We were lucky to catch up with Leah Ohmer recently and have shared our conversation below.
Leah , 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?
Adventure Crate was the logical next step for a book nerd that was trapped in her house during covid. I had been an Executive Director for our area Arts Council and a local story time presenter when things came to a halt during the pandemic. So many of my parents and kiddos that I had gotten to know over the years were struggling with finding fun and interactive methods of entertaining themselves and learning that creating a book box version of my story times just seemed like a great way to continue what I had been doing in a new way.
The surprising thing was in the development of the first boxes. I thought that it would be a kids box to start but as I researched what was already out on the market I found that the true hole in the market was for adults, and more specifically for adults that wanted more than a fantasy book box to choose from. I had heard from many of the parents that came to my story time events that they wished that they were more active readers or that they missed making time for reading and that lit the fire. In addition to being a book nerd I am also a bit of a neuroscience nerd and love to listed to pod casts like Hidden Brain that explore how our brain can be a powerful tool to help us change behavior. With that information in hand I created my first protype that paired a book with items that tied back to the story. It created a sort of action reward scenario that as people read their books they got to explore the connection the items had to the stories. POW, Adventure Crate was born.
The Children’s book boxes came a couple of years later. I wanted to create a box that not only was fun and filled with activities but also gamified what was happening in reading and writing in the lower elementary school classrooms. I found after working with teachers in my local district and homeschooling leaders that there were key principles that were built on from Kindergarten through Fifth grade. Things like building vocabulary, recall, comprehension along with fine and gross motor skills that helped with writing. Pairing interactive activity sheets, games and toys with a theme based on the book selected for strong story telling and adventurous themes created the perfect mix of fun and hidden learning.
Now I have sold thousands of boxes to people all over the United States and beyond making my dream of helping people of all ages find the passion for reading come true. Oh and created a fun way to talk about books all day!
Leah , 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?
My education is in fine art, specifically graphic design and illustration. I have used that background in so many of my positions from administration in art galleries, to Executive Directorship of an area Arts Council that served over 100,000 residents in my area, to being a story time presenter for preschoolers and elementary students.
I think the thing I connect most with my reading adventurers about is the passion for a great story. I want both adults and children to LOVE the stories that I build a box around. I read 20+ books a month just to find the perfect ones to make an experience around I hear from so many that this is what sets my box apart. I explore the world of reading with them and love to hear from them when they have feelings, all feelings good or bad, about the books I choose. This is not just a company for me it is my passion.
People are also surprised to find out that I build every single box, not just the prototype for a new one but every single one that lands on their doorstep if they subscribe or that they fall in love with at a festival or show. It’s me, my doggos and sometimes my son putting on a radio drama or audio book and plugging away in the studio to build each box.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Every day that you are still going is a triumph for most small one person businesses like mine. I meet so many people like me making the economy hum through one sale at a time. It is not always easy and so often there are things that make you wonder if today is going to turn out okay. People talk about weathering economic storms to keep their businesses going, i can say I have gone through actual physical tornadoes, snow storms and floods to make my business continue to grow. I take Adventure Crate live to over 46 shows and festivals each year to meet new people, introduce them to the book boxes and yes find a reason to talk about books. These are not easy. I set up tents, tables, and backdrops single handedly. I lug hundreds of boxes to and from shows. I weather rain, sleet, snow and yes actual tornados and floods that have taken out other businesses around me as I hunker down my tent. But I would not trade these interactions for the world. I have made so many connections with fellow readers and fellow business owners and it gives me the fortitude to continue to build Adventure Crate into something that makes an impact.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
When I started Adventure Crate we were in the middle of a pandemic. I created something that I thought would help people have adventures and build connections with reading without having to leave their homes. It was almost entirely online sales, social media story times and posts. But as we came out of the lockdown I found that people wanted to connect in person, to reconnect to the world at large and I was there for them. I started with just a few shows and continued my social media items at first but over time I have found that one on one connection with adults and children is at the core of what I do and I love it so much it has become a focal point of my day to day business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.adventurecrate.net
- Instagram: @adventurecratellc
- Facebook: @adventurecrate
