Meet Trailblazer Lauren Stewart

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Stewart.

Lauren, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started In The Reads shortly after graduating from the University of Wyoming with a degree that I wasn’t quite sure what to do with. After a few months of moving across several states post-graduation, my partner and I ended up living with his mom in Denver for the summer of 2017 while we house hunted in Colorado Springs. Not wanting to find a job in Denver for three months or commute to the springs every day, I was able to spend the summer exploring my creativity and start my own business.

For years I have been involved in an online community on Instagram commonly referred to as “bookstagram”; a place where like-minded book readers can get together and talk about books and merchandise associated with their favorite fandoms. So really In The Reads started before I even knew what it was, I was hand wood-burning bookmarks for my friends and sending them all over the world. Before I knew it, requests were flooding in for them and I knew I needed to set up something more official. My boyfriend’s mom is incredibly tech and business savvy so I’m eternally thankful for her guidance in how to start a business and get my Etsy shop up and running! Now three years later, I’m still selling bookmarks and it has snowballed into something I couldn’t even have imagined when I first began. I’ve now expanded to my own website and had the opportunity to make several maps for fantasy author’s as well as have my products featured in many different book subscription box services.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As Tolkien said “The road goes ever on…” which couldn’t be more true for a small business owner. The road is bumpy, it’s inconsistent, and it can wind quickly into scary unknown directions. I started this journey with absolutely no knowledge of how to do anything business or marketing related and it can feel daunting to be that unprepared. I now wish I had gone to school for business and art (you’d never believe it but my degree in zoology hasn’t been particularly helpful). Thankfully we live in a time where all of the information in the world is accessible to us in seconds! It’s so easy to find countless articles and videos for any question you may have but also don’t hesitate to reach out and ask someone you know for advice. Even if it seems like a silly question to have to ask, people are generally very willing to help and offer advice from experience.

Please tell us about In The Reads.
My goal with In The Reads has always been to supply beautiful and affordable nerdy artwork to people in my similar age bracket. I know that when I was in my late teens/early 20’s, it felt so difficult to find not only artwork for my home that I liked, but that didn’t cost an arm and a leg. I wanted to make things that I would want and I just wasn’t finding anywhere else. The wood bookmarks I make are a great small item to have that are unique and portable, but I also have larger items like map prints and concrete coasters. I would say I’m most known for my fantasy-style maps of real world locations. I started with the beautiful state of Colorado and have been expanding my collection over the last three years to custom projects from Scotland to the British Virgin Islands! I’m proud of our packaging and the detail and love that goes into every bookmark order. I want my customers to feel like they’re unwrapping a package from a friend in a different time and a different place. Every parcel is wrapped up and tied with string, complete with a wax seal that matches the contents inside. Not only is the packaging beautiful and timeless, but many people find ways to reuse them and reduce waste.

Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
I would say I was always a creative kid and was more interested in artistic hobbies than anything else. It started with mostly drawing and painting as a young girl and developed into a love of performing arts later in life. I can only thank my parents for being so supportive of all of my interests and encouraging me to try new things until I found whatever makes me happy. I’ve carried that mentality into adulthood and have tried so many hobbies over the last few years, some of which I’ve failed miserably at but that’s okay! This passion to explore new interests has led me to learn how to do calligraphy, how to make chainmail/scalemail, how to work with foam in making cosplay props and armor, and now I’m on the adventure of learning how to sew. It’s all about taking risks and not being afraid to fail at something new.

Pricing:

• $6.99 for bookmarks
• Prints range from $17-$45
• Coaster sets are $25

Contact Info:

• Website: InTheReads.com
• Email: inthereads1@gmail.com
• Instagram: @in.the.reads

Image Credit:
WeNeals Photography and Retouching (personal photo), Adrienne McNellis (product photos)

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