Interview with Rio from Literary Emporium

INTERVIEW WITH RIO FROM LITERARY EMPORIUM 📚

 In my last post i attempted to solve your Santa struggles by seeking out lovely gifts for the literary lover in your life. We paid a virtual visit to the family owned Somerset business, Literary Emporium. Today, i speak to the brains behind the business, Rio.  

v  I see from your profile that you are an English graduate, what is the book that first ignited your love of literature?

It would be almost impossible to pick a single book – but from a young age I absolutely loved to devour any book I could get my hands on. I would often stay up late into the night reading by light under my duvet, which partly inspired our ‘Midnight Readers Club’ gift range. Books by Roald Dahl was always a particular early favourite, developing and growing into a love of anything gothic as I grew older.                      

                            The 'Midnight Readers Club' gift set

v  Do you remember the moment you decided to start Literary Emporium?

After finishing my English degree and beginning to work in the charity sector I started to play around with combining jewellery pieces and some of my favourite literary quotes, and Literary Emporium was born from the front room of our flat!

v  How have you weathered the pandemic?

Like lots of small businesses and families across the country, we have noticed an impact of price increases and difficulties in supply chains. Definitely not helped at all by Brexit. We hope that perhaps people may choose a small, family run business for their gifting ideas over Christmas and for special occasions as we hugely appreciate every sale we make.

v  What advice would you give to anyone starting a business?

Plan and map things out, discuss with friends or family where possible and give things a try – if you have your own, unique idea – see if you are able to jump in and go for it!

v  What is your proudest achievement?

We were really pleased this year to celebrate 10 years of Literary Emporium as a business – we are really thankful that people have chosen to support us and return to us for their gifting items over the years and celebrating that felt really special.

v  If you could be any literary character, who would you be and where would you take their story?

What a question! It would have to be a strong female character, perhaps a Shakespearean heroine such as Beatrice or a character from Greek Mythology such as Circe!

        The Circe gift set -

        Greek Mythology

            Collection

                   &

            Beatrice 

Much Ado About Nothing Enamel Pin

Shakespeare's Heroines Collection

Where do you see Literary Emporium in five years?

We very much hope to be continuing to provide customers, gift shops, libraries, art galleries and museums with a range of Literary Gifts – maybe with some new items that are currently in development – watch this space!

What is your favourite item on the site?

Some of our favourite items to package and send out would be our range of gift sets. They contain a beautifully designed cloth-bound classic or special edition book, a Literary Emporium t shirt and a Literary Emporium pin badge. All packaged beautifully in our own Literary Emporium gift box and finished with a burgundy and gold bow. They make a perfect birthday, anniversary or a special gift for a friend or a loved one and are very popular at Christmas time!

 Put your feet up with the Christmas movie and let Literary Emporium get Christmas all wrapped up with their beautifully presented gift sets.

Pride and Prejudice gift set.

Thank you Rio for letting us take a peak inside Literary Emporium in these last two posts! 

I can attest to the quality of the Pride and Prejudice sweatshirt as it was on my Christmas list in a Christmas Past! I think i may be throwing out some not so subtle hints to family and friends for 'The Midnight Readers Club' gift set as, like Rio, i was also a childhood member of the same club... and shhh, don't tell anyone, but i might still be a member now! 

Reader, until next time,  

Literary Lass 

x

GIFTS FOR THE LITERARY LOVE IN YOUR LIFE

GIFTS FOR THE LITERARY LOVE IN YOUR LIFE💕🕮 

While scrolling through social media recently, a writer described how her family always cried down her request for a book as an ideal gift. She called out to the social sphere, asking if anyone could think of a book related gift, that was not actually a book. 

    This post is for her, and for all the literary lovers, whose loved ones have put a ban on books under the Christmas tree.🎄🕮 Consider me your Mrs Clause! 🤶

    You could, perhaps, leave this page open beside your loved one, you might just find something worthy of someone who has been as exceptionally good, as i know you have been, all year! 

    Let me take you on a whistle stop tour of the loveliest literary gifts this Christmas! (Yes, i said it!) Grab a cuppa, plump up those cushions on the sofa, and let me take you through 12 Days of Christmas Gifts courtesy of family owned company, Literary Emporium 

1. A Partridge in a Pear-tree-     This Jane Eyre inspired gift box is a must for those that crave Charlotte's cry for freedom.                                                                                            2. Turtle Doves: Are, according to the dictionary, 'Noted for the apparent affection shown for its mate'.'

These Wuthering Heights earrings are also a perfect pair,

 just like Heathcliff & Cathy'

3. French Hens: Dream of summer holidays with 'Wish you were here' stocking filler postcards. 

4. Calling Birds: Were thought to originally refer to the blackbird. These vinyl stickers are a reminder that you need 'Nevermore' worry re those spooky stocking fillers! 

5. Gold (& silver) Earrings, (& necklaces, & bracelets): These beautiful book earrings are one way to ensure that a book makes it under your tree this Christmas.

6. Geese a-laying:

 Beware what plans you hatch & what you create.

Wear your creative heart on your sleeve with this Frankenstein sweatshirt.   

7.  Swans a-Swimming: Okay, so the Alice fans among you may remember this is not actually a swan but a flamingo! While swans do not feature in the croquet scene, they do look rather similar! Plus the Queen certainly features and she owned the swans! (I think i got away with that!) Anyway, the queen certainly did sock it to Alice, so now Alice can return the favour with this fancy footwear! 

8. Maids-a-milking: Don't let them grind you down, show your solidarity with Handmaids by buying this dystopian gift set.

 

9 Ladies Dancing: Celebrate the emancipation of woman with Suffragette clothing, stationary &, pins. For a special treat this gift set includes Emmeline Pankhurst's memoir.

10. Lords a leaping: You can always keep track of Santa with a compass necklace, earrings, stationery & rings! 

 11. Pipers Piping: 

Give in to the music with the dastardly Dracula gift set & stationary. 

12. Drummers Drumming:

'A drum., a drum! Macbeth doth come!'

Be ready with Lady Macbeth Pins & gift sets.  

You can find everything from Santa's stocking fillers to treasure troves to pop under the tree at 

https://www.literaryemporium.co.uk/.

Coming next; We meet the brains behind the business!