For sisters Anna and Kelly, life was something however unusual rising up in Fairbanks, Alaska. On chilly faculty mornings, as they’d make their manner in the direction of the bus cease, it wasn’t unusual for moose to be idling close by. Cautious to not alert the hanging creatures, the women would nimbly make their manner across the animals whereas in some way nonetheless boarding the bus on time.
An encounter like that is perhaps horrifying to some, however Anna and Kelly have been raised to at all times respect and recognize the wildlife they have been surrounded by. Residing in Alaska, away from family members, they realized to depend on each their neighbors and the character round them as their neighborhood and household. Now, as adults, they appear again at their childhood and recognize how distinctive their expertise was.
“For a few years, we lived in what we name ‘in the village,” Kelly said. “There were a lot of bears where we lived. And every spring, you could walk down to the river and see the blue whales coming up. That time was quite magical for a kid because it’s just unlike anything else.”
Their parents always stressed the importance of being present in the moment – something quite easy to do when living near the vastness of the Alaskan wilderness – and intentional in the way they communicate with others. Presence and intentionality were values the girls were raised with and have stayed with them. And while it would take many years before they would eventually open up their own art business, these very principles are what inspired Arctic Haven Studio.
“When we started the business, our biggest goal was to share the art we’re creating, but to do so in a way that connects people and back to nature,” Anna said. “Whether it’s nature that they’ve experienced themselves — like if they’ve actually seen a Musk Ox, they can buy [our] Musk Ox and think about that experience — or to connect them to something they want to experience.”
Together, Anna and Kelly have created a small business that they hope will not only bring people together but also remind them of the beauty around them. This past July, Arctic Haven Studio celebrated their one-year anniversary. In a short amount of time, they shipped their artwork to 16 states, created 17 different design sets, and spent an average of 72 hours on the pieces.
Here’s how the 2 arrange their model in a manner that’s allowed them to pursue their passions whereas doing numerous good alongside the way in which.
When Kelly was a enterprise main in school, one of many issues that have been drilled into her was to by no means go into enterprise with a member of the family. However she’s glad she didn’t heed the recommendation of her former professors, as creating Arctic Studio Haven with Anna has been a particular expertise. Although the 2 have full-time careers – Kelly works in contract administration and Anna is a wildlife ecologist – their different job is operating Arctic Haven Studio collectively.
The studio depends on each Kelly and Anna’s distinctive strengths. Together with her enterprise insights, Kelly has been capable of deal with the entire logistic and administrative work, whereas Anna creates the art work that’s made out of tiny items of recycled paper – a method she’s been exploring since highschool.
For each bit, Anna begins with a easy sketch of an animal, then she begins filling within the define with scraps of paper – usually beginning with the creature’s eye which is often essentially the most detailed half. It’s an extended course of, and Anna has spent wherever from 40 to 80 hours engaged on a bit. Every animal provides its personal distinctive problem. Not too long ago, Anna made a walrus and loved taking part in round with paper to create its moist and slimy texture.
It was Kelly who noticed simply how particular and marketable this very artwork was.
“I would never have started this business if I didn’t have [Kelly’s] support and knowledge as a business major and a business person because I like creating stuff, but I don’t have the patience or knowledge to actually start a business,” stated Anna.
Particularly, it was a particular design that Anna had fabricated from a ptarmigan, one among Alaska’s iconic birds, that grew to become the catalyst for his or her small enterprise. It was probably the most detailed paper-cut items Anna had created on the time.
The duo didn’t simply need to promote any sort of product, nonetheless. They knew they needed these artwork items to assist join individuals to at least one one other, which is why they initially launched observe playing cards with Anna’s designs on them.
“We started with notecard sets being our primary product,” Anna stated. “We both write a lot of letters and [note cards] lend themselves well to being able to have some art that you get to enjoy, and then can give to someone else,” Anna stated.
By taking part in off one another’s strengths, the 2 have launched an organization that completely embodies all the things vital to them.
As Anna stated, “personal connection and community is a founding value for us.”
Regardless of already having a really clear imaginative and prescient for his or her merchandise, Anna and Kelly didn’t rush to open up their doorways. As a substitute, they fastidiously seemed into distributors, reviewed contracts, and researched all the things they wanted to learn about beginning a enterprise. In truth, it took them 13 months from their first official design to their grand opening.
Whereas they have been within the strategy planning stage, that they had clear talks amongst themselves about how they’d run Arctic Haven Studio. First, they broke down the six core features of the enterprise. They then turned every of these features into job roles and divided them up between the 2. Whereas they worth one another’s enter, in addition they determined there could be a call maker for every side of the enterprise.
“The agreement was that we both had a say in all the categories, but when a decision had to be made, whoever was assigned that category got to make the final decision,” Kelly stated. “And we’ve never clashed on that.”
This methodological method to opening the enterprise is one thing they’re each glad they took the time to do. It allowed them to put out a foundational groundwork for Arctic Haven Studio, making them really feel assured within the enterprise’s mission – to create significant work that not solely represents their hometown however helps domesticate neighborhood amongst their prospects.
Whereas they’re pleased with the expansion they’ve achieved thus far, they’ve at all times been sensible about their enterprise and the truth that for now at the least, Arctic Haven Studio just isn’t their full-time job, however their ardour mission.
This attitude has helped them from getting discouraged.
“Everybody wants to be successful right away. But you have to figure out what that success even looks like and recognize, ‘I’m probably not going to make much money in the first three years’… but knowing that’s okay because success is making one more connection and just having those reasonable and reachable goals,” Kelly stated.
Taking their time to open up connects again to the sisters’ objective of at all times being intentional with their work. This slower tempo has allowed them to test all of their packing containers, guaranteeing they have been totally able to turn out to be small enterprise house owners.
Contributing again to the wildlife they have been raised by is one thing Anna and Kelly knew they needed to do with their small enterprise, which is why they’ve determined to donate 10 p.c of their proceeds to the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Middle yearly. Thus far, they’ve donated over $300 {dollars} to the group, and hope to provide much more quickly.
“The Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center ended up being a perfect fit for us because they do a lot of conservation and rescuing orphaned animals that then they rehabilitate and get back into the wild,” Anna stated. “Or they use them as captive animals in an educational sense. But they have very strong animal care guidelines. And so it’s something we felt really good about.”
Together with giving again on to the wildlife, the sisters have embedded sustainability into their enterprise as properly. They use recycled paper and recycled supplies for his or her packaging as a lot as attainable – although it’s fairly expensive for them as a small enterprise to take action. They’re properly conscious of the truth that they may very well be bringing in more cash in the event that they used cheaper provides, however doing so would really feel flawed.
“How can we sell art that reflects nature, but [our customers] are going to rip open the plastic and throw it in the trash?” Kelly stated.
However as a lot as they’re hoping their enterprise could make a optimistic influence on the world, the sisters have additionally discovered that Arctic Haven Studio has introduced again a lot worth into their very own lives. Whereas operating a small enterprise just isn’t at all times straightforward, it has given them an opportunity to unwind from their on a regular basis lives. For Anna particularly, it’s been a artistic outlet. The wildlife ecologist only in the near past graduated from grad faculty and says the enterprise helped stability issues out for her.
“I honestly think [Arctic Haven Studio] is kind of what kept me sane in grad school. Having the creative outlet, creating the art and then also having the business side of things to work on with Kelly, where it was completely separate from my grad school work,” Anna stated.
Much more, nonetheless, this aspect mission has given the 2 a motive to spend extra time collectively, strengthening their bond. Probably the most fulfilling half for Kelly has been seeing everybody recognize Anna’s artwork – one thing she’s been doing since childhood.
“I really enjoy seeing people enjoy Anna’s work because I grew up with it,” Kelly stated. “There’s satisfaction in that and seeing Anna being proud of what she’s made.”
Only in the near past, Anna and Kelly celebrated an enormous second for his or her small enterprise: their first in-person exhibit at Wild Scoops, an ice cream store in Midtown, Alaska. This was the primary time that they had printed out Arctic Haven studio items on such a big scale and displayed them in a public setting for therefore many to see.
One other step they’ve taken is reaching out to native companies to start out promoting their notecards, stickers, and prints in bodily shops, shifting away from their online-only mannequin. They’re additionally extending their product line and contemplating together with prints in poster sizes. Whereas they’re nonetheless promoting their authentic observe playing cards, they’re wanting into diversifying their objects a bit to achieve extra prospects.
The 2 plan to proceed rising Arctic Studio Haven along with the objective of including extra magnificence, nature, and which means into their prospects’ lives.
“We all know that feeling that you get when you’re looking at art and you just want to be where that is,” Kelly stated. “And so we hope our customers will take away that [our products] are more than just a piece of paper to write on, but an intentional piece with an intentional connection.”
