With sprinkles, Skittles, Twizzlers, and taffy, Sweet Lane is spreading positivity and creativity to tweens and teens. The Baton Rouge-based B2B lifestyle brand—created by longtime best friends and artists Jeanne McCollister and Lauren Haddox—offers sticker bars, handmade jewelry, creative kits, and a soon-to-be-released clothing line. The color palettes are bright and bold, with all pieces encouraging positive self-expression through affirmations and creative opportunities.
A SWEET START
At the heart of it all is candy art (yes, real candy forms the base of their designs!) and a mission to change the negative messages young girls are receiving through marketing. McCollister says, “We really wanted to create a business that made an impact on these girls, so that’s when we started to do the affirmations. Naturally, you’ll [see affirmations] say, ‘you,’ and we were like, ‘We’re going to do it in a way where it’s empowering them to speak, so we’re going to create [them] in first person.”
And they did. The affirmations girls will see in the pieces include: “I can do this,” “I am a problem solver,” “I can do hard things,” “I am enough,” and “I am blessed,” among others.
A CREATIVE TOUCH
McCollister and Haddox wanted to create an interactive experience for girls that gives them space to be themselves and express their creativity. McCollister says, “You’re going to find an array of accessories, from our Sticker Bar Bundle, that allows them to go into a boutique like Tangerine, where we sell, and customize, just like Build-A-Bear or the Kendra Scott Color Bar does. It gives you an interactive experience, which is big among this upcoming generation of girls. They want to customize. They want to express [themselves]. So we wanted to create an experience that way.”
Additionally, the brand is researching partnerships with fitness studios and developing a “digital media membership,” which includes marketing resources and event kits. These two avenues will help build community connections and provide opportunities for the girls to attend classes and discover solutions on how to navigate anxiety and stress.
A BRIGHT FUTURE
Sweet Lane’s signature tiger glitter sticker remains both McCollister’s and Haddox’s favorite piece to date, and the future of the business is looking just as bright as the tiger’s starry eyes.
“I really am proud of the work that we’ve put into this. It’s been a lot of hours and a lot of sacrifice, but we truly have some exciting things we’re doing,” says McCollister.
Their hard work and sacrifice will soon pay off, as the business officially launches this year. With McCollister and Haddox at the helm, future generations of girls will have the opportunity to express themselves and build their confidence, potentially inspiring future entrepreneurs just
like them.
For aspiring young entrepreneurs, McCollister says to find a mentor, talk to people who are in similar businesses, ask questions, and be ready to listen and learn. For more information about Sweet Lane, follow them on social media @sweetlanecollections.
