This Season, We’re Digging Deeper: Inside The Collective Newspaper
BY EMMA GEARY, NOVEMBER 16, 2023
Illustration by Erica Gloeckler
Today on the blog, we’re giving you a sneak peek into one of our favorite passion projects - the Fall/Winter Edition of The Collective newspaper! Here at LAB, we love a good print piece — we can play with design, layouts, and writing techniques in fresh new ways as we tell the stories of local makers and businesses. Not only is a newspaper our design playground, but it’s an incredible way to further elevate and amplify our Collective Members and businesses across the Twin Cities.
Take a sneak peek at our editors’ letter, which is not only a note to our community, but to Minnesota as a whole as we brace for a long winter ahead. Grab the full newspaper for yourself at One of over thirty locations across the city, including team favorites like Fawkes Alley Coffee, Parc Boutique, and Pryes Brewing! Click here for a full list of distributors.
Letter from the Editor: This Season, We’re Digging Deeper
As I unpacked my groceries last weekend, the travel-size shovel in my trunk peeked out from behind my bag. A flashback appeared of the mountains of snow, almost unimaginable now as I look down my colorful, tree-lined street as the leaves flash orange and red.
Image from the Fall Collective Market
Photo credit to Nastia Krinitsyn & Glass House
While last year boasted record-breaking snowfalls, it also brought a sense of “Snow Day” community that I didn’t realize how much I’d missed. An adult snow day is a delightful excuse to slow down and clear your calendar.
What I think of most, though, when it comes to a Minnesota winter, is the joy and energy of these storms. As a resident of Uptown, I’m no stranger to digging out of a plowed-in parking space. My local hardware store ran out of shovels, but people just laughed as they came inside, marveling at an unexpected fluffy mess.
We pushed and shoveled and salted our way out. We got through it, together, like we always do.
While winter may feel never-ending, we’re hoping this issue of The Collective Newspaper reminds you to live in the present and embrace the nuances that each season brings. In the colder months, this means slowing down, digging deep, and bringing intention back into your daily life. When the cabin fever starts to hit though, we’ve got a few ideas to experience nature in different doses later in this issue.
Image from the Fall Collective Market
Photo credit to Nastia Krinitsyn & Glass House
As another holiday shopping season approaches, we encourage you to consider supporting local businesses whenever you’re able. Small businesses are the fabric of our community, and the money you spend with them is more likely to be put right back into our local economy.
Looking for local brands to discover? Check out our Collective Directory, your go-to guide for all things holiday shopping and beyond.
Plus, it’s fun to support your neighbors! The Twin Cities are home to some of the most vibrant creatives in the country, and we are proud to serve as a launchpad for new ideas to thrive by sharing their stories.
Image from the LAB Talks: Creativity in the Kitchen
Photo credit to John Cybart & Glass House
We dive deeper into a few pockets of these creative communities in our LAB Talks, which are free events hosted at Glass House. Read a few of our key takeaways from local entrepreneurs in the paper.
At LAB, our pillars have always been “create, connect, collaborate.” Being a part of the local community is the driving force behind every project we create, the brand we design, and the relationship we make. If we aren’t amplifying the creators we love, we aren’t living up to our full potential as a creative agency. So, let’s bundle up and gather around the fire and enjoy this winter to the fullest–together.
Thank you for joining us in our mission to create, collaborate, and connect with our incredible community. We truly wouldn’t be here without YOU!
Cheers to a bright winter ahead!
Emma Geary
Emma is the one writing it all down. She's been with LAB since 2021 and is finishing her MFA in Creative Writing in her spare time. Her favorite color right now is cobalt blue.
