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

Hi Kelly, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Tape and Twine started out of a concept in my garage. For a few years, I had been doing shipping and fulfillment out of my garage for e-commerce businesses. Mostly self publishing authors, but then I picked up a few clients that sold goods and the space I had was just not enough. We started looking into warehouse space, but ultimately it was costly and difficult to find close to hone. As I did more research, we realized the lack of a all in one shipping location. As I was having to go drop off my orders, I would have to go to multiple locations and it was just time consuming. After doing more research we found a business model for a shipping and printing store that was not a franchise. I was very interested in this model as I really did not want to be tied to a franchise, I wanted to make something that worked for my community and I knew a cookie cutter approach was not it.

After a year of doing the research, searching for locations, Tape and Twine was born and we signed the lease in January of 2022. Within 4 months, we were up and running and we have not regretted it since.

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?
Tape and Twine is not just your printing and shipping store. We are a business that thrives on saying yes and making things easier for our customers. We have helped people scan old pictures and make a huge collage, we have helped parents make graduation or homecoming posters to highlight their athletes and students. We have been part of home closing by providing a notary, and countless wills and updates to wills. We even helped one family shipped a large amount of their items overseas as they were moving. We love helping our customers find solutions. We want everyone to feel like they are our favorite and that we would do anything to make the process easier for them. Unfortunately we can’t do everything, but if we can’t do it we will for sure find a way or a place that can do it for you!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well as a native to Colorado, it is hard to pick a few things. I will say that I have just loved getting to be part of the small town that Erie provides. Growing up In Niwot, the small town feel is so important. So if we were going to spend one week in Erie, here is what I would do. First I would start out with breakfast at Lucilles. My husband and I have been going to Lucilles in Boulder and Longmont for years. The other day we started our morning there and their strawberry rhubarb jam was THE BEST! I sure did buy one jar to bring home. I would then take a stroll in downtown Erie and shop at Lottie Lane, Charmed 33 and Young Explorers. We could have lunch at 24 Carrot and Dinner at Piripi (which has the most amazing gluten free menu). For some activity during the day, I would check out The Colorado Railbike and I might even test out an electric Bike at Cyclerie.

One day we would for sure go into Longmont and tube at Dickens Farm Nature Area. We love just packing a lunch and hanging out there. My kids are loving Bounce Empire so we would for sure take friends there to check it out. Pretty sure that would be an entire day. And of course, no matter what I have to go to the Denver zoo to check on the Flamingos.

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?
I have been surrounded by the most supportive and incredible friends and family. Both of my parents are entrepreneurs so being my own boss never scared me. My husband and children are extremely supportive and have always supported the crazy ideas and new businesses that I wanted to start. I never really thought I would be an entrepreneur but when an opportunity presented to become my own boss and help plan events, I jumped and ever since then I have just been saying yes…. possibly too many yeses but here we are.

Website: https://www.tapeandtwineshop.com

Instagram: tapeandtwineshop

Facebook: tapeandtwine

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