“This was very generous on their part,” Krager said. Krager sent them a list of what was most needed at the shelter and the Treehouse Collective used all the proceeds to purchase paper products, cleaning supplies and other needed items, which they delivered to Samaritan House right before Thanksgiving. The smaller profits added up and by month’s end the collective had raised almost $700. They marshaled their forces and began increasing the production of their shirts and CDs, dropping the price so more people could buy them. The month before Thanksgiving they got ahold of Chris Krager, executive director of the Samaritan House, and asked how they could be of help to the homeless shelter. “We’ve grown and we wanted to use our influence to do something awesome for the community,” he said. Collective members are able to utilize the studio around the clock, which is essential to their work because they all also hold down 9-to-5 jobs, Edwards said. Now the studio features a vinyl cutter, heat press and other manufacturing equipment. Since then, The Treehouse Collective has gained commercial traction in the valley. When his partner decided to leave the valley, Edwards took over the reins. Together they invested in several infrastructure improvements to the property to cater to their studio needs. The collective makes T-shirts, CDs and other products, which they, in turn, sell from their studio/office.Ī couple of years ago Edwards and a business partner joined forces to start a recording studio. “We tap into each other’s talents,” Edwards said. The musicians are part of a collective of artists skilled in clothing, graphic and makeup design, videography and more. The rest of the musicians in Treehouse, Edwards says, are “homegrown” in the Flathead Valley. Edwards, originally from Nashville, came with his musical family to Kalispell when he was 15. Tucked into the Emporium on First Avenue East in Kalispell is a growing group of entrepreneurs known as The Treehouse Collective.Īmong the 10 artists is hip-hop musician 21-year-old Josh Edwards.
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