Talk Shop is the series where we interview independent store owners from across the country, to get their inside take on their business, and the business of being in business.

In this this Talk Shop, Jeremy & Yvonne, co-owners of the uber cute Little Otsu in the San Francisco Mission District, talk about their business which supports independent crafters in the book and paper arts.

Jeremy and Yvonne, both zine makers in their youth, started Little Otsu as a publishing division of the San Francisco store Otsu.  Little Otsu began in 2004 as an extension of that, serving as a way to collaborate with like-minded artists to make unique and useful print products using alternative materials like soy-based inks, recycled, and tree-free papers.

I had the pleasure of visiting Little Otsu while attending Craft Con this past year. With reasonable prices, a fabulous store layout, and a dreamy collection of books, zines, calendars and nic-naks, I highly recommend stopping by Little Otsu when in San Francisco.

Tell us what Little Otsu is all about:
We’re a small press publishing company & store in San Francisco. We create illustrated books & paper goods made with 100% recycled papers & soy-based inks. In our storefront we feature our own full line as well as goods by other small independent companies.

Do you have any sort of background in crafting or the arts?
We both did zines in our “youth” and from there our love of publishing and art arose. Neither of us have any formal background in the arts, just the informal background of working with artists on zines and in bands (Yvonne ran Zum, a zine and record label, with her brother for over 10 years–www.zumonline.com).

How does your business support independent artists and crafters and/or the handmade community?
We’ve been selling handmade items since the first day we opened in 2002 and have been working with small companies and individuals ever since.

How can local designers and crafters get involved with Little Otsu?
If someone wants to submit something to sell at our store they can email us (info at littleotsu dot com) with images and info about their products.

Any advice for those interested in opening up their own boutique?
Make a business plan, know your neighborhood and ask yourself if you are adding value to that neighborhood or just offering more of the same, have a low fixed cost and always keep a budget. Also it helps to sell stuff you love!

Where do you shop, besides Little Otsu, of course.
We buy a lot of used books at Green Apple & Dog Eared in San Francisco and Paper Moon & Powell’s in Portland. Reading Frenzy in Portland is also a great store we wish we got to more often.

Any exciting upcoming events or holiday sales going on at Little Otsu?
We have a t-shirt sale going on now on our exclusive artist t-shirt series, but we have two new books coming out in December: Quietly Sure–Like the Keeper of a Great Secret by Jo Dery (which is an incredible book of illustrated stores) and a small booklet of drawings by Martine Workman called Water and Fall. We also have a special window display being made by Jo Dery to coincide with her book release.

Little Otsu is located at 849 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110.
For store information and to shop online, go to littleotsu.com.

If you own a boutique, gallery or other place of business that supports the indie craft community, and want it featured in Talk Shop, email hellocraftinfo@gmail.com with Talk Shop in the subject line.