Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Hubbs.
Hi Lauren, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I began Recycled Reels when I was a senior in college. I happened to be taking a wine tasting course at the time and my final project was to make a wine rack. I previously had done an internship at a film archive and had collected any film reels they were no longer in need of. The reels I had saved happened to make a perfect wine rack. I soon realized I loved making things. With the help of my dad to get me started on the basics, I knew I could make a business out of this. The same place I had an internship was where I ended up going to school to be certified in film preservation. I kept collecting any reels I could get my hands on. Basically…the gist of how I started my business was getting a few degrees I didn’t end up using after finding out that making things with my hands is pretty fulfilling. It’s great knowing I’m saving history by giving everything film-related a second life and a new purpose.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Moving my business and life from New York to South Carolina right after graduating and during the height of covid made it quite the bumpy road. I was in a mental crisis of thinking I needed to get a job but I also didn’t want to work for anyone. I wanted to work for myself but didn’t know how to get that to take off. The stress of not having enough money was there and still is. I wanted to make money selling my products and getting out to sell at markets was not easy with covid shutting all the big markets/festivals down. There was one market that helped which was down by Edisto, SC. Even that one market was not enough so my only choice was to help out my boyfriend’s business and become a salesperson. I still work for his business and do my own. It’s not easy balancing both but at least I can still do my own thing.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Recycled Reels?
Recycled Reels encompasses everything film-related. Film reels, film cameras, film, and photo slides are pieces of our film history that are repurposed into items you can use in your home. Why let these items get thrown out or sit around collecting dust when they can have a second life. Items I make include wine racks, lamps, clocks, bookends, film bows, and end tables. Lately, I have been specializing in film reel end tables only due to their popularity. Any of my products make great additions to a movie room or literally any room in your home. There are others out there that you’ll see on Etsy that repurpose film reels or film cameras but what sets my business apart is that I specifically do film-related items and have a variety of them. I also like to educate my buyers on what they are getting so they get to know the history behind the product.
I love to mention how much I enjoy doing custom projects. If you or someone in your family has old slides or film reels that hold happy memories but can’t seem to find a way to enjoy them anymore, please reach out. I’d love to find a way for you to enjoy them again.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I do hope I can continue the opportunity to make things over the next 5-10 years. My products may continue to change depending on the availability of film reels. I plan to get more advanced in the engineering of my products. The goal is to learn how to weld to be able to make wall sculptures and different types of furniture.
Contact Info:
- Email: lauren@recycledreels.com
- Website: www.recycledreels.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recycledreels/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/recycledreels
