We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Molly Reinhardt a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Molly, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I’ve always worked in creative fields and I have been interested in different DIY and mediums all my life.  But of all the mediums I’ve used, working with cement became a hobby turned business. I made my first tabletop fire pit for my sister as a Christmas gift in 2020, and in 2021 while my main job at the time was still up in the air due to the height of covid, so I decided to make Cementage ‘a thing’ – combining both my handmade cement goods and love for vintage finds.  The business took off by word of mouth, vending at local markets, social media sharing, and by family & friends who loved the product.   I started with my tabletop fire pits (which are still my signature product), then I sourced/made more molds and my product line expanded.  At the same time, I continued to put my business and my product out there at local markets and retailers to keep growing.  I got my first collaboration/retailer by contacting a local candle shop, Urban Candle Company – we set up a meeting and Chris, the owner, loved my vessels so much she decided to carry my products.  They were my first retailer, and from there I continued to reach out or stop in shops to seek interested stockists.

The first year I worked as many events as I physically could keep up with (‘cementing’ ain’t easy), and took on additional retailers which helped gain more exposure.  I made sure to keep up with posting on social media as well, Instagram, Facebook, and even TikTok to keep widening my customer and retailer base.  With that, customers were wanting to shop from home too, so I created my own website, cementage.com in April of 2022.

Then unexpectedly in Spring of 2022 I was presented the opportunity to lease a retail space, and I accepted!  It has always been a dream of mine to have my own shop, and now the reality of having my own studio and retail space combined has come true!  I am located at 5844 Macklind Ave, and I recently had the grand opening in November.  I am grateful to be out of my basement creating in a new workspace, and welcoming customers into my retail shop. I not only make 90% of the goods on the shelves, but I also offer other local artists products, spiritual items, home decor, and my thrifted vintage finds.  My goal for this space & Cementage is to create a cozy and warm environment that you can recreate at home, and I hope my shop and products offered reflect that for everyone that walks in or shops.

Owning a small business is all about learning as you grow and taking risks.  It has barely been 2 years with Cementage, and it is crazy to look back at how quickly this business has grown.  I am grateful for the way I have evolved, for the people I have met that helped me grow, and for what I have learned as a cement maker and business owner (and continue to learn).

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I think the biggest lesson learned is that your product isn’t for everyone and that’s okay. I have had slow events or uninterested people stop by and it’s a good reminder to not let it get you down. Running a small business is dependent on the events you work and the sales you make, but sometimes certain events just aren’t for you or a specific product isn’t for them. The right person will ALWAYS find you and your product, and that in itself is a comforting reminder and super rewarding. Just gotta keep on keeping on, and believe in yourself and your product.

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

There are other cement makers out there, but I seem to be the only one doing tabletop fire pits (at least in the St. Louis area). My signature fire pits are a unique one-of-a-kind product that you can use both indoor and outdoor, and I think the versatility with the product is something people are looking for. Plus who doesn’t love a little ambiance and s’more making!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cementage.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cementage/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cementagestl/
• Other: TikTok: @cementagestl