Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Tillman.
Hi Laura, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have lived on Wilmington Island for 45 years. I have always loved the islands and beaches. I also developed a love for driftwood. I worked for the state for 30 years, and when I retired in 2013, I wanted to do something creative. That’s when I started collecting driftwood from the local islands. I absolutely loved the colors and textures of the wood. It was amazing to me that that the sun and saltwater washing over a piece of wood could create something so beautiful. I started out making a driftwood mirror and sold it within a few days. I created several designs after that and started selling my designs on Facebook. Lamps, mirrors, tables, and wall art. About 5 months into selling my art, I had the opportunity to open a shop on Wilmington Island. I decided to name the business L Driftwood Designs. I was truly blessed by the customer base that l had created during the time I had the shop. After a couple of years, I decided to move my shop home on Whitemarsh Island. I wanted a chance to be more creative and ship my designs across the US. This has been my passion for the last 10 years, and I still love what I do.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I first started out in the business, it was not easy. I didn’t have a website, but I did have a store location that people could walk into and see my designs. That’s how I started building my customer base. I had the business on Wilmington Island for a couple of years so people could visit my shop and see my artwork. Being an artist can be difficult because there are a lot of talented artists out there doing the same thing you are doing. It definitely took a couple of years to get my business going. Social media and my shop played an important role in helping my business to grow. Without my repeat customers, networking, and social media, I would not be where I am today.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the owner/designer of L Driftwood Designs. I created this business from the love and inspiration of the coast; Driftwood art has been my passion for the last ten years by designing tables, lamps, wall art, oyster work, coastal designs, and sea life. With driftwood for residential and commercial properties. I am proud of the creativity that I bring to the designs and my customers’ reactions when they see the finished product. That is priceless! What sets me apart from other designers? It’s all in how you put the design together. My customers seem to really appreciate my artistic abilities and inspiration for the designs.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My mentor was always my dad. He knew I had such a passion for creating the designs. When I opened my shop on Wilmington Island, he was there every day. Keep in mind that he was 75 yrs. old when I opened the shop, so I always had a chair waiting for him when he arrived. He would come by twice a day and sit with me while I saw customers or did design work. He loved my customers and would always tell them how talented I was. His favorite quote when he walked in every day was, “What are you making? And how much money did you make today?”
He was truly inspirational to me. He kept me going and kept me positive on those days that I wanted to give up.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Instagram.com/laurahtillman
- Facebook: facebook.com/whitemarshisland
