A Mid-Year Update for Our Vendor Partners
Summer 2026
Lemon Laine
Dear Vendor Community,
It's been longer than I'd like since we last properly connected. Lemon Laine is still, at its core, a one-woman show — I'm the buyer, the merchandiser, the bookkeeper, and the one answering the emails, and some seasons the shop floor wins out over my inbox. Thank you for your patience with us.
This letter is my attempt to close that gap — a real, honest update on everything happening at Lemon Laine: what's new, what's coming, and where I'd love to find more ways to work together in the second half of the year.
Nine Years in Nashville
This year we celebrated Lemon Laine's 9th anniversary. Nine years ago this was just a sketch on a back of a napkin. Today it's now a shop full of incredible partners like you, a loyal community of customers, the best store team in the biz and a small family of businesses growing right alongside us. Thank you for being part of that story.
State of the Business
Since we moved into our new space (less than half a mile from the old one) last July, we've seen a consistent +30–40% increase in sales every month. We were thrilled to see our customers stuck with us through the move, and it looks like we're gaining even more regulars. Makeup and fragrance keep outperforming, alongside serums and sun care.
We're also proud to share that our in-house Botanical Bounce Face Oil is still the #1 seller at Lemon Laine, four years after launch. We're planning to expand the line with additional skincare SKUs launching next summer. We'll also keep carrying our Matcha Tasty, which Mama Bread next door uses for all their matcha drinks.
We get this question a lot so I thought I'd be transparent and share that we have no plans to expand our footprint. I'm happy living within walking distance of my shop and being able to pop in every day to see my team and customers. My intention is to stay bootstrapped and 100% owned by me. Not to get on my soapbox, but after almost a decade in this, I've watched retailers I admired come and go the moment they scaled past what made them special. I believe in the magic of a shopping experience that's warm, welcoming, and beautiful — and it's really hard to keep that magic when it's stamped into more locations.
If you have specific questions about your brand's performance in our shop, I'm always happy to talk. Keep reading to the end for a link to book time with me.
Event Recaps & Upcoming Opportunities
We pride ourselves on connecting with our community, and our sold out, monthly events are a big part of that. Here's a look back at this past year:
- The Outset x Matcha Tasty Hang
- MOB Beauty Makeup Masterclass
- Mom's Day Out (Mother's Day)
- Bond Life Vision Board Night
- Icy Cool Happy Hour with Sofie Pavitt
- CMPLXN Launch + Gelato Pop-up
- Galentine's with Belnu and Rel Beauty
- Vella It's Hot In Here Panel Talk (Wellness Week)
Looking ahead, we have a few open slots over the next six months for event partnerships. We believe in quality over quantity, so whoever we work with, we want to make it special for our customers. If you're interested in any of the below, please confirm with me by August 15.
- Fall Mini Makeovers — We partner with a makeup artist to bring your brand to life through 6–8 hands-on appointments. We ask the brand to provide training/product gratis for the practitioner, plus 100 GWPs (deluxe or full-size only) to carry the momentum forward.
- Fall Mini Facials — Same format, with an esthetician. We ask the brand to provide training/product gratis for the practitioner, plus 100 GWPs (deluxe or full-size only) to carry the momentum forward.
- Fall Influencer Activation — We invite 30–40 hand-picked local influencers to spotlight a brand or new product in-store. There's an additional cost to participate to make the event memorable, plus full-size product gratis for guests.
- January Wellness Week — Our annual education series on women's health topics. Free to attend; we ask the founder or a key team member to be on-site to lead the education. A GWP here is also a great way to keep the momentum going.
Sampling Opportunities
Outside of specific events, we have two ongoing ways to get your brand in front of our customers: as a complimentary add-in to every Club Lemon Laine order, or through a dedicated gift-with-purchase promotion.
What we're looking for right now:
- Ongoing Club orders — We'll happily take any and all samples to include.
- Fall Gift Bag — Samples or deluxe-size items. 100 qty needed.
- Holiday Gift Bag — Large-value deluxe or full-size items. This is our highest-ticket gift bag of the year, so it's a great one to be part of. 150 qty needed.
- Wellness Week — Samples or deluxe items centered on wellness. 100 qty needed.
Please confirm what you're able to contribute by August 15, and ship samples/GWPs to: Lemon Laine c/o sampling gifts, 1600 Woodland Street, Nashville, TN 37206
Meet the Team
Lemon Laine has grown behind the counter, too. A few faces you'll now see (or hear from) when you visit or call the shop:
Our O.G., celebrating her 9-year workiversary this summer. She loves to paint, is a talented makeup artist, and swears by her signature Nue Co fragrance.
Our IG queen, also goes by artist Essy. Cat mom, currently obsessed with Marie Veronique.
Just launched her own athleticwear line, Fleura. Always has the best manicures and never spends a night without May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon.
Recently married, always has a matcha in hand. Loves interior design and drinks her Age Quencher Hydrate powder daily.
Stage name Leni Black. Lived in Hong Kong in her 20s, loves anything magnesium, and is an avid concert-goer.
100% a dog person, loves to travel. Her newest discovery: our own Botanical Bounce Face Oil.
We've also added a makeup artist to the shop:
Now offering makeover appointments by request for our customers.
A Family of Businesses, All in One Place
Something exciting happened this past year that I want you to know about: my husband opened two new businesses in the same building as Lemon Laine. Mama Bread serves pastries, coffee, and lunch, and Groceries Etc offers elevated cocktails in a cozy attic space upstairs. Between the three of us, our little corner of the neighborhood now covers skincare and wellness retail, food, drinks, and an outdoor space — a genuinely family-owned block.
This opens up real opportunities for cross-brand collaboration: joint events, themed dinners, private partner gatherings in the shared patio space, and more. If a collaboration across our businesses interests you, I'd love to talk it through.
Photo: Mama Bread Bakery & Cafe
Photo: Groceries Etc Vinyl Listening Room & Bar
The Best Way to Reach Me
Email is the best way to reach me. If you'd like to have a dedicated meeting to discuss your brand, please follow this link to book time on my calendar.
And I always love meeting our vendors in person — if you're ever in town, give us a shout.
Going forward, you can expect an update like this from me twice a year, so you're never waiting this long to hear from us again.
What I Need From You
To keep things moving, here's a quick recap of the asks above, all due by August 15:
- Confirm interest in any of the events: Fall Mini Makeovers, Fall Mini Facials, Fall Influencer Activation, and/or January Wellness Week
- Confirm what GWPs & samples you can contribute to Ongoing Club orders, the Fall Gift Bag, the Holiday Gift Bag, and/or Wellness Week
Ship all samples and GWPs to: Lemon Laine c/o sampling gifts, 1600 Woodland Street, Nashville, TN 37206
Thank You
Thank you for being patient with a small business that is, at its core, still just me — figuring it out and growing it a little more each year, so grateful for partners like you who've helped build Lemon Laine into what it is today. Here's to the next nine years.
With gratitude,
Laura
Founder, Lemon Laine
You're receiving this because you're a valued vendor partner of Lemon Laine.