Managing a rotating calendar of farmers markets and pop-up events, on top of a demanding wholesale business, seems like chaos to many. To Krissy Monahan, it’s perfect.
“We love the freedom that markets and wholesaling provides us,” said the founder and "boss lady" of Breakout Press Co. “We can really create hours for ourselves. With a brick and mortar location, you really got to have consistency and large windows of time open for people to get there and we found that actually, it was kind of hindering our creative process.”
Monahan's small business that offers greeting cards, apparel and more was born from her printmaking passion. Many of the shop’s products, which are created at a commercial space in Catskill, feature nods to upstate New York and some of its locales, such as a T-shirt emblazoned with a phonetic spelling of Schenectady — where Monahan and her husband Price currently live.
“I felt like Schenectady was under appreciated for all the cool things that happen here. So I wanted to really start creating products that help celebrate how cool Schenectady is,” Monahan said. “You go to other big cities like Austin or Atlanta, or you go out to California, they have such cool locally made apparel and print work, and you couldn't find that around here. So I wanted to kind of give that option for people.”
In addition to items with local ties, Monahan, who grew up in Catskill, brings things even closer to home with items that touch upon her own family history.
The engraved pencils, available in a few different pithy phrases or customized to your heart's desire, came about when Monahan was going through some items once belonging to her grandmother. Among them, the machine needed for the teeny-tiny letterwork.
“So I started using the machine to engrave really funny and profane pencil quotes. That is definitely one of our longtime favorite sellers because of my personal connection to the machine,” Monahan said. “Because, every time I press a pencil on there, I do think a lot about my grandmother.”
In addition to the locally focused fun, is the “witty and whimsical” line, as Monahan puts it.
This includes tote bags touting sentiments such as “Easily distracted by dogs” or stickers with pop culture references such as “All panic, no disco” — a nod to pop rock band Panic! at the Disco.
The stickers are the only item neither Krissy nor Price make themselves. No need to look far, however, as the designs are printed locally with Amsterdam-based company Sticker Mule.
Monahan is an art teacher in Albany. She is the chief designer at Breakout Press Co. but, during the day, Price is fulfilling orders and making prints while she teaches.
“We have such a good time in class and I feel like they [the students] keep me inspired,” she said. “And I'm hopefully inspiring them.”
Working away from the business gives Monahan an added perspective that propels her creativity. She comes to Breakout Press Co. refreshed, ready to keep creating.
The world around her is where Monahan draws inspiration for the “witty and whimsical” share of products. She also nods to iconic artists such as Roy Liechtenstein, who’s influences can be seen in the line and dot work of one of her Nipper designs.
If nothing on the shop’s website strikes your fancy, Monahan can likely customize something to your taste. Or if you need gifts for bridesmaids or party guests, she can craft a unique favor for many events.
Outside of work, Monahan is probably traveling or catching some rays with her and her husband’s pets.