Meet Lauren Randar | Co-Owner and Graphic Designer, Tied & Two

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lauren Randar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lauren, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I knew from an early age that I wanted a career where I could be mostly if not fully in control of my own work. I intentionally led down a path determined by my creative abilities and individual talent, so that when I graduated from Clemson University, I had power over my own direction.

During my time at Clemson University, my then-high-school-sweetheard, now-husband and I had a daughter, who was 3 years old by the time I had spent a few years at a marketing agency as a graphic designer and art director. I knew I wanted to able to spend more time with my children. After all, I was pregnant with my second child. I was determined to be able to spend time at home with them while still allowing my creative juices to flow and also to contribute financially for my family.

The fellow art director at my advertising agency ran an Etsy shop designing, printing, and selling wedding stationery online. To say I was inspired by her is an understatement. I knew that once my daughter was born, I needed to take steps to be at home as much as time allowed.

The way my full-time business, Tied & Two, came about, was a twist of fate. I approached my co-worker, Kari, and asked her for advice and guidance about starting my own business that would allow me to work from home with 2 kids. She was excited for my new venture, and was glad to help someone else have the creative freedom she coveted so much. The very next day, Kari approached me to say, “Why don’t you be my partner?”

With Kari’s several years of experience in the wedding stationery industry (as well as navigating Etsy) and my hands-on knowledge of printing and fresh design outlook, we created a partnership to take on the masses. Thus, Tied & Two was born.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As a creative, I have always valued minimal, clean, and classic design. As a millennial, I am inclined to appreciate more modern approaches to art, though also appreciating a specific style of retro design: midcentury modern.

In my career, I have prided myself on creating identities for businesses and individuals to reflect their message and style in the most legible, appropriate way. While maintaining a clean and simple style, at Tied & Two we are flexible between feminine and masculine design but heavily influenced by timeless design intentionally determined to last.

Tied & Two started primarily offering wedding stationery, although we also offered small business branding and web design. The percentage of our business dedicated to one branch or another varied greatly, determined by the industry changes, outside forces (COVID!), and more. We have gone back and forth being driven to weddings and branding, but ultimately, earlier this year (2024), we finally decided to take a full step back from the wedding industry.

This was an extremely hard decision for us to make, as it was our original passion within Tied & Two. It drove our business. It WAS our business. However, over the last 9 years, the wedding industry changed so dramatically that we could no longer keep up with the pivoting trends, affordable offerings, and DIY options available. With costs rising, we were unable to continue offering our same services with our firm integrity at a cost affordable to our customers with so much competition.

Now that we have finally settled into our evolved true passion, branding small businesses, we are able fully put in the attention every client deserves to get their business up and running, give them the refresh they need after several years, or help them pivot when their services are changing or growing. Along the way, we have shifted our process, condensed OR expanded our offerings, and taken our mistakes and challenges to turn them into lessons learned for the future. We are flexible in the we take into consideration how well our last process went with a client when considering starting our next projects, always asking ourselves, “How can we do better?”

Branding and web design is very much a “people-pleasing” industry in that we are required to consider our clients’ personal opinions and cater to their business entirely; however, we are fortunate enough to have the experience that as professionals with over 20+ combined experience, we instill a strong trust in our clients. Our design style in combination with our clients’ trust in us is key to how we maintain and grow within the industry.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in the suburbs of Charlotte, there are so many opportunities for fun inside and outside our little town of Fort Mill.

Day 1

Start off the day easy with a casual stroll down Main Street, stopping by Olive’s Mud Puddle for coffee and maybe Z Bakery + Cafe for a pastry or sweet treat, ending at Walter Elisha Park for a picnic and some fun on the playground for the kids. We’d head back to Main Street for a late lunch at FM Eatery and a quick drink at Amor Artis before we’d head over to the ASC Greenway live music at the Gateway.

Day 2

We’d venture up to the US National Whitewater Center in Charlotte for the day, diving into activity in and out of the water, taking advantage of a full day pass rock climbing, whitewater rafting, ropes courses, and paddling on the Catawba River. We’d head out just before dinnertime, so that we can stop by one of our favorite local spots in Charlotte on the way back home, Pinky’s Westside Grill.

Day 3

In the morning, we’d head back up to Charlotte to catch the goods at The Batchmaker’s Batch House, snagging some oatmeal cream pies, chocolate puddle cookies, and s’mores brownies bright and early. We’ll swing over to Enderly for a cup of coffee before heading back South slightly to South End. We’d mosey around, shop, and stop for lunch at Superica or Flower Child, maybe bowl a few games at Pins Mechanical, and grab a beverage Lenny Boy–beer for fans of, and kombucha for great N/A options. With kids, we’d head over to Freedom Park to get their energy out a little before heading back home.

Day 4

We’ll take a rest sleeping in for the first half of day 4, taking a short walk to Poppyseed Kitchen for brunch, and grabbing a cup of coffee from Humble Cup on our way home. After resting up for most of the day, we’d have reservations in NoDa for Haberdish or Goodyear House, enjoying good food and cocktails. If we have the energy to go early, we might grab a brew at our favorite brewery in Charlotte, Free Range, and stroll along North Davidson and pop into some local boutiques. We’d end the night with Jeni’s Ice Cream and maybe a beer at Divine Barrel (or Free Range, if we didn’t get to earlier, because it’s a must).

Day 5

On one of our last days, we’ll venture just a little further south for a nice walk along the river in Riverwalk, Rock Hill, and continue South to explore downtown Rock Hill. Elk Avenue Tavern is an absolute must for lunch or dinner. After grabbing ice cream at Two Scoops, we’d play some disc golf at Winthrop University. Heading home for dinner, we’d take a seat at Taco Molino on their fabulous covered patio.

Day 6

On the last day, we might go all out at Carowinds! Everyone will be tired out from all the activity, and we’ll likely grab a casual Bossy Beulah’s on the way home for dinner.

Day 7

With flights heading out in the afternoon, we’d take it easy in the morning and go pick up Bojangle’s as an easy Southern specialty. Heading out, we’ll send them on their way with Puckerbutt Pepper Co. hot sauce as souvenirs!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are many individuals who have made an impact on my career and life, though a few stand out among the others.

Joe McConkey & Jerry Howell
As a graphic designer, I was privileged to kickstart my craft as early as high school, taking Digital Art & Design and Graphic Communications electives with Joe McConkey and Jerry Howell, respectively. While Joe helped wield my creative talents, Jerry encouraged me to quite literally get my hands dirty learning printing methods ranging from screen printing to flexography and lithography. Together, these gentlemen led the way for me to pursue Graphic Communications at Clemson University while maintaining my commitment to my creative abilities.

Nancy Leininger
I discovered I was pregnant over Winter Break during my junior year at Clemson University. Just days before the Spring Semester would begin, I sought guidance from one of the professors in my department, Nancy Leininger. A mother herself, she was kind, considerate, patient, and determined to help me through the chaos that would be raising a child while finishing school.

Martin Advertising Team
One of the requirements of the GC program at Clemson was completing 2 internships–one during a semester, and one during the summer. I was lucky enough to be granted the ability to intern at the same company for both requirements, given my need for the close proximity of my home in Clemson. The entire women-led team at Martin Advertising (now H3 Marketing) in Anderson, South Carolina welcomed me with open arms and humbled me with all-in participation as a designer on their team. I would not be where I am today without the guidance and support of Ansley, Louise, Emily, and Judy,

The Alison Group Team
Upon graduating from Clemson, I found another small but mighty agency in Augusta, Georgia with which I fell right into sync with immediately. I’ll never forget that in my first week of work, I *bravely* asked if my TODDLER could come to work with me because daycare was closed due to an ice storm. My creative director, Linda, brought her son in and I just figured they could entertain each other! While this would be unheard of at most establishments, the Alison team was understanding. I owe much of my overall business experience and passion to Mark, Linda, Tasha, Brittany, and of course, Kari.

Kari Rehnlund
Once my co-worker and inspiration, now my equal partner in Tied & Two, Kari Rehnlund is the entire reason I am exactly where I am today. Without her faith in me to join her on this venture of entrepreneurship, I may still be somewhere similar, but certainly not here. We have been through a rollercoaster of both friendship and business partnership, but after almost 10 years, have continued to make the strong pair we have from the beginning. Her creative spirit, determined mindset, and willingness to learn and grow pushes me daily.

Friends & Family
Without a doubt, there are many friends and family who have supported me all this time: my parents and my parents-in-law who supported Dennis and me through finishing college while raising a child as well as forever supporting my dreams of running my own business; my brother-in-law Danny who has been the very best; our little Clemson family of friends Lauren, Katie, Dulcie, and Peter; and lastly, Dennis, Finley, and Vienna, who are patient, loving, and flexible, and proud.

Website: https://tiedandtwo.com

Instagram: @tiedandtwo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiedandtwo

Image Credits
Maiden Musgrove Photography