We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Laura Lamarre Anderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Laura with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
My dad worked two jobs, at least. My Mom worked at home to raise ten children and once we were all old enough to go to school, she took on a job outside of the house. My brothers and sisters and I were always there for each other, helping with whatever we needed.
I was so lucky to know I could take chances and try new things because I had such a strong support system to catch me when I fell. I don’t take that security for granted – I work hard to repay that luck. Most people I know work hard, but not everyone has that safety net to allow them to take chances and work at what they love.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
With my family, I own and operate lala books in downtown Lowell, MA. When I decided to leave teaching, I looked around for something that would allow me to continue making an impact in our community. My husband and I talked over a lot of ideas and finally decided that creating a bookstore where folks could gather could make a difference. We designed a space that would feel welcoming and give writers and readers a spot to get together. Over the 3 1/2 years we’ve been open, we have hosted monthly book clubs, created opportunities for local writers to meet with readers, and curated a selection of books that speaks to our community.
When she finished school, my daughter Thea came on board full time with the store and has taken on buying and budgeting responsibilities. I absolutely love coming to work with my daughter every day – we have become a great team.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The most important knowledge I had at the start of planning the bookstore was to understand that there was a lot I didn’t know. Reaching out to others in the field, as well as business supports in our city, was invaluable. I am still learning.
Having worked as both a tour guide and a teacher, I developed strong interpersonal skills. I notice people and can “read the room” in a way that helps me to tailor interactions to what folks need. Those experiences also helped me to develop public speaking skills, so I am comfortable talking to groups both large and small. This has become important as I collaborate with others on projects to help the store grow.
Like most people from my generation, I had wonderful models of hard work to draw upon. I know I can overcome most problems with a bit of effort and by reaching out for support.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Our store relies on partnerships and collaborations. We work with local authors on events like our spoken word open mic and we rely on local artists and crafts people to fill our store with interesting gifts for customers. We collaborate with other businesses for events to attract people to the downtown, such as our recent Downtown Lowell Shop Hop. We get the word out about our store to new customers with events like the Boozy Book Fair hosted by restaurants and breweries in neighboring towns. We are always looking for creative people who can help build our space as a true gathering place for readers and writers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lalabookstore.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lalabookslowell/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lalabooks.Lowell
Image Credits
Tory Wesnofske, Laura Lamarre Anderson
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