We were lucky to catch up with Lily Virden recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lily thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Your ability to build a team is often a key determinant of your success as a business owner and so we’d love to get a conversation going with successful entrepreneurs like yourself around what your recruiting process was like -especially early on. How did you build your team?

In my second year of having employees, the most important trait for me is trust. Our tight circle of the 38° North crew is dependable, trust worthy, friendly, efficient, independent. The success of this business comes from the community surrounding it, which begins with the employees who are the face of the storefront. I’ve been fortunate to find the best help for the summer months!

Lily, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Lily Virden and I am a full time elementary teacher at Lake City Community School. In 2019, I started a lifestyle brand, 38° North based off of our coordinates in Lake City, Colorado, 38.0300° N, 107.3153° W. Jessy Moreland, an artist out of Anchorage, designs a linoleum cut that we print on our clothing each season. 38° North designs and products are created to celebrate movement in our mountains and the love we have for this small town.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media has been a fun and engaging platform to connect with customers. Starting out by only having an online presence and merchandise in local stores, it was an obstacle to fully engage with consumers. As people started sporting 38° North gear, it was fun to celebrate their support by posting their photos and journeys in our products. We love seeing people enjoying their merchandise all over the world and this business wouldn’t be possible without their support. There is also an instagram style feed in our storefront with photos from customers. We enjoy capturing the moments that make people happy!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think the biggest component that helped build a reputation was the local buy-in and support of the product. The foundation of having community members love and represent your product is the basis we are looking for.

The annual linoleum cuts also added a unique component to our products. The new design each year helped draw attention and support thanks to the creativity of Jessy Moreland.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.38degreesnorthLC.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/38degreesnorthlc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/38degreesnorthlc

Image Credits

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