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 

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