Adam Wilk is a 28 year old writer, designer, traveller and creator of Northbound Notebooks. Wilk has lived, worked and studied around the world, from Ottawa to Shanghai, and many places in between.
Northbound Notebooks found massive success through Indiegogo, exceeding their goal by over $4,000. With 77 backers and growing, it’s clear that everybody wants their hands on a Northbound Notebook.
Apt613 spoke with Wilk about the campaign, the inspiration behind these notebooks, and what Wilk is doing to help the Ottawa writing community.
Apt613: Congrats on the success of the Indiegogo campaign. Whose idea was it to create the campaign?
Wilk: Thanks! Mark and I decided to run the campaign a few months ago. We knew it was the best way to reach everybody. We’ve both had a few friends run successful campaigns and businesses before, but we are both brand new at this.
What was the general reaction after receiving news that you guys surpassed your goal?
For the two of us — some unlikely combination of relief, panic and joy. It’s really an amazing feeling to have people buy into something you create with your bare hands. Unlike anything I’ve tried to do before.
Whether it’s friends, family, or people online, everyone has been extremely positive. There’s no other way to put it. I think a lot of people come up with ideas, but to have something that people truly believe in and “get” within minutes — that’s something special.
What inspired you to create these notebooks?
It’s one of those stories that ends with, “if you want something done right, do it yourself.” The beginning and middle of that story is mostly me running around different places with dozens of different styles of notebook, frustrated, and maybe a little confused.
What makes Northbound Notebooks different from your typical notebook?
Full sized leather notebooks are a rare breed because they are expensive to make. They cater to a niche market. We decided to do it properly because no one else would. So we get our leather here in Ottawa, and we cut each piece by hand. We use the nicest vellum paper I’ve ever tried. And we had to be refillable. Why retire to the shelf when you can keep going?
Have you guys faced any significant challenges so far?
Oh absolutely. Neither of us are business-savvy, so we’re taking this day by day. We’ve decided to be extremely simple and straightforward with our decision making. We’re hoping that keeps things running smoothly.
Sometimes this whole process feels like that board game, Mouse Trap. You are supposed to play as a team, and while you play, you build this whole complex system of connections that ends with the guy doing a flip into a cup. But here’s the catch. Nobody ever actually played that game. Everyone just built the machine and threw the rules out the window. We’ve got to figure out the rules this time around. It’s difficult.
Tell me about Northbound & Notable!
Right now, it’s a beginning. I’ve always loved independent literature. This is something to grow with that passion. We want to foster a community of creatives. We want to get writers writing, artists sketching, and thinkers thinking.
Northbound & Notable is an avenue for people to get their thoughts out there. I know how it feels to see your work in print and in front of an audience. I want everyone to be able to experience that.
Right now, it’s going to begin as a blog highlighting some cool projects. But in the future, we want to make a magazine. Dream big, right?
Northbound & Notable is open to everybody. Check us out online today.
How can people purchase a Northbound Notebook?
For everything Northbound Notebooks related, including getting featured in Northbound & Notable, you should visit us at www.northboundnotebooks.com.
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