Twenty Sided Store With Owner, Lauren Bilanko

In this episode, we're talking with Lauren Bilano, owner of Twenty Sided Store. The store is located in Brooklyn, New York; Williamsburg in particular. The store has been open for 13+ years and is currently in its second location - one block from its previous location.

Lauren, who has a background in photography, is a storyteller by trade. Initially, she wasn't expected to be heavily involved in the store. However, once it was realized that running events were requested in high demand, Lauren became heavily involved. Her primary responsibilities include marketing, managing the store's website, and operations. Her business partner, Luis, is the store's buyer of products for the store.

Lauren's family has a background in the restaurant and cafe business. Those experiences have taught her the importance of starting small and simple when starting a business. She feels her "superhero power" requires incorporating many SKUs within a small space: 1,200 - 1,500 sq. ft.

Overall, Lauren does a lot for the store. She is always looking to create new experiences in the store, in addition to supporting independent and local creators. In conjunction with Mystic Aether, a world created by Lauren, she has developed 9 RPGs and hosts a radio show every other Thursday on Newtown Radio.