Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Lancaster.
Erica, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started Jack Rabbit Creations in 1996 after the birth of our first child. My house filled up with gifts of plastic toys that I didn’t love and I knew were destined for donation or the landfill, and I thought I could do better. I had experience in product development for the Nature Company and decided not to return to the corporate world and start my own thing. That was 28 years ago, and we’re happy to still be a thriving, growing company.
We are primarily wholesalers, working with thousands of mom-and-pop shops, museums, bookstores, and gift boutiques around the country. All of our designs are original, we work with a great team of women with a beautiful sense of design.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Cash flow is always a struggle for a bootstrapped business that has to hold a lot of inventory to thrive. There have been plenty of important challenges along the way, including economic downturns, and don’t forget the pandemic.
Running a business with little to no staff means you are ALWAYS working and generally have to figure out everything yourself (how to set up a warehouse, how to design and import products, how to choose and implement systems, testing, accounting, payroll… you name it.)
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We specialize in wooden and tin toys for higher-end shops, we do not sell to the mass market. We pride ourselves on our quality and unique designs, plus our hands-on customer service. When you call our office, an owner picks up the phone. We love our customers and appreciate their loyalty over almost 3 decades.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Don’t take on a partner unless you have to, and be so very careful with your money. I still obsess over every small charge we encounter, and spend plenty of time negotiating and fighting for the best prices we can get on everything. And if you can, don’t hold inventory – it’s tough!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jackrabbitcreations.com
- Instagram: @jrctoys
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jackrabbitcreations
