Alison Rose, a Clintonville screen printing studio offering branded and custom designs, is planning a move Downtown in late 2016. For owners Nick and Alison Nocera, the transition is one in a succession of many over the last 13 years.
The biggest change happened in a life-defining moment for Nick Nocera, in 2013. That’s when he quit his full-time teaching job to focus on establishing the couple’s brand, Alison Rose, through a Clintonville store front. Although the store front has only been open for three years, their business began long before that.
In 2003, the Noceras, both art graduates from Kent State University, began making t-shirts out of their Reynoldsburg basement. They offered their products on alisonrose.com, a domain originally dedicated to Alison Nocera’s portfolio. Fast forward through several moves of their big, four-color screen printer to an established brand with a home in Clintonville. They now offer their own line of designs on t-shirts, posters, and bags. Clients also have the option of custom-designing their own image to be printed at the shop.
Over the past three years, the Noceras have downsized their retail space to provide more work space. In addition to their screen printer, their workspace also contains a drying rack and a couple rapid-dryers. The couple also has a mobile press that they take to events to make custom prints on-site. When they print on their mobile press, they use a heat-setting paint that dries quickly with their portable dryer, so clients walk away from their station with a ready-to-wear shirt.
Later this year, the Noceras are moving Alison Rose to the new Blockfort collaborative studios, located at 162 N. 6th Street. With the move, Alison Rose will trade their retail space for more room to work. The Noceras also hope to offer more workshops and art events in their new space. In their Clintonville location, they offer a “Print Night Out” as well as a basic workshop that teaches novices the ins and outs of screen printing. With their expanded area, they hope to offer more advanced shops and teach techniques that utilize different textiles. Their new spot will also allow them to participate in the gallery shows at Blockfort by offering a pop-up store.
For more information, visit www.alisonrose.com.
Photos by Randi Walle.