Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Duncan.
Hi Erin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Many people don’t know that Legible Tea was birthed out of my love for writing. I started with poetry when I was around 10 years old. From there, it evolved into songwriting. I went on to get my Bachelor’s in English with a minor in Creative Writing from the University of North Florida and, during that time, wrote a personal essay, which ultimately became my first memoir. Shortly after, I created a WordPress blog called The Pursuit of Balance. Although I had worked in the Fitness industry as a trainer and instructor for over ten years, I knew I also wanted to be an author. By this time, I’d had a son and was so busy with life and motherhood that I didn’t know if I’d ever get around to writing and publishing my first book.
I named my business Legible Tea to reflect my love for writing. I used “Legible” to denote “clear and concise” communication, and I used tea instead of tee for a few reasons. It looked better visually and had the same sound as tee. Two, the first accessories I chose for the website were mugs for coffee and tea lovers. And the main reason is that I rarely ever write without a cup of tea beside me. Thus, I married the two to form Legible Tea.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It’s been a smooth road only in that the creative process has been very fulfilling. Being an artist, merging thoughts with art and images is exciting. To keep the brand minimalistic, as our mission states, I use images sparingly in the tees. The focus is the language. However, “art” is not limited to images and can include the decision-making process of fonts, colors, and placement. The less creative side of entrepreneurship–the relentless investment of time, money, marketing, & content creation despite, many times, a lack of moral support– has not been a smooth road. However, you must put that aside, focus on self-growth, trust your instincts, & learn things like taxes.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with what you do?
I am an Artist in multiple capacities. From age five, I grew up singing acapella music in church; I started poetry, songwriting, then dance, primarily ballet. In junior college, I returned to dance and was introduced to fitness. Most people in my hometown, Tallahassee, Fl, know me as a vocalist. My mom also owned a gym there, where I began teaching aerobics. After moving to Jacksonville at age 25, I became known primarily for fitness, after becoming a Zumba Instructor, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, and Yoga Enthusiast within the community. As an Artist, I am most proud of not allowing society to tell me that my creative endeavors are hobbies rather than my identity. They may be hobbies for some people, but for me, they are my gifts and purpose. With or without a paycheck, this is who I am. I do what I do to create value and healing for myself and others. What sets me apart is that I create for improved mental health, self-empowerment, self-expression, joy (which we often sacrifice to make ends meet), and anti-ageism. I want to remove the perceived limitations of age from people’s minds. Legible Tea is about speaking your truth, protecting your peace, and having the courage to evolve at any age.
Contact Info:
- Website: Legibletea.com
- Instagram: @legibleteaofficial
- Facebook: @legibleteaofficial
