We had the good fortune of connecting with Julia Washington and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julia, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I love to read and I love to party so it made sense to host reading parties. But really though, I love taking myself out and reading either at a restaurant or sitting at a bar, but I also don’t handle a lot of noise very well. So creating the opportunity for other people to read in public but we’ve taken over the location to be just readers, makes perfect sense. Every ticket holder gets a hand-made bookmark and higher price tickets get a bag of book-themed items from my gift shop. I design cards and candles that are literary inspired.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always been an artist and I thought my life would consist of writing novels or plays, or even screenplays, but I ended up working for non-profits, the government, and occasionally corporations and it was very clear none of those were a good fit or even the right fit.

In 2020 I started painting with watercolor, mostly portraits, and in 2022 I started designing greeting cards. After getting downsized from a communications job in the summer of 2023 and an unsuccessful attempt at gaining employment, I decided to take greeting card making more seriously. In September of 2023, I contacted the small business development center, with my vision (cards, candles, books, and parties). November of 2023 I soft-launched the shop on small business Saturday and it went better than expected. I’ve been taking my shop all over California since the middle of January. I hosted the first reading party, The Reading Salon, in February of 2024 and we nearly sold out. Our April event sold out in 3 days. I’ve expanded into other types of reading parties as well and the reception of those has been incredible.

I have definitely spent my fair share of time worrying and stressed. It is very scary starting a business and even though you love the idea, that doesn’t mean people want what you’re offering. Over the course of my career, I’ve had so many hurdles where I’ve been too much, I need to dial it down (whatever it was I could never confirm!). I needed to fit in this nice little prescribed employee box and that was so hard.

Everyone says it takes time for businesses to be profitable but we only ever hear about “overnight” success or how people sell out quickly. But in my experience so far, while I have had parties sell out, that doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges! Like with our Blind Date with a Book party in May, I placed the order and four days later my card was compromised. I spent a week worried about the order being canceled because of this. But the company was understanding when I reached out and it all worked out, but I was on edge.

The other thing that’s finally come true for me is the Field of Dreams quote, “If you build it they will come.” I am shocked by how many returning customers my shop gets, that the parties sell out. I genuinely can’t believe it.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I generally don’t leave the house if I don’t have to, but if a friend is coming in from out of town, I would take them to a bookstore (Octavia’s in Pasadena is my favorite when I’m in LA) and then have lunch at Millie’s Cafe on the corner. Then I would force them to come back to mine and read the books we just bought for the rest of their visit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have a few friends that have been solid in their support. When I needed to get a better understanding of finances, my friend Carly walked through it with me, recommending books, offering advice, and always promoting my events, buying tickets, or just offering a shoulder to cry on when needed. I also went to the small business development center when I decided to be serious about my gift shop. They provided a business mentor who’s been walking me through a business plan, proposals, etc. She even explained business taxes to me. This has been a huge help in keeping me sane.

Website: www.juliawashingtonproductions.com

Instagram: @proseandglows

Image Credits
Photos by Julia Washington

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