Owner and creator Anna Jordan launched the business a few years ago as a hobby while working out of her dorm room at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. What started as a creative outlet quickly turned into a growing brand after she discovered the design possibilities of polymer clay.
Today, Jordan runs AnnaBanana from Raleigh, selling her handcrafted designs online and in retail stores across the Triangle and throughout the state.
"I try to keep a reasonable price point. I think that's always important to people, but my main priority is the quality," Jordan said. "So typically if I'm coming up with a new design, I'll wear it for a while before I even put it out."
Jordan said her focus is on creating one-of-a-kind pieces that are lightweight, comfortable, and high quality. Earrings are her signature product -- and polymer clay allows her to experiment with size, color, and intricate detail without adding weight.
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"My main thing is earrings," she said. "I got into polymer clay because I was able to be very creative. The earrings are a little bit bigger -- they're something I can really do a lot of detail and design with. That's also great, that material, because it's very light. A lot of my customers love it because it's comfortable."
From a dorm room startup to a growing North Carolina brand, AnnaBanana continues to prove that small businesses built on creativity and craftsmanship can thrive close to home.
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