We recently connected with Heather Hahn and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Heather thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of the most important things small businesses can do, in our view, is to serve underserved communities that are ignored by giant corporations who often are just creating mass-market, one-size-fits-all solutions. Talk to us about how you serve an underserved community.

During Covid, I watched my town lose music venues and struggled to recognize our city without creative outlets. I knew I wanted to help once our city started to open back up. Some of my favorite memories are watching bands and meeting musicians at record shops. I wanted to open a record shop that was also a spot where creatives of all kinds could sell their work and build community together. Art is the foundation of a good community. Our shop holds all-access live music performances and gallery space for visual artists. We hold our shop as an inclusive welcoming space. We want you to feel not only included but welcomed when you walk into our shop.

Heather, 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?

Lantern Records is a woman owned record shop that opened May of 2022. As a Queer business owner, it’s been important to me to highlight the diversity in our community through art. I knew I wanted to have live in-shop shows right away. Lantern Lights has become our town’s very own intimate performance platform. We stream directly to our Instagram and some artists have released their performances as well. Our walls also serve as gallery space for visual artists. Every month, we host a gallery open for local visual artists to display their works. I love selling, buying and trading Records. I also love supporting artists to help them reach their goals. The shop has given quite a few artists their very first gallery open, their very first live performance and first sale of their art. That’s the thing I’m most proud of, giving artists space to do what they envision. I work to be approachable so all feel welcomed to ask for use of the space. There’s something magic about seeing an artist or musician sell their first piece of work. I’m honored to play a part in helping that happen.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I opened this business, I was a full time mortgage officer. I had no intention of this being my full time career. I thought I would be able to spend my off time at the shop. That quickly changed until eventually I left the mortgage industry to focus on the shop full time. I’m so glad I did! This has been the most rewarding experience of my life professionally. It’s a life long dream realized.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I think the best advice I’ve ever received about social media can be said about going into business in general. Be yourself. Be true. I knew I had set goals with the shop. I knew I wanted live performances and gallery opens to be shown on our socials. I want people to feel like they step inside the shop even if they’re 500 miles away. That’s how you build a community. I truly feel connected to our followers. I share personal stories along with wins for the shop. When you’re on a Lantern Records social site, you can feel the heart of the shop. I share stories of customers, artists and family. Our shop dog, Monkey, makes appearances. Our famous pink chairs and victrola make artists feel at home among music history. It’s all about creating that space where people feel welcomed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lanternrecords.art/
• Instagram: @lantern.oly
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lanternrecords?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
Heather Hahn, Taina de Jesus