Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Lac.
Emily, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I graduated from CSUF in the spring of 2019 with a degree in business administration and concentration in accounting, then began work at an accounting firm. During the pandemic I began working from home part time. After a month of relishing in the life that is work from home, I started to go stir crazy from being home and staring at numbers all day. I was looking for anything and everything to dive into to stay busy. I tried to pick up tapestry weaving, knitting and embroidery, but quickly found out I didn’t have the patience or passion for those hobbies. One day I stumbled upon resin art and how many ways resin can be used to create new art or bring old art to life! I was spending all my free time watching resin videos on youtube and learning all about the art form.
As a perfectionist, I found the free-flowing form of resin art to be an intriguing way for me to learn to enjoy not always being in control. I started resin as a hobby to relax and stay busy during quarantine. I thought it was a great personal challenge for myself to create art that is completely unpredictable and fell in love with the process. I would stay up late at night and wake up early the next morning, go back in the hot garage, and work on resin because it was just so fun for me! I began making and selling resin art in July starting with wine caddy’s and custom trays. My favorite part of creating custom resin pieces is being able to create memorable items that carry sentimental value for my family, friends and eventually customers.
It has been so fulfilling to be able to collaborate with my clients and bring their visions to life with my custom pieces. I’ve enjoyed being able to have an avenue to be more creative! Since the opening of my shop, I’ve gained a handful of new and repeat customers. I have extended my shop to include not just wine caddy’s and custom trays but also coasters, makeup organizers, ring holders, ashtrays and keychains!
Has it been a smooth road?
There has definitely been a learning curve starting this business. During a tax season that felt never-ending, balancing a small business was definitely a struggle of its own. Figuring out how to manage my time between resin curing, packing, shipping, building a website, maintaining a social media account and buying more supplies was a big learning process for me. I had to learn the hard way how to properly manage my resources after running out of resin, or having delayed shipments. It was a lot to learn in a short amount of time, but it has been so extremely rewarding to see how far I’ve come and how much I’ve learned. There has been many times I’ve wanted to start my own creative venture but held myself back in fear of failure. Lifestyle Resin has changed my perspective on just how much I can accomplish if I just try and stop making excuses for all the way things could go wrong. Just cause things can go wrong, doesn’t mean they will! I am so proud of myself and how much Lifestyle Resin has evolved in just a matter of months.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Lifestyle Resin is a business dedicated to incorporating the beautiful art of resin into daily household goods. I specialize in making household decor and am beginning to venture into stationary. I am most known for my customized photo trays, which has been one of my favorite items to create. Knowing I am able to create unique, one of a kind sentimental pieces for others brings me lots of joy. What I am most proud about as a company is being able to create beautiful pieces that are used in the houses of many across the country. There is something special to me knowing an item that I’ve handcrafted with love is being put to use and cared for by peopleI have never met! It is very fulfilling for me to know I am able to make a difference in another person’s life and make their daily tasks a bit more enjoyable with my art. For example, before quarantine I would love to get my nails done. My favorite part about having my nails would be admiring them throughout the day like when I wash my hands. My goal with Lifestyle Resin is to create beautiful art pieces that bring a smile to my client’s faces when they see them. Something pretty or a custom sentimental item to brighten their day.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
I definitely think LA and Orange County is a great city to start any small business. What I love the most about our city is the sense of community we share. I never realized just how much others love to support local small businesses until I started Lifestyle Resin and it is extremely encouraging and heartwarming. Not only that, our city is so diverse there is constant inspiration for my art and such a wide demographic to cater to that I never feel like I have to confine my business to fit a particular style. If someone was just starting out, I would definitely recommend joining local Facebook groups and attending local small business vendor events. The community really welcomes small business with open arms and it is so empowering to know that those around you support you.
Pricing:
- Custom Trays – $60
- Custom Trays w/ Photos – $70
- Serving Boards – $50
- Wine Caddy’s – $30
- Ashtrays – $20
- Coasters – $8
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lifestyleresin.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: lifestyleresin
Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
