The 32nd Friday Four

Thanks for catching up with the Friday Four series, simply the 4 weekly highlights from behind the scenes at Tura Lura Co. in West Branch.

Let’s get into it!

1. I hosted a private party with Perfume Pour Bar this week, and I am so excited to begin to offer this class to everyone this month! Even folks who tend to be particular with scents found and created something they love! This class allows us to smell and use blotter strips to notice how the oils change, then we blend and layer to create a full-bodied scent. It’s really fun to see all the magic that happens when we get to explore and play.

2. The last summer Walk In Wednesday was this week and I hosted 3 private parties! While I am a little tired this week (coffee helps), my favorite thing to do is gather and host people to create special memories. I have been getting an influx of inquires for private events, so I am continuing to encourage folks to reach out early to talk about arranging private parties or to check out the upcoming events here.

3. Hoover Hometown Days is tomorrow Saturday, August 10 and there is so much to celebrate because it’s the 150th birthday! This is the last call for the special walk in version of Reed Diffuser Bar! It’s pre-sign up only, super special birthday price, and registration closes at 6am on Saturday. Here is the full event line up of Hoover Day events in town! There are SO MANY fun things going on in West Branch like the special brew “31” from Big Grove at our local taverns and Hoover Ball. Also, if you go to the Honey Den, there are special candles there made by Tura Lura Co. for Hoover Days!

4. I want to wrap this week up by sharing that Tura Lura Co. had been selected as one of 100 entrepreneurs to be accepted into a 12-week coaching program through the Creative Business Boost Initiative (presented by Hello Alice, Etsy, and GEN)! Growing a small business from scratch, while balancing all my other responsibilities, and trying to do social good - it is one of the most challenging things I have ever done. There are so many wonderful things I get show folks, and so many days where I fail (and cry) then learn and grow. If people didn’t believe in me, support me, mentor me, and cheer me on - I would not have been able to take an idea and build it. I am so fortune at this point to get mentorship from this Creative Business program. Because small businesses (especially micro-businesses) need our support, more than ever. Last week I shared how you can support me as a small business for free, and I want to bring that back to urge you to keep cheering on your favorite local businesses. This week you can:

   • Recommend the small business to someone who may not know about them!

   • Follow the small business on social media and tag them in your posts or pictures.

   • On social media like posts you see, comment on posts, or share posts!

   • On Facebook expressing interest on small business’ upcoming events.

   • Write a Facebook or Google review if you had a positive experience you want to share!

   • Nominating a small business for a local award or honor!

Happy Friday! Thank you for reading the emails, and for cheering on small businesses like Tura Lura Co. I appreciate you so much.

Erika

The 31st Friday Four

Thanks for catching up with the Friday Four series, simply the 4 weekly highlights from behind the scenes at Tura Lura Co. in West Branch.

Let’s get into it!

1. The last summer Walk In Wednesday is next week on August 7! This is a time the studio is open to come in and make whatever item you want - candle, reed diffuser, or dried florals. I’ve really liked these nights as an easy peasy, relaxed creative time with no appointment needed. Plus, the other West Branch businesses are open late on Wednesday. It’s perfect for a stroll on Main Street, to grab some ice cream, and shop the boutiques a bit!

2. Hoover Hometown Days is on Saturday, August 10 and there is so much to celebrate! It’s the big 150, and there is a parade and free activities all day long! At Tura Lura Co. I am having a birthday celebration for Hoover, by hosting a special walk in version of Reed Diffuser Bar! It’s pre-sign up only, and a very special price to celebrate. There are also fun things in town like the special brew “31” from Big Grove at our local taverns, and you can watch (and learn about) Hoover Ball. I hope you are able to come into West Branch and join in the historic festivities!

3. September schedule is live on the website, and you are the first to see! The opportunities to Book a Class in early fall include a Dried Floral Bar, a Candle Pour Bar, and an addition of Perfume Pour Bar at the Green House in Iowa City. Even if you aren’t planning on attending any classes in the near future, there are a few simple and free things you can do to support Tura Lura Co. in 2024! As you may know, this year continues to be a challenging year for many small business owners, and your free support helps us more than you know! For Tura Lura Co. here is what you can do to support for free so we can continue providing events (and thank you for your support!):

   • Recommend a class experience by forwarding the schedule to someone who may not know about the opportunities!

   • Following Tura Lura Co. on social media and liking posts you see, commenting on posts, or sharing posts (you engaging helps show the opportunities to others on the platform!)

   • On Facebook expressing interest on all upcoming events (you engaging helps show the specific event opportunities to others on the platform!)

   • Writing a Facebook or Google review if you had a positive experience you want to share!

4. This week meant in addition to running classes, I was coordinating behind the scenes logistics, getting inventory ready, getting some new coat hangers up in the studio, and planning all things fall. In the midst of feeling a little stretched thin, I had someone return to class this week. They shared that a comment from the first class stuck with them - “don’t let boundaries stifle your creativity” - and that comment ended up helping them both in class and in their daily life. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for letting me create with you. Sometimes this studio can be a lot of juggle, but connecting with folks over creativity is why I keep going.

Happy Friday! I hope your weekend is awesome!

Erika

The 30th Friday Four

Thanks for catching up with the Friday Four series, simply the 4 weekly highlights from behind the scenes at Tura Lura Co. in West Branch.

Let’s get into it!

1. If you are on social media, you may have seen a giveaway opportunity this week! It was a little celebration on Facebook and Instagram to give folks a chance to win a spot at this weekend’s Candle Pour Bar to celebrate the last almost 6 months of being a business in West Branch! While there was only one winner, I love to celebrate and I gave a discount code to anyone who entered on social media. Now, I also wanted to share the love you who read these Friday Four emails… so I am sending you all the discount code too! Use Celebrate10 to apply 10% off to your next full price class purchase (code expires August 31, not valid on previous purchases, only for use on booking a class).

2. Summer seems to be flying by, and it’s hard to believe that Hoover Hometown Days is just around the corner! As a West Branch business, I am excited to participate in the festivities by offering a special edition of Reed Diffuser Bar on Saturday, August 10! How it works - I am doing a huge discount for all the folks that pre-sign up, it’ll be just $15 to make a reed diffuser to celebrate the 150th birthday of Hoover. You’ll be able to swing by after the parade at 10:30am to 2:30pm to make your custom creation! This will be a make and take activity!

3. As I start to look at fall planning, I began to notice that I have quite a few days to plan around my kiddo being out of school. And there are not many options for a day class to enroll elementary school kids on these days off, which as someone who has an 8-5 work can be hard to navigate. I started to talk to folks about hosting a Kids Class to see if that may be of interest at Tura Lura Co… So I am collecting parent/guardian information who need a bit of childcare ICCSD no school days with a Kids Class at Tura Lura Co. Can you do me a favor and share this information with any parent you think may be interested? I’ll follow up with folks who express interest on the website form.

4. The last 6 months have been a season of learning and growing! So much of Tura Lura Co. keeps evolving and changing, and there is always a thread running through the work where I get to create beautiful experiences for people. I’ve been asked more lately at Tura Lura Co. to help plan events, so I am officially going to start taking on event planning projects. This is new to the business, and a completely comfortable added service. For the last 15 years in my higher education career I’ve been behind the scenes running large scale speakers, conferences, retreats, workshops, and most recently the world of virtual programming. I love the variety of experiences and helping people bring their ideas to reality. So whether you need a bit of day of event coordination, someone to consult with, or a full service event - I’d love to chat more.

Happy Friday!

Erika