Nordhuset: Norwegian landmarks - one vibrant artwork at a time
Oslo, Norway
“I’m really pleased that I’ve found Gelato because the quality of their products means that there’s one less worry. I know that when a poster is being sent to somebody, the colors are going to be really vibrant, and the quality of the paper is going to be exactly as I want it,”
Ruth Sparkes, Founder, Nordhuset.
Nordhuset, “The North House”, creates and sells vintage and pop art style posters of beautiful landmarks in and around Norway. Since its founding during the heart of the pandemic, Nordhuset has grown exponentially.
“I started taking photographs because the one thing you could do during the pandemic was to go outside," says Ruth.
“The first design that I did was the [Oslo] Opera House. The way that the light was dancing on the Opera House and the reflections in the water was just beautiful, and the photograph didn’t quite capture what I saw. That’s when I started playing around with the colors that I remembered seeing.”
The Scandinavian designers in us will appreciate Nordhuset's gorgeous collection of wall art with elegantly designed posters fit for the grandest of walls. In addition to her aptitude for design, Ruth possessed a keen business sense, which helped her build a loyal customer base and a successful business.
Carving out a space in the art world
Nevertheless, Ruth encountered a number of challenges when starting her business. Her greatest challenge was attracting new customers and spreading the word about Nordhuset. In an increasingly competitive market, she knew that she needed to find a way to differentiate herself from the competition. As a result, she began investigating different marketing strategies to aid her in achieving her goals.
Ruth's sales model included selling at markets and events in person and online through her ecommerce website.
Global access with greener business practices
Ruth opted to use print, or production, on demand to produce her posters globally. This allowed her to produce high-quality prints when and where a customer made a purchase, without the need for expensive upfront costs or minimum orders. She could create and sell her designs online and have them printed and shipped locally, anywhere her customers purchased them in the world.
Consistency and quality delivered
“I’m really pleased that I’ve found Gelato because the quality of their products means that there’s one less worry. I know that when a poster is being sent to somebody, the colors are going to be really vibrant, and the quality of the paper is going to be as I want it to be. People from all over the world can place an order and they get the product within days because Gelato produces locally and it’s great for the environment.”
Today, Nordhuset is thriving, with a loyal customer base and a reputation for excellence. Ruth remains at the helm of the company, inspiring and engaging her audience with her passion for art and design. As a member of the Gelato family, she has the ability to continue to grow and expand, and with a reliable global production network at her disposal, she is well-positioned to succeed.
“Using Gelato is like magic to fellow business owners like myself as it takes the stress away.”
Watching Nordhuset grow and support its unique take on Norwegian landmarks has been enthralling. Gelato is proud of the amazing things they have done so far and cannot wait for what the future holds!
