Today we’d like to introduce you to Lacie Ward and Hannah Elauria.
Lacie and Hannah, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
L: Hannah and I met while working at a sushi restaurant in college and instantly clicked. We formed a very strong bond with a group of co-workers who are still our best friends to this day. While having a “Friendsgiving”, our group was discussing how we were enjoying all of our “big kid jobs”. Hannah and I were both working at top rated PR firms in San Diego and were feeling similar animosity towards our jobs, so we decided to give it a go ourselves! We quit our jobs a month later and didn’t look back!
The name “Lum A Terra” loosely translates to “Light the World”. Our main focus was to highlight companies and individuals that were doing better for the greater good — be that through environmental activist groups, non-profit organizations, sustainable consumer goods companies or whatever shape our clients take form.
We launched our website and applied for our business license in April of 2019, and have learned so much since then. We are so excited to continue working off this momentum and change the world through our impact with Lum A Terra.
Great, 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?
L: I think if you ask any entrepreneur if it’s been a smooth road, they’ll all say the same thing — no. While all types of businesses face their respective issues, they are there nonetheless. One of my biggest struggles in the first few months was working two jobs on top of a newly launched business. . I was transitioning between two restaurant jobs – but still working at both – while trying to find time for meetings with Hannah, applying for licenses, permits, bank accounts, setting up a website, etc. Hannah and I are the first to admit we’re workaholics (and weirdly love the hustle), but that experience was a very trying time for us. It truly helped me to develop better time management practices.
H: One of the bigger challenges we’ve faced is just being a start-up in general, and having potential clients trust us to represent their image. And hey, I don’t blame ‘em! Being a business owner is a proud feeling; I also wouldn’t trust just anybody with that. But with that said, it’s made Lacie and I that much more motivated to work harder in order to show both our current clients and potential clients that we are fueled by passion first and foremost — and it shows through our work.
Please tell us about your company.
Lum A Terra Media was created to highlight the companies and humans who are doing their part to better the world. All clients, partners and allies are either environmentally conscious, volunteer their time and resources, are associated with a non-profit, socially aware, or as the self-proclaimed eco-entrepreneurs Hannah and Lacie say, “Just simply give a damn.”
Our company specializes in enhancing the public image of a brand or company, creating awareness behind the conscious missions of our clients, collaborating with influencers that align with our moral values and coordinating those partnerships and other creative strategies towards a socially-responsible business.
What we are most proud of as a company is also what sets us apart from others — and that is our niche. We are 100% dedicated to our planet and its people, and that is what has made us ultimately stand out in this industry. Our clients are drawn to the fact that we’re able to help them communicate their mission towards their audience while simultaneously being dedicated to the same causes.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
About six months into our start-up journey, we had the idea of hosting an event coined “Sip + Swap.” The event was just like what it sounds like — an interactive experience where guests bring a bag of clothes to swap and sip on some (sustainably-made) cocktails and vegan brunch while our team displays the clothes as a pop-up style shop.
Not only did we educate and speak about the negative environmental and social impacts of fast fashion, but we also surrounded our guests with socially-conscious companies and brands as they sipped and swapped! We chose to partner with the brands that are in business to pave the way towards a more sustainable and ethical Planet Earth. Through this strategy , our guests were able to meet the humans behind these incredible brands , while discovering more earth-friendly ways to live their lives!
“Sip + Swap” was one of our proudest moments solely because we were able to blend every aspect of our business together seamlessly in one place — engaging and interacting with the community, educating on issues we’re passionate about and highlighting companies who are in business for the planet. And our guests got a whole “new” wardrobe in doing so. 😉
Video & event recap can be found on our blog. https://www.lumaterramedia.com/post/how-our-sip-swap-helped-shoppers-save-hundreds-of-dollars. The next Sip + Swap will be Spring 2020! Follow for updates and save the dates.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lumaterramedia.com
- Email: Lacie@Lumaterramedia.com
- Instagram: @lum.a.terra
- Facebook: /lumaterramedia
- Other: linkedin.com/lumaterramedia
Image Credit:
Alexandria Dupont
Adriana Sandoval
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