Anything can happen when like minds collide. This is the the defining credo behind the new brainchild of brand, marketing and technology company Long & Co, who are making their mark with a permanent boutique space for the three-year old company nestled in the hill of King Street, Newcastle.
Long & Co HQ is charged with the creative energy riffing off a view corridor to the busy harbour and a dynamism generated by the original art and artisan furniture highlighted throughout the space.
Working alongside the company in the space will be carefully selected ultra-specialists, artists and collaborators.
Long & Co Director, Cat Long, said the idea behind her new approach was to bring business and leading-edge creativity together.
“We’re responding to a changing market that is no longer constrained by who would traditionally be working together under one roof but instead brings experts together because they are like-minded and share the same vision of how they approach business,” Cat said.
Noticing a gap in the Newcastle market for bringing together like-minded solopreneur teams, Cat built a business model to accommodate local Hunter professionals and potential clients.
“We did not see that model available in Newcastle, so we built it. Our beautiful new office adds the physical space for these problems to be solved more effectively,” she said.
“The Co in Long & Co will be those working alongside us, but under their own auspices in the space. They’ll be representative of our values – innovative, ahead of the curve, early adopters.”
The Long & Co space has been built for creators, designers, artists and technologists who have the confidence and creative drive to steer their own ship.
It’s this buzz that’s drawn in public relations agency House of Airlie, which is joining Long & Co as a permanent fixture in the space.
Having earned its stripes through long-term partnerships with the Hunter Valley’s premium wine, culinary and tourism operators, House of Airlie is moving its base to work alongside the Long & Co team.
Stephanie Airlie-Noé, Founder and Director of House of Airlie Public Relations, said that Cat’s vision and approach was in perfect alignment with her company brand.
“Cat’s approach really makes sense to me. It’s closely aligned with the expertise House of Airlie brings to clients, because, like Cat, we are always riding the wave of “What’s next? What can we do that’s new and fresh?” Stephanie said.
Another addition to the boutique space is street artist and techno-whizz Keo Match, who is already adding touches of his wizardry to the business with his expertise in Augmented Reality.
Long & Co is also using the space to give back to the community – in particular, the charity Dress For Success, which empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and development tools to help women thrive in work and life.
“We’re showcasing the work of artists, makers and creators here and a percentage of anything they sell here will go to Dressed for Success,” Cat said.
Long & Co will be officially launching their boutique space on Thursday 17 October in King Street, Newcastle.
IMAGE | Long & Co have launched their new boutique space in King Street, Newcastle.
