Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Morris.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Caleb. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I used to be a furniture mover, dishwasher, Mardi Gras float builder and painter, etc on the Gulf Coast. I moved to Atlanta to become an illustrator, after a few years of working at a couple great advertising agencies like Wit Advertising and Design, I became a full-time freelance illustrator. I’ve worked for clients such as Turner Broadcasting, Pepsi, Blue Moon Beer, Warped Tour, Chic-Fil-A, Nickelodeon, Mountain Dew and more.
At the beginning of last year, I started drawing a series of prints based on Atlanta neighborhoods, initially selling at Citizen Supply in Ponce City Market and Crafted at Westside Provisions. The more popular the series got, the more neighborhoods I drew. Now there are over 20 prints of different neighborhoods and landmarks and they’re in stores around the city. I’ve recently expanded to include cities like Savannah, Athens, Chicago and New York where they’re being sold in Rockefeller Center and Chelsea Market. It’s crazy to think that all of this started as a fun way to fill up my sketchbook while exploring Atlanta.
Has it been a smooth road?
There has been definitely a few challenges. I started this for fun and had no plans of running a wholesale/retail business and also had no clue how to go about that. Years ago, I taught myself how to paint by borrowing books from the library so when it came time to learn how to run a business, I sat at the bookstore for a couple of hours taking notes and it’s helped streamline things and cut down on mistakes I would’ve made otherwise.
Sourcing materials, learning pricing and negotiating licensing have all been things I didn’t expect would be parts of my day to day when I started the neighborhood series. After a few stumbles, I worked out a system to keep shipments running smoothly so I had more time to do what I love, draw more neighborhoods.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Caleb Morris Illustration story. Tell us more about the business.
In addition to being a full-time freelance illustrator, I draw individual neighborhoods in different cities and release them as prints and postcards. This has now expanded into stickers and t-shirts. I’m most known for the Atlanta series which is the main one I focus on because it’s where I live and I’m constantly finding new areas to explore and draw.
I’m very proud of my customers. From the beginning, they’ve been super supportive, offering suggestions on neighborhoods and cool spots to include. I try to repay them by including a handwritten note with each order that has a little sketch on it and including stickers or an extra postcard, whatever I can do to show how much I appreciate getting to draw for a living and not being on the back of a furniture moving truck.
I think my illustration style helps to set my prints apart as well as customer service. I bend over backward to make sure everyone is happy with their prints and try to send surprises with their orders when I can.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I keep hearing about how retail is dying and Amazon is going to run everything. I think that might be true when it comes to things like paper towels, books, or shoes. But I think if customers are looking for something unique and personal, those things are harder to find in a search bar, you have to leave your house and go to some of these great independent stores to find that stuff. So, I think gifts and prints are going to continue selling and selling well.
Pricing:
- 12″x16″ prints are $26.oo Postcards are $2.95
- Shirts are $28.00
- Stickers are $2.95
Contact Info:
- Website: heycaleb.com
- Email: caleb@calebmorris.net
- Instagram: @heycalebmorris
- Facebook: @heycalebmorris
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