We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Erin Dragoo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Erin below.
Erin, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
This question is pretty powerful, because throughout middle and high school, I was definitely what many would call a freak. I went through my goth stage — I wore the baggy pants with chains, heavy eyeliner, scene mullet, etc. Then I did a full 180 and went through this weird raver-girl looking phase where I was doing rainbow eyeshadow and just generally wearing everything rainbow. I experimented with all the hair colors. I considered myself to be “straight edge,” meaning I didn’t smoke or drink, and I demonstrated that through big sharpie X’s on my hands. Meanwhile, my high school was filled with these gorgeous cheerleader type girls, and I remember envying their cool cars while I had to drive a big black truck. So I would say that I definitely stuck out like a sore thumb. And for the longest time, I was very self-conscious about how different I was.
That is, until I met my husband, Kyle. He’s totally out of my league. He looks like all of the men I grew up wanting to date but felt like I was too weird to approach them. He fell in love with my differences, and showed me that others would love them, too. So thanks to him, I learned to embrace the freak within myself and now I use it to my advantage at my store.
Nobody wants to shop somewhere that looks like everywhere else. We all want something out of the ordinary, unexpected. And when we do find that place, we hope that the owner and the staff match the vibe. In this scenario, I would say that I nailed it. Lunch Money is successful because I’m unapologetically myself; I let my freak flag fly, and encourage everybody else to do the same. Our differences make us beautiful.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Lunch Money is unlike anything Chandler has ever seen. It’s something you would expect to see in Nashville or San Francisco. People often ask me what I sell, and that’s one of the most difficult questions for me. It’s not a one-word answer.
To give you an idea, let me provide a back story behind the name. When I was in high school, my mom would give my sister and me each $20 to use on lunch for the week. Instead of using it to buy lunch, I would take the $20 to the mall after school, and spend it on cute little things for myself. So, my store sells everything that I would spend my lunch money on. It’s a cumulation of everything that I love.
That entails bright clothing, handmade clay earrings, dainty necklaces, cute car accessories, stickers, fun phone cases, Pop Sockets, bold home accents, hair clips, sunglasses, puzzles, celebrity prayer candles, chic smoking accouterments, silly greeting cards, notebooks, pens, planners, tarot cards, books, throw pillows, funny coffee cups, items for each holiday, candles, party items, colorful eyeshadow palettes, purses, keychains — I could go on and on. The variety of items that Lunch Money sells is almost overwhelming. You could walk around my store for an hour and still probably not see everything.
Besides the products, the atmosphere and decor style of Lunch Money definitely set me apart. The walls are bright green, the tile is a very busy black-and-white pattern, and there are disco balls and lights hanging from the ceiling. There are clothes hanging on all the walls like they’re art. The green walls are offset by hot pink curtains separating the front window from the rest of the store. In the back of the store is a flower wall with a bright pink neon sign that reads “I Want It All.” In front of that is a vintage 70s purple couch. This space is for selfies! I have a Polaroid camera in the shop that I use to take photos of my customers in the selfie area and I hang them all on the adjacent wall. The wall behind the register is a cloud and rainbow mural that was painted by a Colorado-based artist named Mike McPuff.
Honestly, Lunch Money is a total vibe. I’m so proud of how different and out of place the shop is.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and although the degree seems completely irrelevant to my career choice, I find myself applying things from my degree all the time. For example, I learned how to tell a story about my brand instead of just presenting it as a business. Everyone loves a business with a story behind it.
I would also say my love for interior design has helped me a TON with creating memorable displays and a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. While I didn’t go to school for this aspect, I have certainly dedicated countless hours online learning about how to style different walls and surfaces.
Lastly, I would say my kindness and generosity have gotten me really far. When you’re a genuine person, you find that people actually want to support you and see you succeed.
For those who are in their beginning stages, I would encourage them to do their research, do everything over the top, and be their truest self,
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’m always looking for cute local vendors to help me fill my shelves! But, I do want to warn everybody: I’m very picky about my product, and you’ll have to pass the vibe check. This is what makes Lunch Money so fun, though! It’s the unique, colorful, Etsy-style products. If you think you’d fit well in my store, please feel free to reach out to me!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lunchmoneyaz.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/lunchmoneyaz
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/lunchmoneyaz
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lunch-money-chandler
