We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Blair Lakis. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Blair below.
Blair, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I started making sensory playdough kids for my kids during Covid – we all needed something to keep busy (thanks quarantine)! I continued making them seasonally, and after seeing how much they benefited from the hands-on play, I knew I was onto something. I have a vivid memory of my three kids’ hands strewn all over the table playing and creating, and it was like a lightbulb moment. I will be forever thankful that a few close friends and my husband pushed me to take the leap and Little Hands Dough Co was officially born in November of 2023. Inspired by my kids and hoping to make an impact on so many more families.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
As a busy mom of 3, I found myself constantly looking for activities that my kids were able to do independently that would also still stimulate their minds and allow for endless creativity to flow. After I started making sensory playdough kits for them, the benefits were truly undeniable. They would keep them busy and engaged for LONG periods of time. Not only did I notice they were much happier, but I was able to take a breather from time to time, enjoy a hot cup of coffee, etc, which is SO important for parents as the burnout is real. I have received nothing but positive feedback from my customers regarding the impact they have made on other kiddos and families as well. I also am proud to say that quality is always at the forefront when it comes to my products. Every batch of playdough is handmade and is nontoxic with minimal ingredients.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I have always been pretty comfortable with social media, and from the beginning I tried to view it as something “fun” as to not stress too much about it. I really am just trying to be myself, because I think that it is important for other moms to know that I am a real person behind all of this and that not everything is perfect all of the time. There is something to be said about “pretty” and aesthetic grids, but in the end I feel like it’s all about connecting with my audience in an authentic way. I have created friendships and trust with a lot of my followers and a lot of my growth has been through word of mouth. My advice to others trying to build their social media presence would be to just try and be yourself!
How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.
Currently, I sell through my website, Etsy, and Instagram. I am trying to push my website harder now that I have it but some sales still trickle in through Etsy from time to time. I really like having my own website and being able to set my own turnaround expectations, etc. It was definitely a worthwhile expense and think it will be a wonderful tool for my business moving forward! My website was built through Shopify.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://littlehandsdoughco.com
- Instagram: @littlehandsdoughco
Image Credits
Aubrey Schanz Photography