Today we’d like to introduce you to Noah Furey and Jimmy Kurz.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Clark Street Collective was founded the summer of 2017 when a group of local photographers and models came together at 416 N. Clark St. Bored with the typical city shots, we wanted to evolve our skill set and get out of our comfort zones. For the next three months we came together every Sunday building our craft and developing a community based around creative minds working together. With the summer coming to an end and @thatrudyguy moving back home to California, we decided to have one last bang. Meet Me in River North (MMIRN) was born, A gallery rooted from the underground artists of Chicago. This event was an outlet and a foundation for all types of artists to showcase their work in front of a community based around the idea of learning and growing together. This is the first time CSC realized that Clark St. wasn’t just a group of friends, it was a movement that inspired the Chicago community to work together. As an artist your life can be up in the air and direction can be lost or hidden by normal day life. However, 416 N Clark was a home; somewhere safe in the city for creatives to come work on their craft and have likeminded individuals surround them. Clark St on 02/26/18 Became a LLC. With the dream of being able to not only create unique an experience with every client we have yet boost the economy by fueling more jobs to the freelance artist based around one centralized hub.
Has it been a smooth road?
Well, as any new business of course we have had a few speed bumps here and there. As a creative I think some of the biggest struggles are knowing exactly what to do. It’s easy to get mislead and lose faith on your craft because of cash/time and so many more aspects but as a young entrepreneur I think the most valuable thing I can say is to be a jack of all trades. What does this mean? Well, you’re not just an artist, you are a business. Today is the best time to be your own boss, knowledge is the most accessible it’s ever been and skills can be learned quickly. With that being said a jack of all trades doesn’t stop with one craft, they put in the work to learn all aspects of business.
Next is going to be finding the right group of people. This takes a little more time but I’m a firm believer on law of attraction. So don’t rush it. The best relationship is an independent one not a codependent one. By surrounding yourself with likeminded individuals, your dreams become easier and easier to obtain. You can be a lone wolf with a single idea or you can be a pack a wolves with shared ideas, building upon each other.
Finally, there’s time; one of the worst things to handle over the start of a creative journey. Everyone always wants to see the gold before even trying to grab a penny. I think one of the biggest things we learned was actually by a recruiter from Def Jam who said “You can go a whole year without making money, but it’s the connections made and the knowledge gained from the experiences and people that last a lifetime.” Not every interaction and job will put money in your pocket, but it’s the knowledge gained through the experience that matters most. There is no time limit on success, enjoying the process through the creative journey will do wonders for you.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Clark Street Collective – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Clark Street Collective is a Creative Agency that uses a fresh approach on free marketing. We create a unique brand building opportunity for leading Chicago land businesses and drive organic followings through free and paid marketing channels such as Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and various media platforms. As a Creative Agency, we offer full service benefits within visual arts that guarantee growth and branding support.
We are all proud of how far we have come and the connections we have made over the past 6 months since becoming a legal business. The impact we have made in the community of creatives blows me away and on top of that, we have been giving back to after school programs to ensure a positive outlook for the next generation of artists. What sets CSC apart from the local creatives? Thinking differently. Every move we make is a marketing stunt, but we have never lost focus on what our bigger mission is: to create jobs for the freelance artist who don’t know how to take the next steps into becoming a working professional. On top of that, we have fun with everything we do and I think that’s really what it’s all about. Everyone believes they have to follow certain rules on how to operate a business, but creating a new way of doing things transforms the way people view modern businesses. I believe CSC again is not just a business but a movement.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Honestly, we have no dislikes, Chicago will forever be our home. With us coming from all different states, Chicago was the one place that brought us all together. Chicago has one of the best creative communities to work with and although it may be small, it’s a strong one. Not only is the community great, but the energy of the city is what makes being a young creative so fulfilling. Without a doubt Chicago has blessed us with many opportunities, you just have to be willing to look for it. Oh, and the views are pretty great too.
Contact Info:
- Address: 416 N Clark St Chicago IL 60654
- Website: Clarkst.co
- Phone: 6512699258
- Email: Clarkstreetcollective@gmail.com
- Instagram: Clarkstcollective
- Facebook: Clarkstcollective
- Twitter: Clarkstcollective
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/clark-st-collective-chicago
Image Credit:
@clarkstcollective, @Jimmykurz, @mitchdinello, @sky2.16, @jonfromchicago, @Everythingfvry @ashleywolve
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
