I’m excited to welcome Ashley Funk from Reading Reimagined to my blog today! I recently came across her Instagram account, and I absolutely loved the products that she offers to families! (I will let her explain more) She graciously allowed me to interview her for this blog post! I know you are going to love her products as much as I do!
Just look at these photos!
Welcome, Ashley! Thank you so much for joining me today!
First of all, how would you describe your business? What is at the heart of what you are doing?
At Reading Reimagined, my most important goal is to help parents leverage the benefits of reading aloud and playing with their children to develop lasting connections. A tight-knit family is the dream of every parent! We make this dream a reality when we spend quality, unhurried time with our children. When we read great books, then engage in a meaningful activity together, we create memories to last a lifetime. When we look back at the time we spent raising children, these moments of connection will mean everything!
I know how limited time is and how much parents cherish quality time spent with their kids. My goal is to encourage families to cuddle up reading excellent books and participate in play that will build lasting bonds. And I want them to be able to do it without running around town or spending hours to prepare these activities!
I agree! Some of my best memories with my kids are when we spent time reading and enjoying books together. What type of products do you offer?
My purpose is to help families connect through reading and playing together, so I have created products that are accessible to all families. My premium product is the Read & Play box, released each month. This box contains a hardback picture book, an imaginative play activity (for children) and a connection activity (for the whole family). All the contents are coordinated by theme and color. This product is ideal for busy parents because everything is ready to go! Read & Play Boxes stack neatly and come with a large spine label so that you can pack away the activities and pull them out later, giving your kids a fresh look at the play items for even more hours of enjoyment. They make the perfect activity for rainy days, play groups, and special occasions.
Because young families are often on tight budgets, I also offer a monthly Digital Play Pack. This printable document has a curated themed booklist (perfect for the library!), plus sensory play activities, crafts, creative storytime snacks, and exclusive coloring pages. It is a wealth of resources! Activities are designed to use either materials you already have at home or can easily obtain at a grocery store. This product is wonderful for moms who like to create experiences for their children.
I was so excited when you recently featured Mouse’s Christmas Gift in one of her Digital Play Packs, and I was very impressed with the creativity and quality of your products and for such an affordable price! They look so engaging!
Was it difficult to launch your business? What were the specific steps you had to take to get started?
I started collecting picture books when I was 11 or 12 years old. I just loved how a well-crafted story and beautiful illustrations could evoke emotion. As a teenager, I would create special activities and read stacks of books to the children I babysat. I studied Child Development in college and earned my degree a few years before I had my first child. Once I became a mother, my entire focus became raising children. In fact, I never had any plan to return to the workforce because I knew that my most important role was in the family.
One year ago, my kids wanted to have a booth at their school’s Christmas boutique. My 9-year old daughter and I came up with the idea to create book baskets. We chose three of our favorite picture books and combined each with play activities to make a gift-worthy basket. The moment we struck on the idea, there was no turning back! I deeply wanted to find a way to help families connect with each other, share my love of picture books, and use my creative talents. With my husband and kids cheering me on, I launched my Instagram page and began planning my signature Read & Play boxes. My husband handled the business setup, legal, and accounting work, so that I could focus entirely on creative content.
That is very fascinating. I am curious about what you would say has been the biggest benefit/reward of starting your business? Has anything surprised you along the way?
I find great joy in getting to know other parents who care so much about their children. The world is full of intentional parents! Seeing children enjoy my creative work is very fulfilling. Personally, I have experienced a lot of growth as I’ve learned new skills, solved problems, and pushed out of my comfort zone. I’ve been surprised to find that following my passion has brought me new energy, drive, and fulfillment. I absolutely love what I do!
Your passion certainly shines through! I can’t say enough about how wonderful I think your products are. I appreciate you taking the time to join me here today and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors!!
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