All Things Beaded Blondes
Aggie sisters Lauren and Lexi stumbled upon their small business success by accident. The girls revealed in an interview with us that it all started with ring wraps, an item they still receive a lot of traffic for today! Soon after finding many of their fellow aggies liked the look of their alternative gold beaded ring guards, they created an Etsy account to showcase their unique designs. The ideas flowed from there, with Lauren and Lexi coming up with new concepts for jewelry almost daily! Their shop has been a creative outlet, and both sisters’ personalities shine through their pieces. Once they saw the first legs of the business take off, the girls decided to pursue their idea full time, and Beaded Blondes has been on everyone's wishlist ever since.
Lauren and Lexi.
The Beaded Blondes team has been faced with some growing pains as their small business grows to be not-so-small. Lauren told us that keeping up with their demand can pose a real challenge for the duo; luckily, their mom is there to lend a helping hand. The company is now a certified Limited Liability Company under the state of Texas, and the girls say that was just one step toward making their dream a reality. Lauren spoke on the behind-the-scenes aspect saying, “it’s startup things that you don’t always think about when you start creating…”, they have found a way to not just create the amazing designs, but manage the business necessities that come alongside them. Lexi also says that having her sister in another city can pose some conflicts for business planning, but Lauren does make the commute to keep things running smoothly. They are in the middle of hiring an additional team member to assist them in packing deliveries and managing the new influx of orders. The pair has handled these hurdles with such determination and grace; it is no surprise their business is on a steady road to success.
When asked about working together as a family, Lauren says the best part is “knowing that we are growing this business together and that we can hopefully leave a legacy behind us”. The supportive sisters say that knowing each other so well really gives them a leg up with their business. Lexi says, “we can go about communicating in a way that we are both comfortable with”, which aids in navigating the world of all things Beaded Blondes. The duo says they can be complete opposites, and that they can really play to their strengths when working together.
We usually don’t ask to play favorites but we had to know! Lauren dishes that her go-to piece is a newer version of the ring that started it all. She says that the cascading beaded band is an everyday wear, “I feel like my favorite changes a lot but it's always a beaded band”. Lexi goes for a mix of her favorite styles saying that her dream duo is a Lauren Beaded Band and a Heidi Band, which includes their classic gold beads combined with Swarovski crystals. She claims “I always put one of those on, every single day”, changing it up depending on the occasion.
This Aggie-owned brand has a lot of exciting things coming up but something both sisters were very excited to share was the addition of their Beaded Boxes. The idea stemmed from classic quarantine inspiration. Lauren says that when making her bridesmaid proposals she saw the potential for Beaded Boxes to be a part of all kinds of celebrations from Aggie Ring Day to prom. They say that the custom label pieces really add to the box’s flare. Another project they are proud of is their collaboration with Rachel Small and the Aggieland Humane Society. During the holidays Beaded Blondes gave back twenty percent of their proceeds to Six Kittens Rescue. The team also got to go to Dallas Market Center where they were able to stock their products in over 28 shops across the United States and Canada.
The sisters’ hardworking mom, Lisa.
As far as their goals for the future, the sisters have big aspirations. They plan on going to another Dallas Market to continue expanding their wholesale reach. Lauren and Lexi also want to tap into schools beyond A&M, with new products appealing to Baylor and University of Texas students. Lexi boasts “we are always coming up with new ideas”, so next season’s wear is something to look out for. They also shared with us that in addition to brand new gameday pieces, they may even dive into *you heard it here first* other types of accessories.
Lauren and Lexi are shocked by the power of the Aggie network and want to thank everyone who has supported and helped them thrive. The engagement from friends and followers continues to push them closer to their dreams for their business every day.
Written by Zoey Frederick, Social Media: Sara Hartung, Photography provided by Lexi Lindemulder Photography & Samantha York Photography