We were lucky to catch up with Lena Claypool recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lena, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
The mission of Buck Lucky Collective is to not only create a sustainable way to shop, but to also support local artists. The store houses over 20 local artists and resellers. As a woman owned business and with 90% of our vendors being female, we strive to create a space for entrepreneurs to express their creative selves!
Lena, 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 name is Lena Claypool and I started Buck Lucky out of my parent’s garage when I was 17. I started off learning to screen print, then it evolved into upcycling and sewing clothing, and now it’s a combination of both, with my art style leaning towards kid core, nostalgia based, feminine punk clothing. As I got into the scene 8 years ago, I quickly realized there was not much space for me. At the time, many trade shows and art markets didn’t cater to my aesthetic, and I had a hard time promoting my work. In the summer of 2020, I started hosting outdoor maker/vintage markets. I discovered that there was a large population of people who shared my style and loved what I was creating. I ended up hosting pop up markets for a little over a year before I decided to open a permanent location for my brand and other local brands to sell in. With all of the amazing connections to local entrepreneurs I made doing the markets, I was able to find a group of people willing to give me a chance and rent space in my store to sell their items in. Now, a year and a half later, Buck Lucky Collective is everything I’ve ever wanted it to be. I would have loved my store when I was a teenager, and that’s all I can really ask for!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
On Christmas morning of 2022, someone smashed our window and stole a rack full of items. As a very small, new business, this was extremely difficult to overcome. I don’t have much expendable cash, and my insurance was not very helpful. It was incredibly discouraging and I really had to contemplate if I wanted to (or rather was able to) invest in fixing the window and replacing the stolen items. In the end I realized that everything I’ve worked so hard for is too important to let go. I thought of my customers and how disappointed they would be to see me go. So I made it work!
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
As a 25 year old woman, I’ve had to change so much about the way I carry myself, talk to people, etc. It’s really hard to be taken seriously as a young woman and business owner. I’m the youngest business owner on the block. I think I have the advantage of being more in touch with the trends for teens and young adults, but I have the disadvantage of not being taken seriously by many people. I’ve had to learn to just let it be what it is and not let it bother me. My successful business can speak for itself.
Contact Info:
- Website: Buckluckyclothing.com
- Instagram: @bucklucky