Meet Lauren Eades | Purple Leopard Designs

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Eades and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Well, in most cases when people want to start their business it’s because they want to do something for the greater good or be their own boss. Mine was to basically break even. I am a major crafter and always have been. I get it from my mom. For instance, my husband just shakes his head at us because we are the ones that see an old piece of wood pile and collect wood to just have it sit for a long time taking up room because we have too many ideas of what craft to do with it. My family bought me a Cricut for Christmas one year and of course I Make everything. I was spending tons of money, so I decided that maybe I could start my own business to at least break even and be doing something I love. I am also a very anxious and stressed out person. Crafting is my outlet, so I thought what better way for my outlet than start a business and do something I love.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am just a small business making tumblers, shirts, keychains, pens, staplers, and several other things. If I don’t make it, and you have an idea you want made, I sure try to accommodate, or it intrigues my interest and decide to start another craft. I know there are SEVERAL businesses out there that make the same things I do. I just try listen to what my customers want and make sure they get exactly what they are envisioning in their head. Instead of just giving them a product, I try to give them sense of comfort and friendliness instead of just a retailer that wants to make a sale.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, I have a small group of friends. I am not always the one that finds the most adventurous things. My brother in law, Sam, is the one that can find all the interesting things to try new things. He is the one that introduced me to Mash’d. It is such a fun place to go and great food. Also, Koe Wetzel’s Riot Room is a fun and interesting atmosphere. One of my favorite places. The stockyards are also fun and interesting to visit. As long as there are some fun places to go that is always a great start, but it is also always the company you have and the memories you make.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My small business wasn’t started to break the bank or venture out on my own. I still have a full time job and just do my small business on the side. I do have to give credit to my mom, brother, and husband,Mykel. I was very skeptical about starting my own business. I had always teetered with the idea since my teenage years. My husband pushed me to just jump and do it. I hadn’t told anybody until I had made everything official. I then finally told my mom and she was overjoyed and my biggest cheerleader. Wasn’t long after, I had a small vendor event and I was 30 minutes in and hadn’t sold a thing. I had sent my mom a message and told her I wasn’t going to pursue the small business because of that. She cheered me on and had all of the positive vibes sent my way. By the end of the night, I had sold almost all of my inventory, more compliments than I could count, and several more invites to other vendor events. Since the very beginning, mom, brother, and husband have all been in my corner and have encouraged me to keep my small business going. Some days it is veery overwhelming to me or think this was a dumb idea for me to start, but then one of them reminds me I do this for my love of being creative and helping myself decompress. I have several others that have been a helpful hand to me, but these three were the ones that have been by my side from the very beginning. My mom and I have a rough relationship in my younger years, but as I got older she became my best friend and I run to her with everything no matter how old I am. My brother, Mitchell, is more of the quiet type, but has always been there for me. We have always been typical brother and sister bickering back and for, but we have been inseparable. He has always been the one I can run to with a problem. He helps me in any way he can in his own little way. My husband, Mykel, knows his way with words and to get me to think differently of myself. I have always been too hard on myself,but he knows how to lift me up when I am down. He has been my cheerleader in anything I have ideas about. Sometimes my ideas are just random and I don’t plan to make anything big about it, but he always pushes me into it and at least I know it will either work or fail, but at least I tried it. It is any amazing feeling to have such amazing people on my side.

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