happens, you just have to keep pushing forward. If you’re stuck, shake things up and try to find a new angle to move forward. There will always be people talking you down or hating on you, but you just have to be persistent and resilient, until you find your own small community.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
In the past 12 months, my biggest area of growth and improvement definitely has to be selling at my in-person events. Compared to when I first started in 2022, I have increased my list of events and also my community. By doing in-person events, I have been able to grow my community because I get to talk and meet with every single person. It gives me such a warm feeling when I am able to meet people who enjoy my art and when they tell me they like my art.
For events, I have truly done a lot. In 2022, when I was first starting out and I didn’t know who my target audience was, I was doing any event that I could on my weekends off work. I tried everything and found out what works for me and what didn’t. Then in 2023, I went back to the same events that did work for me and tried new ones that I know would work, instead of just trying anything. I feel like I really honed in on who my target audience is and found a great community of other vendors/artists.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.homiesf.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homie.sf/
