We had the good fortune of connecting with Lacey Eibert Keigley and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Lacey Eibert, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
I think the biggest thing that people outside of the industry might not realize is how much of this business is built entirely upon relationships.
A lot of my time is spent in ways that are unbillable – which is perfectly fine, of course. A lot of helping other small businesses succeed is spending time getting to KNOW that business and the people behind the business.
Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I run a business that specializes in highlighting other businesses. I think of us like a mouthpiece. We have developed the audience and the platform and small businesses and individual artists and creators hop on our platform to let others know what they’re about and what they offer.
I’m most proud of the way the business has been built – one company at a time, one relationship at a time. In the past six years we have grown every single month, with no exception, for six years. It’s a delight to find your lane and keep driving full speed ahead.
Nothing is ever easy, but what has helped is a good sense of self. I know what Travelers Rest Here is and what it is not. What we do does not work for everyone and that’s okay. But it really works well for some folks. I am not a hard sell person – we either work for you or we don’t. And when we don’t, we can still be friends!
What I most want people to know about TRH is that you can trust us. We’ve worked hard to build a brand that means what it says.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh goodness – best question ever!
Of course you should come to our favorite city – Travelers Rest, South Carolina.
No morning in TR (that’s what you’ll be calling it, just like a local) should start without a delicious breakfast and a good cup of coffee – which you can find at Tandem, Leopard Forest or Bridge City (to name just a few!).
After breakfast, walk down Main Street and visit the shops – like, TR Makers Co., The Good Market and Urban Hare.
Next, pop over to Upcountry Provisions and order some sandwiches to go. Hop in the car and drive over to nearby Jones Gap State Park, where you will feel as if you’ve stepped into a rain forest even though you’re in the South. Walk the trails, stop by the Saluda River and enjoy a picnic lunch.
Head back into town for the afternoon, stopping at Treehouse Cafe, an eclectic art cafe, to do a little art experience of the beauty you just saw. Across the street you’ll find an independent bookstore – buy a couple good reads and wander the Swamp Rabbit Trail til you find a bench or a shady spot and read for a bit.
For dinner, you have so many delicious choices – Topsoil Restaurant offers a genuine farm to table experience, Farmhouse Tacos has guac you must try and Whistlestop Cafe has the cutest rooftop dining.
If you have longer to stay, rent bikes at Sunrift or Freehub, taketh kids to Palmetto Proper, have a drink at Community Tap or Swamp Rabbit Brewery, take a yoga class at Zen Rabbit or sign up for pilates at Switchback.
Trust us, you’ll end wanting to move right in.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I LOVE shout outs! In many ways, they are my bread and butter.
But more than that, they are also my joy and fun. I love being a cheerleader for people and places I love.
The list is actually quite long, but I’ll narrow this shout out to one person.
When I first considered purchasing and beginning my own business, my friend and talented photographer Jane Howard was a big supporter. She believed in me and this project so much that she volunteered her photography skills to help me and she always gave me her best work, even when it was volunteer work. That’s the sort of friend and supporter she is.
Website: https://travelersresthere.com/energy-fitness/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelersresthere/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lacey-eibert-keigley-835632150/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travelersresthere/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDRrqs0CV9RSLC6AQg-8TLg
Other: https://laceyeibertkeigley.substack.com/publish/posts