Conversations with the Inspiring Lauren Mines

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

Lauren, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have always had a love for fashion. In 2014, I created a fashion blog, Midtown Magnolia. Because of this, when my friends and I were going through our engagements, they would always ask what to wear for their engagement photos, bridal showers, and rehearsal dinners – all those pre-wedding events – and then where they should go to find and buy these dresses. I would then spend hours searching through online retailers for the best dress options and then send them a list. When my husband, Patrick, and I got engaged, I realized I had just as much trouble finding the perfect bride-to-be dresses for myself. Patrick asked if it would be a good idea to create a one-stop shop for all these pre-wedding events and I loved the idea! Then, Eternal Ivory was born!

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
We just launched on May 10 and while it has been such an exciting journey it hasn’t been easy. Starting and running your own business seems glamorous but there is so much work that goes into it and so much learning every single day. I feel like I have had to teach myself something new daily!

The first challenges for us were simply the legal and government aspects of setting up a business. While my husband and I both have business degrees, we have never formed our own company, so there was a steep learning curve here. We researched and then tackled LLC formation, D.B.A. filing, sales license filing, business license filing, zoning permits, liability insurance, etc.

Once we got through these first hurdles, our next challenge was learning the ends and outs of what it would even take to run an online retail store – i.e. sourcing our dresses, estimating and managing inventory. We had to figure it all out. You also quickly wish you had about three of you because as an entrepreneur starting out, you do every job – marketing, photo shoot coordination, branding, packaging, shipping, bills, etc. but somehow you figure it out.

My biggest piece of advice is not to let the fear of not knowing how to do something hold you back. Like I mentioned, there was a lot we didn’t know and still don’t know, but if we had let that slow us down, Eternal Ivory would never have been created. If you’re passionate about your idea and have the drive to work hard, you can make it happen!

What should we know about Eternal Ivory? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Eternal Ivory is an online dress boutique for the bride-to-be. From engagement photos to showers to her rehearsal dinner, we’ve created a carefully curated collection of dresses perfect for all of these pre-wedding celebrations. All of our dresses are timeless pieces that are worthy of her engagement celebration and look great photographed. No more shopping ten different websites and hundreds of little white dresses!

We are also creating blog posts for every one of our dresses so that brides can see what the dresses look like in real engagement photographs as well as just see more shots of the dresses.

We’re also pioneering this niche and are super excited about that and everything we think can come from it!

It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
I have a ten-month-old son so I have exclusively relied on Audible to “read” as many books as I can. I’m obsessed with listening to books written by female entrepreneurs and hearing about the challenges they face and the advice they have for other female business owners. Some of my favorites include “Girl Code: Unlocking the Secrets to Success, Sanity, and Happiness for the Female Entrepreneur”, You are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life,” and She Means Business.

Contact Info:

• Website: eternalivory.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: instagram.com/eternalivory
• Facebook: facebook.com/eternalivory

Image Credit:
Paige Molina Photography

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