We were lucky to catch up with Erin Goldman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Erin thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

After relocating to Charlotte, NC with my husband and our two dogs in 2019, we welcomed our daughter Isla into the world and I became a stay-at-home mom. As a new mom, I was eager to apply my teaching expertise to my daughter’s early learning journey. Crafting engaging, hands-on activities for her not only ignited her curiosity but also fostered essential literacy skills. Hosting playdates at home became an opportunity to share these experiences with other moms, who were impressed by the simplicity and effectiveness of the activities. Their enthusiasm and the realization that many parents were seeking similar resources inspired me to create Little Reading Nest, a platform dedicated to supporting families in nurturing their children’s literacy development.

Erin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As a former classroom teacher and literacy specialist, I have firsthand experience of the critical role literacy skills play in a child’s academic success. During my years teaching kindergarten,I witnessed the excitement and eagerness of each new class of little learners as they began their educational journey. However, the reality is that children come into kindergarten with vastly different levels of readiness, which can pose significant challenges for both students and teachers.

Little Reading Nest is committed to working closely with parents and caretakers, serving as their trusted guide on their child’s reading journey. Our products and services not only focus on teaching children essential literacy skills but also on fostering and developing social-emotional skills, problem solving skills, and cognitive skills while incorporating sensory input and exploration. Our Little Reading Adventure Kits are designed to provide a multi-sensory experience while learning age appropriate literacy skills through books and engaging hands on activities. Each kit also comes with a resource guide for parents that explains the developmental milestones that can be met within each kit and how to build upon these skills. These kits are available for ages 6 months through 5 years old in a variety of themes. We also provide on-site early literacy enrichment classes, playdates and storytimes either through local businesses or in home requests. To complement our services, I will be adding a literacy consulting service to give parents the opportunity to request a more tailored and individualized instruction plan to support their elementary aged children. I aspire to establish an in-person space where Little Reading Nest can flourish, cultivating a nurturing environment that fosters a love for reading while building a supportive community for parents and caregivers, providing them with a wealth of valuable resources and connections.

At the heart of Little Reading Nest lies a wealth of knowledge and expertise with an abundant amount of a mother’s love ensuring every resource and activity is designed to nurture children’s literacy development with care and dedication. My daughter continues to be my greatest inspiration. She has taught me invaluable lessons about child development and the needs of young children. By providing early literacy resources for parents and children, Little Reading Nest empowers families to give their children a strong foundation in literacy before they even enter school. My hope is that by investing in early literacy, we can set children up for success throughout their academic journey and beyond.

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

Building my social media audience was a journey of discovery and strategy. At the outset, I invested significant time in understanding who my potential followers would be. This involved thorough research into target demographics, their interests, and preferences. Gaining this insight was important for creating content that would resonate with my audience. I began to follow like minded businesses and forming a social media network. “There is strength in numbers” and I truly believe there is greater power, influence and effectiveness when people come together to support each other.

I began providing tips for early literacy resources and fun easy activities that parents and/or teachers could use at home or in the classroom. My content is aimed to engage, educate and inspire. I also provide behind the scenes glimpses of my creative process and fostering a genuine connection with my followers.

The social media aspect of marketing can be overwhelming. My advice would be to stay true to your audience and most importantly do your best not to compare your company, products, or success to other businesses. Stay the course and focus on the needs of your followers and customers.

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

Launching my business was a dream I had been planning for over a year with the love and support of my husband, who also serves as my trusted business partner. His belief in me and our shared vision provided the foundation for me to pursue this dream filled with excitement and big ideas for its debut. However, as life often does, unexpected challenges emerged, threatening to derail my plans and dampen my spirits. Balancing the demands of launching a business with unforeseen family obligations felt like navigating uncharted territory. Yet, amidst the chaos, I realized the importance of resilience and adaptability.

There were moments when it seemed impossible to continue pushing forward, but I refused to succumb to doubt. Instead, I learned to adjust my expectations and find balance between my entrepreneurial aspirations and my family’s needs. It wasn’t easy; there were days when I questioned if I could manage it all. Yet, I persisted, taking each obstacle in stride and focusing on taking small steps forward.

I learned to prioritize what truly mattered, whether it was dedicating more time to my family during challenging periods or scaling back my business plans to a manageable level. Despite the setbacks and moments of doubt, I remained steadfast in my commitment to never give up. I embraced the journey, understanding that success takes time and perseverance.

Today as I reflect on my journey, I am grateful for the challenges that tested my resilience, as they ultimately shaped me into a stronger, more determined entrepreneur. I am excited for what’s to come.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.littereadingnest.com
• Instagram: instragram.com/littlereadingnest
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089508422963