What started as a creative lifeline during a battle with chronic pain has blossomed into one of the most unique apparel brands in Schuylkill County.
Jen Gavalis founded Nora’s Pawsome Tees in 2024 to turn local nostalgia into high-quality, size-inclusive fashion. From cartoon pierogies to boilo-sipping characters, her designs celebrate the region’s quirky culture with humor and heart.
In this Q&A, Gavalis talks about how a simple doodle saved her life, her serendipitous first sales pitch, and her mission to make “The Skook” look good.
What inspired you to start this business, and how did your personal journey lead you here?
I never thought drawing cartoon pierogies would save my life, but sometimes the smallest things become our biggest lifelines. Three years ago, I was drowning. Chronic pain had stolen my ability to work traditional jobs, and depression had made me feel that maybe I’d lost my purpose entirely. I’d spent years earning my Bachelor of Science in Graphic Design, building experience in the printing industry, and suddenly, I couldn’t even sit at a desk for eight hours. The darkness was overwhelming.
At some point, I decided to focus on what I CAN do. I had the experience, the computer, the software, and a great imagination. I could take all those years of training and experience and channel them into something that brought joy instead of pain, right from my comfy recliner in the living room. It started small, designing silly cartoon versions of the food and drinks I grew up with in Schuylkill County. The first character I created was the pierogi, followed by the iced tea and the Lager. The reaction to that one design was overwhelming!
What unique products or services do you offer that can’t be found elsewhere in our community?
I transform Skook nostalgia into wearable joy. My original designs can only be found here. By combining premium materials that maintain their quality wash after wash with authentic, hand-crafted designs of nostalgic Skook symbols, I create wearable pieces of home that spark conversations and celebrate regional pride in a way no one else does. As a lifelong Skook, these designs come from my own experiences growing up with halupki dinners, boilo at Christmas, and the Bleenie lines at a block party. I’m sharing my own heritage with pride.
Can you share an interesting fact or story about your business that most people may not know?
I have quite a few obsessions. Iced tea, quality t-shirts, and finding magic in ordinary moments top the list. But there’s one obsession that started in high school and shaped everything that came after: The Beatles. I fell so deeply in love with their music that I was even featured in a local newspaper article in 2001 about Beatles fans called “Beatlemania Lives.”
Once, during my junior year of my Graphic Design degree, I went to a Sean Lennon album release show. He was drinking a beer, and I asked him if he could hold up his Yuengling for a photo. “My what?” he said. “Your beer,” I replied. “It’s made where I’m from.” And he did it! Even in Philadelphia, even meeting the son of my musical hero, I was still proudly representing where I’m from. That’s the feeling I want to create with my work at Nora’s Pawsome Tees. No matter where you go, your roots and your hometown pride are still there, waiting for the right moment to shine.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a small business, and how did you overcome it?
Let me paint you a picture of the most terrifying (and amazing) day of my business journey. I was clutching my shirt samples like they were made of gold, practically vibrating with nerves as I walked into Kitty Lou Boutique. I had never even shopped there before because I’d made this ridiculous assumption that they didn’t carry plus sizes. (Plot twist: I was SO wrong.)
The moment I met Jackie [the owner], something shifted. She took one look at my nervous, rambling explanation about being a local designer and said, “Don’t be nervous! I’d love to see your work.” She LOVED them. Within minutes, my shirts were sprawled across her counter under a ring light like they belonged in a magazine. She posted them to social media before I even made it to my car. By the time I walked into the second boutique (still pinching myself), Jackie had already taken TEN ORDERS. That moment didn’t just give me sales…it gave me confidence.
How does your business contribute to the local community or participate in community events?
I have donated and offered volunteer services for many local organizations. This year I donated prizes for Spooky Schuylkill 5K, St. Nicholas School’s Basket Raffle, a fundraiser for a cancer patient, Rosemont Campground’s Basket Raffle for the Therapeutic Riding Program, and many others. I have also volunteered my design services to Minersville High School Drama Club, Pottsville High School Drama Club, and the Majestic Theater.
What do you want customers to experience when they interact with your business?
I want to create a sense of Home and for my customers to have a tangible connection to where they came from.
Why should someone consider visiting or patronizing your business during the holiday season?
My holiday collection features nine Christmas tree ornaments, six shirt designs, three new stickers, two new characters, boilo glasses, glass cans, and one aluminum sign. I have a new Old Fashioned Boilo design that is available on a shirt, stickers, and brand new aluminum bar signs. I also have five other holiday-themed shirts, including my newest design, “Have Yourself a Skooky Little Christmas,” which features a Halupki, Kielbasa, Pierogi, and two new characters—City Chicken and Bleenie—enjoying Christmas treats.
What are your future plans or dreams for your business?
I am currently expanding my space at Beauty Bee Storefront: On the Trail. I am adding a sticker wall because I feel nostalgic for the store “Daydreams” in the Fairlane Mall and would like to recreate that feeling I felt walking in there and seeing all of those amazing stickers—the glittery, the puffy, the scratch and sniff—and pass that on to others.
What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business in our community?
Put yourself in your social media and advertising. I know it sounds hard, and I know most of you don’t want to hear that. I still get uncomfortable in front of the camera speaking about my work. Shoppers want to see your authenticity, and what makes you…you! So despite the hesitation and how cringey it is, it will help get the word about your business to such a bigger audience than just showing your work would do.
At A Glance
- Business Name: Nora’s Pawsome Tees
- Location: Online Business (Schuylkill County based)
- Retail Partners:
- Kitty Lou Boutique
- Sughr and Company
- Beauty Bee Storefront: On the Trail
- Kowalonek’s
- 3 Sweets
- Services: Size-inclusive apparel & merchandise with Schuylkill County designs
- Website: NorasPawsomeTees.com
- Payment Methods: Credit/Debit cards, Mobile payments, Online payments
- Social Media:
Feature Your Small Business on Coal Region Canary
Our Small Business Showcase is a great way to share the story of your company, its products and services to our growing and highly-engaged readership. To get a feature like the one you just read for your business, follow this link and fill out the form you find in that post.
Subscribe to Coal Region Canary
Get email updates from Coal Region Canary by becoming a subscriber today. Just enter your email address below to get started!Support Coal Region Canary
Like our reporting and want to support truly local news in Schuylkill County? Your small donations help. For as little as $5, your contribution will allow us to cover more news that directly affects you. Consider donating today by hitting the big yellow button below ...