Designer publisher and art studio, Jolly Awesome has a lot to celebrate right now.
The ambitious company has just hit the milestone of 2 million sales, reaching a £1.5 million turnover while marking its third anniversary. This coincides with founder, Matt Nguyen and its operations and sales director, Katie Littlewood getting married.
Meanwhile the third ‘director’ in the family, Raffy, their French Bulldog, is upping his role as the star of a company’s third brand – Baby Raffy, which officially launches tomorrow (Friday 8 September).
Baby Raffy joins the original brand, Jolly Awesome and Paperboy London (which launched in January) and will follow the other two strands in being translated onto a host of products, including via licensing.
Raffy has appeared on the company’s ‘Meet the team’ section of the website as ‘Director of Walkies’, bringing ‘a wealth of experience in eating, pooping and shoe chewing,’ to the team. Now though his cheeky face stars is debuting on a range of cards.
Having soft launched in some select retailers a earlier this summer, now a major launch is getting underway, both in the UK and worldwide.
Leveraging the company’s close fashion links – Katie spent five years working with top fashion names before joining Jolly Awesome – some bespoke designs have been developed with ASOS. The BABY RAFFY x ASOS exclusive designs has recently launched on the fashion brands site.
Commenting on the Raffy brand, Matt has high aspirations for his four-legged friend: “He is the new millennial icon. We have big plans for him. He’s already broken into the States :), and he’s on his way to other parts of the World now.”
The inaugural Baby Raffy range comprises 30 card designs. Following the pattern of Jolly Awesome and its sibling Paperboy London brand, the plan is to extend Baby Raffy onto other products through licensing partnerships with other companies.
Summing up the company’s first three years, Matt said: “It’s been an incredible ride since Jolly Awesome started in the Summer of 2014. We are an authentically small, family business with big dreams and aspirations. It’s so rewarding and fun working with my wife, it’s high-pressure for two pairs of shoulders, but our work ethic and smarter-not-harder business model allows us to operate at the efficiency and turnover of a 30+ person publisher without the overheads and admin.”
Up close with: Matt Nguyen, founder, illustrator and creative director of Jolly Awesome
How did you get started?: “As a freelance designer whilse studying Business & Management at University, during which I was commissioned to create album artwork for some of my favourite hip hop record labels, such as Bad Boy Records & Shady Aftermath and legendary artists like Outkast, Rick Ross and Diddy.”
What happened after you graduated?: “I moved into the corporate world where I spent a successful 5 years at HSBC’s global HQ, progressing through roles in digital marketing, Branding and Design before I eventually quit my day job to follow my Jolly Awesome dream in 2014.”
What are your claims to fame as a illustrator?: “I am proud to have exhibited at Sir Quentin Blake’s House of Illustration. Plus, I have been commissioned to direct creative campaigns by brands including Glaceau Vitamin Water, Harper Collins children’s books and I have collaborated with fashion brands like Converse.”
What are your inspirations?: “My love of British pop-culture, street fashion, funny looking animals and my childhood fascination with all things Americana – those 90’s Saturday morning cartoons, 80’s cult movies and hip hop.”
