Today we’d like to introduce you to Kayla Waters
Hi Kayla, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
For as long as I can remember I have always found my home in the pages of a story. Books were my escape and such a fun way to connect with other people. In 2019, I joined an online community of readers called “Bookstagram” as a class assignment for one of my design courses at Utah Valley University. It was so cool to know that there was millions of people online sharing reviews and recommendations through their Instagram feeds! Little did I know that this class assignment would turn into one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life.
Just a year later, I graduated UVU with a bachelors degree in Web Design all while continuing to pour my love into my Instagram and Tiktok book blog. I worked professionally in the tech industry for a year, but I always knew that I wanted to do a passion project on the side that helped to continue to cultivate my individual creativity.
So in 2021, after months and months of deliberation, I pulled the trigger on starting my own brand. With my professional background in design and marketing, I felt confident that I could pull it off. I blended my love for reading with my passion for design and created Blossom and Book! I started with a small collection; one shirt design, one bookmark design, and one sticker design. After marketing it on tiktok and instagram, the collection sold out in only a few days! It was definitely an incredible feeling to know that I was going in the right direction.
With Blossom and Book, I focus on encouraging readers to embrace their inner book lover with my original apparel and accessory designs. After nearly a year and a half of back to back sold out collections, in March of 2023, Blossom and Book turned from a side hustle into my full time job.
Ever since taking B&B full time, I have accomplished so many dream small business milestones. The bookish community continues to blow me away with their constant support and enthusiasm.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running a small business in my early 20s has definitely come with challenges, especially when you are a small team of just me and my incredibly supportive husband, Dallin. Since the beginning, imposter syndrome has been the hardest to overcome. Constantly wondering if your designs are good enough, if this is all just a silly concept for a business, if you can stand out and make an impact, if you’ve just been “lucky” with your success, if you will even continue to have success. At the end of the day, I try not to let these thoughts can get the best of me and just focus on the continual growth Blossom and Book has had. Plus it is such a DREAM to have a job that allows me to read good books and design fun, cute items for my customers.
It can feel like, from the outside, what I do for a living is small and silly. But I have gotten countless messages, emails, and comments from customers saying how much of an impact my business and designs have had on them. From wearing a shirt with a book character on it while they are having a hard time in the hospital and feeling a sense of community after bonding with a nurse over the same book series, to customers pouring their hearts out to me about how much it means to them that they feel heard and seen with my plus-size inclusivity. These are the momentos I pull out when I am feeling that imposter syndrome take over and it really helps me through it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Blossom and Book?
Blossom and Book is an online clothing and accessory brand that specializes in designs for book lovers. I am most known for my officially licensed designs for the popular book series A Court of Thorns and Roses, Throne of Glass, and Crescent City by the author Sarah J. Maas. I have created original general “bookish” designs as well, for those who enjoy all genres of reading!
It has been such an accomplishment and dream come true to design pieces licensed by my favorite author, Sarah J. Maas. Additionally, I am incredibly proud that my business focuses heavily on size inclusivity. Most of our products range from size small to 5XL, which is a goal I have had for my business since the beginning. I believe it has really elevated my brand from the competition and customers know what they can expect from my business.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
The online book community truly feeds itself! I have felt constantly inspired by bookish creators online to continue doing what I’m doing. Surrounding myself with other like-minded, driven small business owners has been the key to keep pushing myself to do better and better.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blossomandbook.com
- Instagram: @blossomandbookco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076159620743
- Other: tiktok: @blossomandbookco
