Hello from snowy Pennsylvania! We got yet another snow storm yesterday- but it's gorgeous and after spending an afternoon this weekend reigniting my ski love, I am thankful that it's still winter.
Today I am happy to be writing about another small business from a friend of mine, Lindsay Gaines, from
Juniata College. We were basketball teammates there and after college both happened to moved to the great state of North Carolina, where she now resides. Lindsay is a fellow blogger, new mom to a precious little boy, and starter of a business called Lulu's Mimi, an out-of-home business that features things "homemade with love".
Part of my intention to introducing a small business is not only to feature great products, but also to capture a bit about the person behind it. By getting to know these people a little better, the item bought from that business is a little more meaningful, and in our culture, isn't it great to put a face behind a product?
^^Lindsay sporting one of her most popular items, a chevron scarf^^
So, here's a bit of the email interview:
1. What inspired you to start making items to sell?
My inspiration actually stemmed from blogging. I started reading
blogs consistently and noticed that many of the blogs I was reading were
primarily sewing/tutorial type posts. Once I started navigating
Pinterest, I decided I could do those things. So, on Black Friday two
years ago my mother talked me into buying a sewing machine and here I
am. I have to add that I sewed with my grandmother as a child/teen so I
had some experience with it prior to this, but hadn't done anything in
over a decade before becoming inspired by what I saw out there.
Coincidentally, this also inspired my blog.
2. What has been your most popular item(s)?
My most popular items are definitely baby items: car seat covers, burp
cloths, bibs, and diaper clutches. Many people like to give them as
gifts and everyone loves receiving them. My scarves are really popular
as well, particularly the chevron pattern. My favorite thing though is
when people contact me asking me if I can make something. That's how I
started making car seat covers!
3. Do you sell at local craft fairs or just out of your home?
I do sell at local craft fairs. I even had my crafts in a store
front here in town for a little over a year. I sell a lot through my
Facebook page. I really enjoy doing craft fairs because it allows me to
connect with other vendors and I've always been a small business/craft
fair junkie so I love the atmosphere.
4. What has been the hardest thing about having a small business?
Right now the hardest thing about having a small business is finding the
time to sew with a little one in the house. However, I also have the
hardest time getting to the post office. I don't know what it is about
that place!
5. What other thoughts do you have on buying locally/small businesses?
I try very hard to buy local/small as often as I can. If I can't do
that, I at least try to purchase goods made in America. At one point in
my life I had a hard time paying the extra you might pay for locally
made goods, but then I started making my own things and realized the
time, effort, and love that goes into creating. That's the best part of
shopping small; each item is unique and created with someone's hands
quite possibly while they were balancing life with a new baby or raising
money for a dream vacation... I love that everything has a story.
6. Where did the name "Lulu's Mimi" come from?
My grandmother is the one that taught me the basics of sewing. Growing
up she and I made aprons, duffel bags, blankets, even prom dresses
together. She is a very talented woman who happens to be my grandmother
and, more importantly, one of my very best friends. It is really
important to me that I keep this legacy alive in my family (I'm
extremely sentimental) so I'm so proud to carry on the tradition of
creating clothing and gifts. One of my nicknames is Lulu and I call my
grandmother Mimi hence the name: Lulu's Mimi. I'm considering changing
my blog to the same name so that everything flows cohesively in the
event that this small business could become more than a hobby at some
point in my life.
So, without further ado, there are a couple different ways to see Lindsay's products:
Lulu's Mimi FB page:
Here
She does take custom orders through her facebook page, and also said that she has some things already made, ready to send out. So check it out!
Annnnd one of you lucky readers
will win any item of your choice from Lulu's Mimi (free shipping too!).
So, if you have a baby, an upcoming baby shower, or need a stylish scarf, just enter a comment below listing a small business that you patron and why you go there. Enter by next Monday, February 17, where the winner will be chosen at random.
**Good luck and thanks for supporting small businesses!!**
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