Meet Janelle Pegram | Designer & Business Owner

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

Hi Janelle, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When covid hit in 2020 I was a brand new mom. My son was born in February and by March we were in full lock down. I was a teacher working from home and feeling a little lost. I was a mom, stuck at home and didn’t feel like I had anything that was mine anymore. We had lost our daughter the year before during heart surgery and this boy was my rainbow baby. I felt like I was supposed to be happy but couldn’t find the old me anymore. I felt like I was on autopilot most days just trying to get through.

I’ve always been a creative and always wanted to have a business of my own but didn’t know what I would want to make or sell. When I would nurse my son I would watch tiktok and suddenly saw all these people sharing tips and tricks for how to draw and make their own stickers. I thought to myself, I could do that, so I did. I bought myself an iPad and a cricut started the next month. When I was thinking what to name my business I immediately wanted to name it after my daughter Lyla June. I wanted people to say her name. I wanted to build something maybe she would be proud of. I wanted my business, this thing I was so passionate about, to be named after a person who means so much to me.

There was a steep learning curve to running my business and trying to figure out who my audience would be, and that has changed over the years. I thought I wanted to make things for teachers but wasn’t ever passionate about it. I’ve always been an avid reader and decided to try making stickers for this community that I loved but didn’t really know existed. Suddenly I was thrown into the book world and I was in love. I have met some of my best friends through this business and feel so blessed for the connections I have made. Since we started we’ve grown and now make stickers, tarot cards, apparel of all kinds, bookmarks and mugs.

I find so much joy and a sense of fulfillment creating things that people love. It’s amazing to me I get to work with authors and creators who I admire. I can’t put it into words but I’m forever grateful for the doors this business has opened for me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The product/art I’m most proud of are my romance trope tarot cards. I feel like they are the product that sets my business apart from others. They’re so fun to make and I feel like I am always brainstorming new ideas.

This is also the product that opened the door to working with so many amazing authors that I love. Suddenly I had a list of authors wanting to work with me to make products for their books and that just blew my mind.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Currently we live in Utah, outside of Salt Lake City. I would have to say we’re known for our amazing landscapes and a plethora of dessert and soda shops. It would be so fun to spend time outside, exploring Sundance or Park City and definitely eat our way through as many dessert shops as possible!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
One person I really want to give a shout out to is Megan Gallt from Novel Grounds. She is the definition of a boss, she has this amazing company that I admired and wanted to strive to have even a fraction of her success. I reached out to her on Instagram not thinking she would actually want to share any of her secrets or tips with me and boy was I wrong. Megan is the definition of lifting others. She is always so willing to help and share and encourage. She’s helped me make some crucial changes to help with the overall growth of my business.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/lylajuneco

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lylajuneco/

Image Credits
All photos were taken by me: Janelle Pegram