We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna Long and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Anna, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
There were a lot of factors that went into owning and starting my own business, but the main reason for opening my online store was to make people happy! Norlo Design started as a package design agency and has recently pivoted to an online store.
All of the products we sell are funny, quirky, and make people laugh. The store products feature hand-drawn, animated beverage characters and I always try to throw some humor in there as well. I kind of fell into this design style and have been enjoying it so much that I decided to put these awesome characters onto different products and start selling them! People resonate with these designs and it makes being the owner and designer of this store something I am super proud of. We all need a little humor in our lives!
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My design work that is featured on Norlo Design’s store products is simplistic and humorous and all are inspired by the beverage industry. Animated beverage characters; beer cans, pint glasses, coffee mugs, and iced coffee cups are the main focus of my designs. They are simplistic and are designed to spark a smile or a laugh. I feature them doing a variety of different things in different scenes – things you can picture yourself or your friends doing. I want people to see themselves in my artwork and get a kick out of the animated characters!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Visiting new coffee shops is one of my favorite things to do in Denver! I would recommend Lekker Coffee, Woodgrain Bagels, Jubilee Coffee, and Dandy Lion Coffee just to name a few. You obviously have to hit up some craft breweries while in town (if that’s your jam) so I would recommend Copper Kettle, Ratio, and Cerebral Brewery. For things to do, Meow Wolf is an awesome art installation I would highly recommend. I also love the RiNo area of Denver to hang around in, they have some great shops and restaurants. Support local!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I think all of my friends and supporters of my art have been so inspiring throughout this whole process. Navigating the e-commerce space for the first time can be challenging, but knowing that my artwork is bringing happiness to others makes it well worth it! My co-owner, Tevon, my best friends, and random people I have met throughout this journey all mean the world to me because they are the reason I keep pushing forward! We wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for our amazing customers!
Website: www.norlodesign.com/shop
Instagram: www.instagram.com/norlodesign
Facebook: www.facebook.com/norlodesign
Image Credits
Credit: Norlo Design