This is our very first interview as part of a series of interviews with one page website designers. Siska Flaurensia is the designer/developer and founder of OnePageTheme, a small theme shop who creates beautiful one page themes. Many of her themes can be found in the gallery, such as Boudoir Nude, Boudoir Expose, Something Blue Wedding RSVP, and Silhouette.
This interview tells us how she got started designing one page websites, and a little about her theme business.
Tell us a bit about yourself, Siska.
My “roles” have evolved throughout the years in this industry—so ask me again in a few years hehe. Right now I’m a Digital Designer (Web/UI/UX), Art Director and an avid “Startup Brander”, and of course, an entrepreneur. I hold a Bachelor in Marketing, design degree and years of self-taught design business. I didn’t go through the “traditional route” of a design student, instead I became a self-starter who courageously launched my own freelance business right after college—oh, working for agencies did follow after. Since then, I’ve been on a crazy worldwide adventure that has taken me across the globe from USA to Asia.
What’s the story behind OnePageTheme? How did you get started in designing/selling themes over at OnePageTheme?
My obsession with one page websites began at the early days of designing and developing my first portfolio site. Yes, it was one page, but hell I didn’t know it was called a “one page website” back then haha! Taking an inspiration from the social media agency, Carrot Creative, with their (then) cool one page website, I designed my first (ever) one page website: squeezeoflimestudio.com. After a few years of designing and developing one page websites for clients, I got quite good at it. An idea to capitalize on what I do best emerged during a long boring road trip up north to San Francisco one sunny afternoon. OnePageTheme was born on October 2011, exclusively selling premium one page websites at onepagetheme.com.
Offering website themes is a competitive marketplace, what sets your Website Theme business apart from the pack?
Yes, it is a cutthroat market, especially when we have seasoned big players dominating the theme selling business. But we know what sets OnePageTheme apart: exclusivity (you can’t find our themes any where else) and personalized customer service in which many of our clients can attest themselves http://onepagetheme.com/testimonials. I think with this kind of level of customer attentiveness is what is setting us apart from the sea of theme marketplaces. People want that kind of level of personal service at a great price and we deliver that.
How important is documenting and supporting your products and services, and how do some people go wrong with this? What have you learned over time about this process?
Most people try to brush off (or oblivious to) this tedious part of running (any) business, and I was one of them. In fact, I had a few roadblocks and stumbles earlier in our documentation and support process as I wasn’t focusing much on them. With time, and trial and error, I learned how to document my products and services, provide better support and also learned a thing or two on maintaining the exclusivity of my themes.
Tell us about your design process. What approach works for you? And, are you more of a Designer, a Developer, or a business Entrepreneur? Why?
I enjoy developing a website but my passion lays in design, so I’m definitely more of a designer and equally a business entrepreneur at heart. Marrying design and business together is something (that I found) I could do naturally, and I think it’s because of my Marketing & Sales background, which has helped me figure out the best approaches to client relations and creative projects.
What’s the one thing you wish you had known when you were first getting started with OnePageTheme?
What I was getting myself into… ;) Armed with only my passion, creativity and tenacity, I went into this business oblivious to the galore of competitors out there. In a way, it was a blessing in disguise as it allowed me to concentrate on OnePageTheme and not get distracted.
How do you spend your days? Do you work exclusively on designing one page themes?
Currently I’m concentrating on its backend development and planning on designing more one page themes. Apart from that, I work for other startups as designer and creative consultant, so my days are super packed with projects and managing OnePageTheme.
What are your top tips for anyone starting or running a theme business?
Find your niche; get a good business partner who knows this business well helps too :)
Thank you Siska, we appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule for an interview. You can follow Siska on Twitter, and see what she is currently designing on Dribbble.
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