Ep. 10: Greg Benson of Loll Designs

CleverEpisodes
Written By Amy Devers

Designer and CEO of Loll Designs, Greg Benson, is living the good life in Duluth, MN. He shares with us his trajectory from building skate parks all over the world as a founder of TrueRide, to growing the trifecta of design, manufacturing, and distribution sister companies currently in the Loll family. A dedicated steward of the planet, he knows his way around the great outdoors, a well-crafted IPA, and the art of modern lollygagging - yeah, so what IS that anyway?! Tune in to find out.

As you can tell by this photo, Greg's a pretty fun guy. 

Greg is a born and raised Minnesotan, who ended up sticking around to not only grow multiple businesses close to home, but to support the local community and environment he so loved as a boy. An avid outdoorsman, snowboarding, skating and catching turtles, his love of Minnesota and nature deeply impacted his future businesses. From early on, community was important to him, and hanging out with neighbors soon turned into a business opportunity and the rest is history... and the present.

Greg enjoying the outdoors as a young Minnesotan, hanging out catching turtles and other sea life.

TrueRide skate ramp

From Rollerblades to skate parks to cutting boards and outdoor furniture, Greg knows quite a bit about starting and growing businesses. On top of that, he knows how to be resourceful. All of his businesses were built upon and maintain sustainability as their core value, with giving back as a secondary yet equally important ethos.

The signature modern Adirondak chairs, one of Greg's side projects that soon developed into Loll Designs.

The Lollygagger Beer collaboration with Bent Paddle was created to raise money for a 100+ mile trail through Duluth, called the Duluth Traverse.

One of Epicurean's cutting boards

Loll has since expanded their collection to include lots more furnishings using their signature 100% recycled plastic material.

Tap handles, a side project that Greg and his crew worked on for Bent Paddle. Find out more of what they've got brewing in the beer world.

Poncho collaboration with Faribault Woolen Milll

Greg sure knows how to have a good time! Find out what modern lollygagging is all about... listen above!

So, if anyone ever tells you that you're lollygagging, we think you can take it as a compliment. Lollygag on! 

Learn more about Loll Designs online at lolldesigns.com, and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Also, be sure to check out Intectural, Good Sheet and Epicurean.

Thanks to our sponsor Freshbooks for supporting this episode of Clever.

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Special thanks to Chris Modl of Yore Studio for editing this episode.
Music in this episode courtesy of El Ten Eleven—hear more on Bandcamp.
Shoutout to Jenny Rask for designing the Clever logo.

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