Bears Eat Berries is an independent design studio that not only collaborates with other brands but creates beautiful designs and illustrations for her shop.
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| Recipe Cards |
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| Citrus Thank You Cards |
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| Letterpress Woodland Animal Cards |
Tell us a bit about how you represent local:
When I first moved three years ago, I sought out local businesses and creatives that give Phoenix and the valley its own identity. You have to look for it in Arizona, but once you do, you realize there is so much creative energy. To me, being a local means everything from meeting your neighbors and shopping at independent businesses rather than big box stores, to seeking out local businesses and creatives to collaborate on work. Though my clients can be from anywhere, I love the projects that allow me to work with creative businesses here at home. I take pride in those projects and they have helped me feel like an adopted Arizonian.
What are some of your favorite Arizona small businesses?
My husband and I love the local coffee culture, so places like Lux and Giant in downtown Phoenix are great spots. We live right around the corner from Changing Hands, so I drop in there almost weekly to peruse books and find inspiration. For a happy hour, I love what the guys at Arizona Wilderness Brewery are doing, and for a weekend morning, picking citrus at Agritopia Farm in Gilbert is a fun way to get outside.
What is your favorite Arizona hidden gem business more people should know about?
Crepe Bar! It's in a non-descript strip mall neighborhood but it's one of my favorite places to eat. Jeff Kraus, the owner and chef, is just brilliant in his creativity of dishes and also understands the importance of supporting the local community by purchasing many of his ingredients from other local food businesses, like my favorite farm, Steadfast Farm.
What impact do you think keeping our money local has on the economy of Arizona, as well as the culture and community?
We get to invest in people we know. We get to support the young chef who has taken a risk and set up a restaurant in our community. He's helping to make my quality of life better, so eating at his restaurant is a way to thank him for being here. It makes the community more friendly, more tight knit, and overall much more desirable. If local businesses support independent designers like me in projects like branding or graphic design, they get a partner who is not just concerned with the bottom line, but instead someone who really cares about the success of their business.
(Laura! Your answers were so solid I couldn't really narrow them down!) You can really feel the passion Laura has for local and the impact it has on our community.
If you're looking for a local designer to partner with or some adorable paper products Bears Eat Berries is your place.
Thank you Laura for helping support small Arizona businesses!
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