Happy Wednesday!! I am so so excited to share this interview with you all because this girl is beyond cool. I met Lauren on Instagram while watching IG live of Lauryn from The Skinny Confidential. I don’t even fully remember what the topic was, but we ended up chatting back and forth. After that, I thought this girl is fun, I need to follow her. Lauren is such a nice person who has an amazing blog and recently launched her online store RaspberriesXRompers (these pieces are amazingggg!! You need to check it out). I am so happy to have her on the blog and I know yall will love her as well. You will get some amazing advice and tips for those going into the business side of blogging and starting your own business. Okay, so I’m done talking so that you can get to reading. Enjoy!
Q: Can you tell our readers about yourself and your blog?
My blog started a few years ago- went from me taking pictures of my daily outfits and tagging where pieces where from, to reporting latest fashion styles- to now focus on supporting an online retailer. I’ve hit highs and lows but I’m super excited to be where I am today. This industry is my life and I wouldn’t change anything about it.
Q: How did you first get into blogging and what inspired you to start?
So I started my blog a few years ago- and not exactly sure what date. One of my first bosses had called me to meet with her and asked me if I had ever heard of some lifestyle blogger. Initially- I was probably 17, I had no idea what a blog was. I didn’t even know what I was going to school for. I proceeded to ask- a what?? She told me this should be my thing- you know… like my hobby. Oh, and I was a Varsity Cheerleader. Between working Part Time, School, applying to colleges, and believing that being a Varsity Cheerleader was being the President – I had absolutely no time for a hobby.
I looked into it, studied it, (at this time there were no blogs around- I mean I’m sure there were some right- but not the way it is today. Everyyyyone has a blog. And that’s awesome but I wanted to take my career to the next level- use this as a platform to really get myself out there.
I started little by little- writing much like this- how I speak in the real world. So it seemed a bit choppy – but when I read it back it actually felt like someone was having a conversation with me through my words. I loved that. And so I started. I just STARTED.
There is no easy way to say how we can start or specific steps. You just have to start somewhere. So I changed my theme around a million times, my photos, my look- everything. Then I started developing a brand identity. Companies started reaching out to me, asking me what it takes to partner together, and where I would be sharing my information. And that is how it started.
Q: What is your ideal work environment?
Hmmm.. I’m still trying to figure this out honestly. I like working on a computer. For some reason- I like to manage social media from my phone but when it comes to getting back to emails- looking through line sheets for my company’s online retailer or just looking into inquiries about partnerships and contracts, I like to see it on my bigger screen. I work from a desk.
Q: Do you work better at night or in the morning?
Oh, my night. I am the worstttt morning person. I oversleep, I’m sluggish. I am the worst. It’s not even a certain time- right? So this is how it works- if I wake up at 5am.. I can’t really start working until 830-9am. If I wake up at 10am I can’t start my day until 1pm. It’s just that I need hours to get it together in the morning. It’s just the way I am.
Q: Do you have any morning (or night) routines?
Morning routine 101 – need to shower right away – morning and night – pretty psycho in that aspect. Blow dry my hair daily.. Makeup you know the whole thing. Then coffee. I live on coffee. I drink Starbucks every single day no matter what. I actually get migraines without it. After coffee, I sit in silence and bang out all my emails. I just go through them all no matter what, no matter how long it takes. After that, I can start my day. And as for night- I need at least two hours to watch tv and check through my social platforms. It’s ridiculous, but it’s the truth.
Q: You recently launched Raspberries X Rompers. What inspired you to start your own business?
This question makes me smile. Whenever someone asks me about it I smile. There is constantly tons of improvements in the works, constantly new merchandise, new shows, new events, new products- but I am so thankful. I am proud of myself for making my hobby a business and honestly even though it’s a business that generates income for me it’s still a hobby. I love it with all of my being. I guess I always wanted to have a platform like this where I could create an online closet of my style and my picks and share them with my readers. But now they are actually able to purchase the items. It’s so interactive. I have teammates that help me here and support the site so it’s great to have them. They inspire me every day to keep it going. Especially with me having a full time job- which I absolutely love. I work with a Recruitment agency – SBH Fashion- link in with us. They’re the bomb and I feel so motivated every day that I go into work.
Q: What are some of the challenges you have faced running your own business, and what did you do to overcome those challenges?
At first, learning the legalities. I went to business school and am so thankful that I did, but you’re never 100% sure in something that you don’t have experience in. My parents are both businesspeople so they kill it for me in the shark-ey world of business – but even they don’t know everything it takes to run an online retailer because they have simply- never done it.
After learning the legalities and what it takes to actually have a site up and running, I think for me it was worrying about failing- like what if the viewers don’t like the product? What if they don’t think it is worth buying, worth following, worth looking at the new products? But see you can never be afraid of things like this- what anyone else thinks. If you are happy and you support yourself that is really all that matters you know. But let’s not be silly- if no one is buying something is wrong. You have to be adaptive to change. If something doesn’t succeed- scratch it… And try again. Oh, and research- knowledge is power. I read A LOT and take in a lot of information that can help me succeed on my own.
Q: What are some tips to stay focused on building your brand? 
Hmmm, tips. First thing…. find a mentor. The first blog I saw that I fell in love with was WEWOREWHAT. I loved her spunk, her style, her edge. She rocks it. She’s your major GirlBoss. Find someone you admire and check in with their pages, their success. It will help you stay motivated- and motivation is key.
Okay, second thing- read articles. Stay up to date with all of the latest online publications (ex. Fashionista, BOF, Refinery29, VOUGE) all these teams are constantly publishing the latest news on what’s out there in the fashion industry. It’s important to be knowledgeable. Knowledge is power.
Third- NETWORK. It is so important to build connections. The more people you know and the more people that know you the better.
I try to go to almost allll of the events I get invited to. I can’t – it’s the truth. Things come up, times conflict, and sometimes certain brands don’t identify with my aesthetic and it wouldn’t make sense. I promote what I believe in and what I would personally wear. So I pick and choose what makes sense but I do try to go to everything. I bring cards so we can stay in contact.
Lastly, don’t give up. It’s a brand, not a paper. It’s never finished- and there is always room for improvement.
Q: How do you manage blogging, your business, and your personal life at the same time?
I’m still trying to figure that one out. So blogging has taken a large backseat to my e-commerce site, sadly. I have to get back into writing more; however, I think we’re all constantly expanding and for me personally- I think changes happen. I am actually in the process of linking my blog and my e-commerce site to the same Webpage. I think that will be easier for both myself and my viewers.
Personal life- Fridays and Saturdays I try to completely unplug at night. Mostly this works. I reorganize Sunday, and Monday come back to life.
Q: For those of us that want to expand our brand along the same path of creating a clothing boutique or start our own clothing line. What word of advice would you give?
It’s pretty hard- I’ll be honest. The problem is you can never copy what someone else does. Always find something that works for you.
If someone comes out with a jewelry line, don’t come out with a jewelry line and market it the same way- it has already been done.
Think outside the box – it’s really hard right now to develop retail stores or retail sites. But if this is your beast and you want to tackle it go all in- but my advice would be to make sure you budget, research, and save.
Q: What has been your proudest achievement so far?
I’m not sure. This is a tough one for me. I think when a young girl recognized me a few years ago in a Starbucks and asked me to take a picture with her. She said- you’re my idol. I got in my car- and cried.
Q: From what or whom, do you draw inspiration from?
I draw my inspiration from so many people. I take what I like from each person that is important in my life and I try to implement it somehow.
Q: What were some of your favorite brands to work with? How was it?
Soooo many good ones! I really can’t answer this one. But each brand I work with brings something different. I think I like when it’s a collaboration that is more of a partnership and I work with them several times rather than once. I hope that makes sense.
Q: What are some strengths that you have that really helped you continue blogging?
I think I need instant gratification. I can never say- yeah that will work out. I need to get everything done right away. Bad, and good. It keeps me going.
Q: Who has impacted you the most in blogging and how?
I would say, other bloggers. It’s great to meet and speak with other bloggers- see what content they put out, their ideas and feedback.
Q: What is your next step or next goal for your brand?
Getting my business out there and known. The website was only launched 2 months ago – so my goal is to get as much traffic to the site as I can- but also get the site looking exactly how I want it to look. I’m a perfectionist.
Be sure to follow Lauren on social media:
Blog | Instagram | Snapchat| Store
