Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Podbury. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Run by a Dallas native who attended ESD and TCU and honed her design skills in London (originally graphic design and Letterpress), Wild Almond Blue is nestled in a North Dallas neighborhood and run using high-end production techniques and vendors without the markup of a brick and mortar store. It’s truly an ‘if you know, you know’ type of company with a friendly, personal and efficient approach to designing essential personalized gifts and home goods.
Originally, Wild Almond Blue was started over eight years ago as a creative endeavor after leaving the corporate world of International Marketing and has now become known as a local business that is quietly working with Dallas families (and beyond!) to produce meaningful invitations, stationery, party goods and home items.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Wild Almond Blue specialized in high-end, multi-piece wedding invitation suites and ‘on the day’ items which included creative ways of showcasing menus, placecards, escort cards, and ceremony programs. When the pandemic caused so many events to be postponed or canceled all together around the world, Wild Almond Blue pivoted within the industry to specialize in custom-designed styrofoam and shatterproof plastic cups, specialty party napkins, and other single-use items as well as other giftables such as family notepads, gift tags, cocktail kits, and other meaningful gifts. With the world slowing down, socially distancing, and wanting ways to reconnect, porch gifting was a new frontier that we didn’t know we needed!
Now, as social events ramp up, we are staying true to our roots of custom invitations and also personalized party and paper essentials.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Wild Almond Blue is a creative business in North Dallas that began over eight years ago. Many of our vendors, customers, clients and supporters are other small, local and women-owned businesses which is a great source of pride and encouragement as a brand. Aside from our award-winning design and personal service, what sets us apart from others is truly our base of fun and loyal customers, who come to us with amazing ideas, themes and inspiration that allows us to be a small part of a meaningful and personal celebration. That’s truly what makes us proud!
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk-taking is absolutely crucial to success, both in business and in personal lives. Not only do you generate new possibilities and overcome fears, but making a plan and going for the considered risk is a surefire way to continue to grow and learn, even if you fail.
Whether it’s a personal choice like cliff-jumping or investing or a business choice like altering your business plan in the middle of a pandemic, risk-taking can really pay off in the long run. But at the same time, it’s important to do your homework and implement a considered plan because being reckless is not the same thing!
The biggest risk within Wild Almond Blue was to change course on our product offerings during Covid. It was a whole new business model with a new target market and execution strategy but it has payed off with many orders turning into repeat customers and growing by word of mouth.
Contact Info:
- Email: lauren@wildalmondblue.com
- Website: www.wildalmondblue.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/wildalmondbluestationery
Image Credits
The image of the wedding invitation suite is by Sarah Kate Photography. The image of Lauren is by Sonay Nicole Photography.
