Check Out Jacklyn Andersen’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacklyn Andersen.

Hi Jacklyn, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started my business in August of 2019 doing shopping hauls on YouTube, just on my lunch breaks of a large corporate job. I really started to get momentum and then the pandemic hit and there was no more shopping in stores. I thought to myself, I am going to have to shift in order to keep going. I started making scrunchies and face masks just in my dining room at a small table. Soon they would sell out daily and I had to expand and eventually took up the whole dining room and front room. Not long after I purchased a school short bus and it was my office for a year. I was able to save up enough to get an office in town and set up a mass production area and start making even more, such as bows, headbands and shirts. In 2022 the storefront next to the office became available and me and my best friend Mylissa were able to snatch it up. She helped me grow the business to what it is today. Now we offer not only my Hello Hauls brand of hair accessories and clothing, but we offer space for local vendors to bring their items in and sell them. Having been in business and starting small, we knew that we wanted a space for locals to sell their items and be seen and heard more. At this moment we have 21 local vendors in the store and we are working to have more and also a local board to help creators with just custom orders. One day I hope to have multiple locations in multiple cities to ensure that every creator has a designated place to showcase their beautiful 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?
There have been many struggles along the way. One of the largest was the pandemic, which forced me to change directions in the path I was currently going. But to be honest, I have always followed a simple rule, “Everything happens for a reason, even if you don’t know the reason yet.” Without being forced to change the path, I would not have the store I have today and would not have met the amazing vendors that I have. Throughout the last 3 years, I have lost my home and had to rebuild my life from the bottom up, a couple of times. Of course, there are always struggles with sourcing and time management. But if you keep pushing through, it is all worth it.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am known to everyone as “The Scrunchy Lady”, and it brings a huge smile to my face. I have been doing local farmers’ markets, venues, craft fairs and center street markets for the last 3 years. With this, everyone has gotten to know me and they love to come up and see what new and funky scrunchies I have made for them that week. I not only wanted to make scrunchies that were softer and easier on people’s hair, but I wanted to have the weirdest designs. We had some that were fuzzy, smiley faces, tarot cards, checkered and everything that we ever saw, that made us go, whoa. I started pushing this idea into the headbands and shirts as well. I want items that are unique and help show how unique we all are. I strive to illuminate our differences and celebrate the small things that make us happy, even if it’s ‘just a scrunchy’.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up I was a straight-up weirdo. I had a ton of friends from every walk of life. Ever since I was little, I would dress how I felt and not how I was told to dress. Some days that was dark and emo, in all black from head to toe. The next day, it would have been bright pink with pigtails and fuzzy boots. I wore ball gowns and dressed up every chance I got. I grew up with just one sibling, my sister. She always supported me and would dress to match me, so I was never alone. I was super adventurous and loved to hike, camp, and gold mine with my parents. I traveled every chance I got and randomly went to every place that was nearby. I wanted to see how others lived and what their fashion was and what I could incorporate into my own life. I never wanted just one thing, I always wanted everything, and that still stands today. I believe that life is too short to stay in one lane.

Pricing:

• Under $50

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hello.hauls/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellohauls
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hellohauls5085

Image Credits
Jacklyn Andersen