We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Loren Mount-o’brien a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Loren thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s been the best thing you’ve ever seen (or done yourself) to show a customer that you appreciate them?

One of the most powerful gestures in customer appreciation is a personalized thank you. It sounds so small but you never truly realize the impact of a 1:1 connection: whether it’s a handwritten card, a personalized gift, or a 1:1 conversation – until you have that moment yourself.

We ask a lot from our customers, yes we provide value, but we are asking them to come on this journey with us – through thick and thin. So saying thank you, goes a long way. While it’s impossible to connect with everyone on that level, those small, personal touches go such a long way in building meaningful relationships.

At Lutely, we’re extending that even further. We’re launching a monthly referral giveaway to show our gratitude because we believe our best customers are at the heart of what we do. It’s about more than rewards, it’s about recognizing the loyalty and support that makes Lutely what it is. We’re hoping these are lifelong relationships, and want to make our customers feel seen, because without our users – we’re nothing!

We’re in this for the long haul, and we want to make sure we’re looking after the people who believe in us. We’re always looking for suggestions and feedback on what kind of thank you’s would make our customers feel truly appreciated.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Loren Mount-O’Brien, and I’m the founder of Lutely, a social shopping platform that puts the power back in the hands of shoppers. My background is in advertising and entertainment, where I spent over 10 years working with brands and learning how they connect with consumers. I saw firsthand how much influence corporations had over our shopping choices and realized there was a gap between what we’re being told what to buy vs what we actually were wanting. That’s what inspired me to create Lutely.

Lutely is more than just a shopping app; it’s a platform where users can save, share, and discover products through recommendations from people they actually know and trust. We focus on authentic connections and bringing back the joy of thoughtful shopping and gift-giving. Whether it’s curating a wishlist, finding the perfect gift, or sharing favorite products with friends, Lutely makes shopping smarter and more meaningful.

What sets us apart is our commitment to the community. We’re not driven by paid rankings. Instead, we’re empowering individuals: entrepreneurs, creators, everyday shoppers – by turning their expertise and experiences into valuable insights for their networks. For example, if you’re an artist, you know exactly what brush or paint is worth investing in, and your friends can benefit from that knowledge on Lutely.

I’m most proud of the incredible community we’re building. Lutely’s early adopters have been so engaged in sharing their feedback, recommending products, and helping shape the platform into something special. My goal is to foster lifelong relationships with our users, because I believe they’re the heart of what we do.

For potential clients and followers, I want them to know that we’re here to make shopping work for them, not dictate their choices. We’re creating a space where trust, quality, and personal connections guide the experience, not algorithms or big corporations. And with exciting features like our upcoming marketplace, we’re continuing to innovate ways to connect shoppers with brands that truly align with their values.

Lutely is about making shopping personal again, and I’m excited to have more people join us in redefining how we shop, share, and discover.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience is a superpower for any entrepreneur. There’s a lot of downs and a lot of ups and it’s about spinning it for yourself so that you see glass half full more often than not. That’s not to say you don’t recognize and learn from the bad, the no’s, the uglies – the hard times. But if you don’t see opportunity with every door closing, then entrepreneurship isn’t for you (at least right now).

I have had more no’s than I can count in every venture I’ve had, but I’ve had just enough yes’s to keep me going.

My most resilient moment to date is getting where I am with Lutely. Who would have thunk I’d be here now with Lutely’s test platform up and running? With a team? Not many people. And if you would have asked me last year – not myself. I’ve had a lot of people tell me a lot of reasons why I shouldn’t start or keep doing Lutely. But I’ve had too many people telling me otherwise: most importantly, our users.

Resilience is believing in yourself to get up after being knocked down and move forward when you can’t see what’s ahead of you. I empower every entrepreneur to give yourself a pat on the back, because you’re doing just that.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

The very wise marketing strategist Sam Ogborn said one thing that always stuck with me: ‘everything is hard before it’s easy’. That’s the biggest truth about social media. At first it is cringy (to be honest it continues to be cringy) but consistency is key. It’s a platform that has completely leveled the playing field for all users (not just the highest paid ads). You are able to reach your audience on a mass scale directly, and that is extremely powerful. I’m no expert and also learning as I go, but my one piece of advice: start posting. Create content that provides value and make consistent content. Don’t get discouraged about how many views you’re getting, because you never know who’s secretly watching and following. Just yesterday I had someone (who I’ve never met before, but I wanted to pitch to) reach out to me because they have been watching me on social media. Because of that they recognized me at a conference and wanted to say hi and provide support. Just by sharing my story and Lutely’s journey on social we flipped the script for an intro. Your audience only knows what you tell them, so start getting your brand’s story out there.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lutely.app
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/lutelyapp
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/lutelyapp
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/lutelyapp

Image Credits

Todd Mount-O’Brien