Meet Erin Horvath | Owner of Evelyn & May

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

Hi Erin, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Evelyn was my grandmother and May was my great aunt (Evelyn’s sister)—both grew up on a farm in Northern Wisconsin. They loved canning fresh garden produce, crocheting blankets for family and friends, and helping out on the dairy farm.
I wanted to carry on the family tradition of making things from scratch using organic ingredients. I was having trouble finding simple ingredients in the products I use every day, like in lip balm—thus, Evelyn & May was born.

As a graphic designer and production artist by trade, I naturally started with product branding.  And since I wanted my products to be small batch and crafted with organic ingredients, I wanted the logo to be a handwritten font that was similar to my grandmother’s signature.

Since launching with our lip balm, my product line has grown into a Lavender Pillow Spray, a Yoga Mat Spray, Geranium Body Oil, and Cuticle Balm that are all natural and handmade in Boulder, Colorado.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My background is in design and not business, so there has definitely been a learning curve. For example, I had to research industry standards when it came to pricing out my products for wholesale vs. retail sales.
Two valuable lessons I’ve learned so far are that 1) it takes time to build your brand and business and 2) that it’s ok. Trust your instincts, do a ton of networking, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have been living in Boulder since 2018 and still find new and fun things to do here. We’d start our morning by going for a walk along the beautiful bike paths that wind around the city and then head to Boxcar to grab a coffee or tea.
We’d then either go for a hike in Chautauqua Park, ride our bikes to Pearl Street, or head to the Farmers Market.

For lunch, we’d head over to The Kitchen to enjoy their outdoor patio, eat their delicious lobster rolls, and, of course, have a glass of wine. Another great lunch spot for an amazing sandwich is Dish Gourmet. That evening, we’d go to a show at the Chautauqua Auditorium, Boulder Theatre, or Sofar Sounds. And for dinner, we would either go to Blackbelly, Santos, Jax, or Oak and then head over to the Julian Hotel for drinks and live music.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Yes! I want to dedicate my shoutout, first and foremost, to my family and friends. They have all been my product testers, social media influencers, emotional supporters, and cheerleaders. Knowing that I have their support keeps me motivated and excited to keep growing my business. I’d also like to shout out to Abby Wilson who is my writer guru, Marika Flynn who takes my beautiful product shots, and Amy Mcfadzen who put me in touch with JLounge in Boulder, which sells Evelyn & May products.
Abby Wilson: abbyelisecreative.com
Marika Flynn: marikaphotography.net
JLounge: jloungespa.com

Website: www.evelynandmay.com

Instagram: evelyn_and_may