Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lauren Lassiter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lauren, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

In most ways, yes. But I think about what having a regular job would be like all the time. The hours are shorter and there is a steady financial stability. But I’ve had regular jobs and oddly enough I can’t seem to keep up. I just think I’m wired differently. There’s also no excitement. In the end it’s all a tradeoff.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I started altering my clothes when I was a teenager. I wanted my clothes to be different than what they were, and to really know a garment is to take it apart. Reverse engineer it. I didn’t go to school for fashion or business. I got my knack for sewing from my grandmother, who still does alterations for a living today. She should be retired but she doesn’t know how to stop. I don’t, either. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline, especially without the programs that you can gain access to through school. It means everything that I can express myself this way, and in turn help others express themselves with the clothing they wear. Everything is made to order, with the wearer in mind, and is made according to their personal measurements if need be. I want them to feel like the best version of themselves, and not be afraid of doing so.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

That everything has to be made and shipped immediately- even if it means sacrificing balance and my mental health- and that you should pretend to be bigger than you are. I had a job like that once. I won’t do it again. It was a dysfunctional atmosphere, morale was low. We were fulfilling orders within too short of a time line at borderline fast fashion prices and it just didn’t make any sense.
I learned alot of what not to do during that job. For those lessons, I am thankful.
Setting high expectations is great, but they should be steady, realistic goals.
My clients know that my work takes time, and when they get their piece in the mail, they understand why, and love it that much more. Same with wholesalers. You have to be picky about that because you want their business values to align with yours, and setting realistic terms falls under that.

Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?

I’m a little dramatic, but I feel near death a lot. I’m still a fairly new business, and somehow am operating through post-pandemic financial hardships. Sometimes I think “Will I ever get another order?!”, and then they roll in. It’s so up and down, money gets tight and I don’t know where it’s going to come from next and there are lots of bills to pay. Very much survival mode. But when I’m up, it makes it all worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: shophexed.com
• Instagram: @shophexed
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@shophexed
• TikTok: @shophexed

Image Credits
Photographer Haley Smith (for image of models standing for a photo)