Best of Local - September 2016

BEST of LOCAL A SELECTION OF THE BEST BUSINESSES AND BLOGGERS FROM THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA AREA

WALTZING MATILDA Handmade leather goods are crafted locally from repurposed materials page 20

CONFETTI & CO Local wedding planner makes that “special day” beautiful and personal page 18

SPECTOR ART Nationally recognized local artist captures emotional moments in sports page 8

STREETS DEPT. Photography blog documents Philadelphia’s growing street art scene page 16

EDITOR’S NOTE DEAR READER, At Conlin’s Digital Print & Copy Center, staying ahead of the technology curve is a part of our legacy. Our business was computerized early in the game, and our shop has always been equipped with the most advanced printing machinery available. In one area it seems we’ve fallen behind, and that’s the world of blogging.

We’re definitely arriving to the blogosphere more than a few years behind the crowd, but to compensate for this indiscretion, we plan to hit the ground running. We’ll be offering you all of the printing tips, direct mail inspiration, and marketing advice that we’ve been sharing with our customers for years.

But more importantly, Conlin’s Press (as our blog is named) aims to support and promote local businesses.

Since 1980, we have had the privilege of serving companies all over the greater Philadelphia area by providing them with the materials they need to do business. Everything is printed to the highest quality, and delivered in a timely matter with the best customer service of any printer in the region. We’re proud of what we see going on in the community around us, and we want to highlight everything that’s special about these organizations and the people that run them.

We hope you enjoy learning about the creativity, passion, and hard work of these businesses and bloggers as much as we did. Please take a moment to discover more about your favorites by perusing their websites and social media outlets. Keep an eye on our blog in the upcoming months for even more featured businesses from greater Philadelphia.

Best Wishes,

Conlin’s Staff

Conlin’s Digital Print & Copy Center

TABLE OF CONTENTS E.M. RICCHINI

6

JORDAN SPECTOR

8

ERICA LIGENZA

10

AMY DEVAN

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CONRAD BENNER

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SARA MURRAY

18

MIKE BALITSARIS

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AVI LOREN FOX

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THE HISTORY OF CONLIN’S

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LIFESTYLE BLOGGER E.M. RICCHINI IS NEVER AFRAID TO STAND OUT

Name: E.M. Ricchini Occupation: Lifestyle Blogger Company: Lark & Lace Connect: larkandlace.com | @emricchini In a world of bloggers who work hard to stay on trend, E.M. Ricchini is someone who creates trends. She possesses a distinctive photography style and an impeccable editorial eye that sets her apart from others of her generation.

She’s truly a woman of many talents – photographer, marketer, fashion guru, and reporter, to name just a few. We had the pleasure of interviewing this budding maven on lessons she’s learned and what it’s like to carve your own path.

C: YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN AN INDEPENDENT THINKER. HOW DID THIS IMPACT YOU IN THE WORK WORLD? EMR: [I’ve realized] that school is not for me. As much as I would love to be an academic, it just didn’t work out that way.

I’ve always been able to function in a challenging environment because I think through problems in a way that a lot of people wouldn’t. I just try to see things from different angles and a different perspective.

C: YOU’VE BEEN BLOGGING FOR A LONG TIME. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNED FROM YOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE? EMR: Something that I’ve learned through the years—that a lot of people don’t find out until much later on—is to only write about what you love. People will be able to see through it if you’re just throwing out a filler. Have fun with it, even if that means only posting twice a week.

C: IF YOU COULD NARROW IT DOWN TO ONE THING, WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD? EMR: I try to be really intentional about the way I do things.

Intentionality is really important to me. I think it’s important to not just do things for the sake of doing them, but to know what you want to get out of what you’re doing.

Read the full article at: www.addhere.com/abcsomething

Best of Local : Fall 2016 V.1 Issue 1

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PHILADELPHIA ARTIST JORDAN SPECTOR CAPTURES EMOTIONAL MOMENTS IN SPORTS

Name: Jordan Spector Occupation: Sports Artist Company: Spector Art Connect: spector-art.com | @Spector_Art Jordan Spector has always possessed a love for both athletics and art. When his football career ended due to an injury, he focused on channeling his love of the sport into his artwork. He’s become a well-known artist who is recognized both locally and nationally.

He is known for realism and attention to detail, but his passion for sports is what makes his work stand out. His images capture all of the emotion and nostalgia that is experienced by athletes and sports fans alike.

C: HAS BEING SELF-TAUGHT IMPACTED YOUR SUCCESS AS AN ARTIST? JS: I think being self-taught has had a big impact on the direction I went with my artwork. I was more open to doing my own thing and experimenting with different outlets. I also think being self-taught gives you a sense of independence. It gives me more confidence as an artist to know that I can always improve on my own.

C: YOU EXPERIENCED AN INJURY THAT CHANGED YOUR CAREER PATH. WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THIS SETBACK? JS: The biggest thing I learned was to stay true to myself and to never waste my talents. [This lesson] became a big thing for me when I realized how impactful my art can be. It was amazing to realize that people would pay for something that I love to do.

C: OF ALL YOUR PAINTINGS, WHICH HAS GARNERED THE MOST ATTENTION? JS: Definitely the one I did of former Eagles player, Brian Dawkins. I think it got some attention because of how popular he is. I did it just out of [the] pure passion of watching him when he played. I played football myself in college, and he was a big inspiration to me.

Read the full article at: www.addhere.com/abcsomething Best of Local : Fall 2016 V.1 Issue 1

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FOR BRAND STRATEGIST ERICA LIGENZA, EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES

Name: Erica Ligenzia Occupation: Blogger & Brand Strategist Company: Coming Up Roses Connect: cominguprosestheblog.com | @msericaligenza When it comes to branding, Wharton graduate Erica Ligenza knows her stuff. Even before she graduated from business school, her life-and-style blog Coming Up Roses was already taking off, making her a powerful online influencer.

Today, she combines her blogging and social media prowess with her marketing degree to create highly effective influencer marketing strategies for a wide variety of businesses. We caught up with Erica to discuss her branding services, her social media presence, and a few of the lessons she’s learned over the years.

C: WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT BRANDING THAT MOST PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE? EL: It is so much more than your logo, your graphics design and the visual [components]. One of the biggest misperceptions is that people think they are good to go [once they have those items]. Most people don’t really think about the psychology that goes behind branding.

C: IN WHAT CAPACITY HAVE BLOGGING AND SOCIAL MEDIA SERVED YOU AS A PROMOTIONAL TOOL FOR YOUR SERVICES? EL: I have grown from zero to 30,000 followers on social media alone, and I’m a walking case study for what I do. When it comes to creating influencer marketing strategies for people [I’m effective because] I can build a campaign from a marketing side, but I’m also an influencer.

C: OF THE SERVICES YOU OFFER, WHICH HAVE YOU FOUND TO BE THE MOST POPULAR AND WHY? EL: I essentially work as a one-woman brand strategy agency, creating brand books and specific strategy documents for clients’ needs at a more cost-effective price than larger agencies with more overhead. For bloggers who want help, [they] usually end up [choosing] a strategy session.

Read the full article at: www.addhere.com/abcsomething Best of Local : Fall 2016 V.1 Issue 1

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AMY DEVAN’S LUXURY LINE IS REVIVING THE ART OF HANDCRAFTING

Name: Amy Devan Occupation: Owner & Creative Director Company: Naveda Couture Connect: navedacouture.com | @NavedaCouture Naveda is a Philadelphia-based luxury women’s wear brand founded by Amy Devan, whose designs were inspired by her love for clothing that is both dreamy and mature. Amy likes to describe her collection with the word wanderluxe. Wanderluxe is a modern, sophisticated bohemian style.

Naveda consists of two collections: Prêt-à-Porter and Bespoke.

The Prêt-à-Porter (or “ready to wear”) is a collection of everyday women’s wear. These collections, featured in NY Fashion Week and London Fashion Week, are sold online as well as in luxury boutiques across the country. Bespoke is custom bridal and evening wear, available through one-on-one appointments.

C: WHAT WAS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE YOU ENCOUNTERED IN LAUNCHING YOUR BRAND? AD: Well, this is my second career. I attended undergrad and grad school at Drexel ten years ago, where I focused on marketing and financial management. I went on to work for about eight years in Marketing and PR in lots of different industries. [But design] has been my passion since I was a kid. I got to the point where I thought, “If I don’t chase this, I probably never will.” I moved to New York to pursue a Fashion degree at Parsons. I jumped into this world full force without thinking twice. That was the biggest challenge - to take that leap of faith and trust myself. Because once I made that decision, I never looked back.

C: FROM WHERE DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION FOR YOUR DESIGNS? AD: I like to bring attention back to handcraft. It’s a dying art, and it really shouldn’t be that way. My family is originally from India, so garment making, embroidery, beading and dying are traditionally done by hand. [A handcrafted item] has a story with it. When you pick up something that a group of craftspeople have spent hours and hours on, it means more. You think of it as an investment. I hope that’s how my brand is perceived.

Read the full article at: www.addhere.com/abcsomething Best of Local : Fall 2016 V.1 Issue 1

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CONRAD BENNER POINTS HIS LENS TOWARD PHILLY’S STREET ART SCENE

Name: Conrad Benner Occupation: Blogger & Street Photographer Company: Streets Dept Connect: streetsdept.com | @StreetsDept Browsing through the Streets Dept blog is like receiving a virtual tour of Philadelphia from an artistic perspective. Philly-born Conrad Benner spends his days exploring the city and sharing his finds through photography. Not only has he drawn attention to the burgeoning street art scene, but he’s gained quite a following through his blog and social media.

C: HOW DID YOU BECOME DRAWN TO PHOTOGRAPHING STREET ART? CB: When I was in my early 20s, I had a Twitter account and I ran a blog. If you had a flip phone, you could text a photo to a certain number and it would tweet that photo for you. I would point my camera at anything that caught my eye. My boyfriend at the time got me a digital point-and-shoot camera for Christmas. [Shortly after that], I used my tax return to get my first DLSR - a Canon rebel.

When I was about 24 [I decided] to create my own blog, and I needed to have a specific focus. I looked through the thousands of photos I’d taken and realized they were mostly street art and graffiti. I decided to make a blog that focused on that.

C: FOR A FIRST-TIME VISITOR TO PHILADELPHIA, MUST-SEE SPOTS YOU WOULD RECOMMEND THAT THEY VISIT? CB: The boardwalk on the Schuylkill river trail is a must-see.

It offers a really great view of the skyline, and it gives you a little peace and serenity in the middle of the city. Then there’s a place called Addison Street in Center City. It’s a carless street, and the neighbors down two blocks of that street have installed Christmas like lights on all the trees. It’s between 17th and 19th.

[Finally] there’s this billboard that is at 2nd and Race Street in Old City that has a big image of a cloud on it. I think it’s the ultimate street art. No one knows who did it, so it’s just this mystery billboard in the middle of Center City.

Read the full article at: www.addhere.com/abcsomething Best of Local : Fall 2016 V.1 Issue 1

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THE TEAM AT CONFETTI & CO. KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT WEDDINGS

Name: Sara Murray Occupation: Owner, Event Planner, & Designer Company: Confetti & Co Connect: confettiandcompany.com | @confettiandco Sara’s passion for weddings is the driving force behind confetti & co, a Philadelphia-based wedding planning company. Her team has planned weddings in New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia in locations ranging from the middle of a field to upscale NYC venues. Their years of experience and genuine passion for what they do ensures that each event is impeccably planned and crafted down to the smallest detail.

C: HOW DID CONFETTI & CO GET ITS START? SM: I had started in college with an event planning and design background. I was working for a lot of people in Philadelphia.

I got a job with Anthropology, and I started working on the corporate side of weddings. But I missed event planning, working with people, and being at weddings. I saved up enough to live in Philadelphia for three months and decided to try it.

Luckily it took off the ground running, and we’ve been going ever since!

C: WHAT MAKES A CONFETTI & CO WEDDING STAND OUT FROM THE REST? SM: We pride ourselves in our attention to detail. We are very thorough and very organized and we are passionate in that regard. The planning side is well executed and well timed. That comes from our years of experience with our clients. From a design perspective, we focus on the couple and ensure that their interests and their personality are reflected in the design. That makes each wedding very unique.

C: WHO ARE THE OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR TEAM, AND WHAT MAKES YOU WORK SO WELL TOGETHER? SM: Charlee’s been with us from the beginning, and Alyssa has been with us for about three years now. We are excited to be working together and collaborating. We love making the [wedding] day special for everyone. It’s like a buzz - we get an energy from it. We enjoy working together and working with our clients.

Read the full article at: www.addhere.com/abcsomething Best of Local : Fall 2016 V.1 Issue 1

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WALTZING MATILDA’S LEATHER GOODS ARE LOCALLY CRAFTED AND BUILT TO LAST A LIFETIME

Name: Mike Balitsaris Occupation: Owner & Founder Company: Waltzing Matilda Connect: waltzingmatildausa.com | @waltzingmatilda_usa In a world of mass production, Waltzing Matilda is founded on handcrafted leather pieces that are built to last. The first item crafted was a leather sandal made from a repurposed shoe.

Since then, the product line has grown to include bags, shoes, and accessories – all made by local artisans and sourced from materials made in the USA. We chatted with Mike Balitsaris, the owner and founder of Waltzing Matilda, to learn more about the values that he brings to his company.

C: YOU’VE WORKED TO ENSURE THAT YOUR PRODUCTS ARE MADE IN THE USA BY LOCAL ARTISANS. WHY IS THIS STANDARD SO IMPORTANT TO YOU? MB: I used to redevelop old factories into office spaces, and I would get to see the last couple of guys who were closing the factories down. It broke my heart to know that at one time, there were thousands of people working there. I’ve seen the real-time devastation of these small communities when a manufacturer gets on the road and leaves the town. Within six months there’s an increase in serious drug use and crime. Every horror that you can imagine happens. When you are putting factories back in these places, the reverse happens. I have four kids, and I want to leave them something so that they can experience the things we have that are good.

C: WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO HOLD ON TO THE STANDARDS THAT YOUR COMPANY STARTED WITH? MB: What motivates me is living a lifestyle that I feel like everybody should have the opportunity to live. I spent the first half of my career traveling every week to little Podunk towns by myself, [staying] in hotel rooms and not doing what I would have liked to do. [Now] I can literally ride my bike downhill to my shop, and I don’t even have to pedal. You can get more done and learn more by being home. I’m trying hard to make that a reality.

Read the full article at: www.addhere.com/abcsomething Best of Local : Fall 2016 V.1 Issue 1

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AVI LOREN FOX WEARS HER MANTLE PROUDLY

Name: Avi Loren Fox Occupation: Owner & Founder Company: Wild Mantle Connect: wildmantle.com | @WildMantle Wild Mantle is an online company that sells artesian knit Alpaca wool head coverings. It all started when founder Avi Loren Fox made her first mantle from an old sweater. It captured a lot of attention, and requests started pouring in from people who wanted one of their own.

It wasn’t long before she could no longer keep up with the demand, so she raised $40,000 on Kickstarter and began producing her mantles through a Colorado knitting mill. It’s hard to believe that such a simple item could change someone’s demeanor and attitude, and yet wearers have declared, “I feel like a warrior.”

C: WHY DO YOU THINK THE MANTLE CONCEPT HAS GAINED SO MUCH TRACTION? AL: It’s a garment that turns anything you’re wearing into a hoodie. The mantle can be worn over a jacket when it’s really cold, but customers also tell me that it replaces their need for a jacket in those transitional times of year. It’s [something] people are missing in their closets but didn’t know they were missing!

I think it has gained traction because of the word “mantle”.

“Mantle” is an ancient word that not only means a loose fitting hood or cloak, but also one’s role or responsibility in the world.

As a Millennial, I’m very aware of my generation’s desire to find meaningful work that does good in the world. The mantle is a symbol of that, and people relate to it.

C: WHAT IS THE LARGEST OBSTACLE THAT YOU HAD TO OVERCOME TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE? AL: For the first year and a half after I made my original mantle, I spent so much time shifting back and forth over whether or not I was going to make it my career. Eventually, I realized that my biggest obstacle was my indecision. I decided to go for it, [and] I put [all my] energy into building the business. Since I got out of my own way, things have gone really well.

Read the full article at: www.addhere.com/abcsomething Best of Local : Fall 2016 V.1 Issue 1

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THE HISTORY OF CONLIN’S FROM THE BEGINNING, Conlin’s was a family affair, founded by husband and wife team Mike and Jane Conlin in 1980. Mike grew up in the printing business working for Philadelphia Blue Print Company, Teledyne Post, and the Xerox Corporation.

With his extensive knowledge of the print and copy industry, Mike launched his own venture in 1980. Since the inception of Conlin’s, Mike had always pursued the latest in technological advances in his field, and has built a successful business by staying ahead of the curve while still maintaining a personal approach.

In his younger years, Mike took on a variety of jobs, which included working as a milkman and a bellhop. When there wasn’t any work available, he hitchhiked to California to find work. Always an entrepreneur, he once sold trash bags at JFK stadium to protect Army-Navy game fans from the rain. At one point, he even had a t-shirt stand on the Wildwood boardwalk where he printed people’s photos onto t-shirts.

On July 22, 1950 at the age of 20, Jane and Mike tied the knot.

At the time, Mike was honing his salesmanship abilities at Philadelphia Blueprint. He also worked for Xerox from 19751980. At last in 1980, Mike borrowed 10,000 each from two friends to start his own venture, Conlin’s Copy Center.

Mike, Jane, and their son Bill all came together to get the company up and running. In that time, it was unusual for women to be a part of the workforce, but Jane not only worked for Conlin’s, but she shepherded the early computerization of the company. Five years later, Michael, his other son, joined the company as well. To keep costs down, the first Conlin’s delivery truck was a purple mail truck this truck was actually Bill’s personal vehicle for a time.

Today, Conlin’s has expanded to three locations in King of Prussia, Malvern, and Horsham, and other family members have joined the business along the way. Bill Conlin, President, operates the business office with Bill Conlin, Jr. a Sales Executive. Nephew Jim DiBattista runs the Horsham office. Our principles are to never say no, to deliver quick-turnarounds, to stay ahead of the technology curve, and to always tell the truth.

Our family approach to business has resulted in long-time loyal employees, some who have been with us for over 26 years.

For print solutions and something else please visit us online: www.conlinsprint.com

Best of Local : Fall 2016 V.1 Issue 1

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CREDITS PHOTOGRAPHY

STREETS DEPT. Photo of Conrad Benner Jason Andrew Turner - www.jasonandrewturner.com CONFETTI & CO. Page 14 (left to right) Emily Wren Photography - www.emilywrenweddings.com Bonnie & Lauren Photography - www.bonnieandlauren.com Page 15 (top to bottom) Marisa Albrecht - marisaalbrecht.tumblr.com Peach Plum Pear Photography - www.peachplumpearphoto.com Lauren Fair Photography - www.laurenfairphotography.com E.M. RICHINNI Danielle Conyers - www.danielleconyersphoto.com THE HISTORY OF CONLIN’S Page 22 (top) Name Page 21 (bottom) & Page 22 (bottom) Lauren D’Alessandro

DESIGN & CONTENT

LAYOUT & DESIGN Jaime A. Zucker - www.sugarlanegraphics.com INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES Lauren D’Alessandro

ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION PRINTED ON: Add Machine PAPER STOCK: Add Weight and stock FINISHING: Add Bindery

KING OF PRUSSIA 1011 West Eighth Ave. King Of Prussia, PA 19406 610-337-4460 kingofprussia@conlinscopy.com

MALVERN 52 West Lancaster Ave. Malvern, PA 19355 610-647-6100 malvern@conlinscopy.com

HORSHAM 207 Witmer Road Horsham, PA 19044 215-323-9970 horsham@conlinscopy.com

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