Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Taylor.
Hi Erin, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Erin and I’m 23. I studied American Sign Language in college at TCC before moving towards making my own business!
After finishing ASL, I decided to take my communication certificate and not continue towards interpreting. I worked on and earned my certificate for interior decorating while working LulaRoe so I could do school and work online alongside vendor events.
Helpful Bubble Poppers started as an add-on to my LulaRoe boutique before I fell in love with selling toys! I stopped selling LulaRoe and moved on to only selling toys after about 8 months; LulaRoe allowed me to pay off some of my debt and start my toy business!
I started going to vendor events and loved watching the kids have a great time. I work hard to ensure my prices are as affordable as possible but where I can also make some money.
I realized I wanted to start my own business and eventually get a brick-and-mortar gift and toy shop!
My goal is to make Helpful Bubble Poppers a shop that gives off the same feeling as a book fair—a unique and fun store with super cool items you can’t find anywhere else! 💕💕💕
Donna Banks Smith and I are opening a multi-vendor shop called Bevy 8 in April in Fort Worth. I can’t wait for my dream to finally come true!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Money has been my biggest struggle. Vendor events are not a steady income at all, and I struggled with debt. I started college dual credit in high school and college through when I was 22, so having a full-time job wasn’t possible if I wanted to be able to do vendor events and school as well.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Helpful Bubble Poppers?
We sell toys, gifts, and women’s accessories. We want to have that book fair feel with unique toys and gifts! We also have women’s bags and earrings alongside other items so moms can shop for themselves while their kids look at all of the toys and fun stuff.
We also plan to expand into STEAM gift sets and kits as well as bracelet and other craft kits to inspire kids’ futures in STEAM or business.
We work hard to find the best quality items and sell them at the cheapest price we can!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk-taking?
I definitely have taken probably more risks than not. Since I was blessed to live with my parents and not have to pay rent, I was able to take the jump and invest in opening my business. I took another jump in February 2021 and got a booth at the Frisco Painted Tree. And now I’m taking a jump to help Donna open her multi-vendor shop and have a booth their as well!
Contact Info:
- Email: Thehelpfulbubble@yahoo.com
- Website: Helpfulbubble-poppers.myshopify.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helpfulbubblepoppers/
Image Credits
Hive Supply
