Member Directory

 

Jean Kropper
Director, Paper and Pixel

MyProfile

When people meet me they often ask "Where are you from?" because they can't pick my accent. I grew up in the northeastern USA around Boston, then lived in Scotland, Ireland and then came out to Australia as a backpacker in my 20's. I have a 14 year old son. The rest of my family is overseas.
My career has included working in graphic design, advertising and ten years working as an artist in hand papermaking, printmaking and hand bookbinding. During that time I taught art workshops around Australia from Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, and Tassie to Aboriginal reserves on Groote Eyelandt in the Northern Territory. It was a fabulous way to see Australia.

MyExpertise

Paper & Pixel specialises in designing and producing 3D business promotions using paper. These may be pop up direct mail, point of sale displays, invitations, or shaped print promotions to leave behind at trade shows and on sales calls. These powerful and engaging communications make sure your marketing messages are noticed, read and remembered. People tend to play with them and show them to others. This is the benefit since many promotions get thrown in the bin before they are read.

MyPassions

Paper, as a material intrigues me and has captivated my attention for years. As a graphic designer I printed jobs on it. As a papermaker, I recycled paper or boiled up plants to create pulp and made it myself. It can be embossed, folded, cut, cast, curled, painted, printed. As a paper engineer- which i am now- I sketch, then cut and fold to see how I can create interesting paper shapes. They may end up as sculptures on my desk, or at an event, a quirky piece of direct mail or a shaped paper promotion you hand out at a trade show. I love it when someone'e eyes light up when they are handed a promotion. They often play with them to see how they move, to see how they are built. Instead of the dread when you receive junk mail- I want my promotions to give a little zing of joy as they communicate their marketing messages. To entertain as well as connect. Working to achieve that keeps me going.

MyInterests

Give me a good book and I am happy to curl up on the lounge for a couple hours. Also, I love to travel and have seen a fair bit of the world. I came to Australia on a round the world tour in my 20's. However, between being a parent and running a business, I don't wander much at the moment.

How I can help other members

If you want to write a non fiction book I can tell you about my experiences in publishing and how to write a book proposal. I have written three books, two published in Australia by Lothian Books (now Hachette) and one for a US publisher, Davis publications, in Massachusetts. Friends call me the "Queen of Networking", which has been quite a journey from being rather shy in groups ten years ago. If you need tips on networking as a small business person, using linked in to research prospective customers, I can help there.

Why I am an ABN member

Working alone means I don't always have someone to ask those pesky little questions that are easy when you work in an office with a team around you. Having a community of professional women to draw on for information and support is very precious. Also, it feels good to help others and can be a nice way to get to know someone. lastly, I have wanted to take part in a business mentorship and the ABN one fits perfectly.