Where Rapt Started
People often ask where the idea for Rapt came from and here is Monica’s answer. I was at The Container Store several years ago buying wrapping paper, ribbon and tags for my 3 kids, husband and extended family and friends. I was always a bit obsessive with my family and wrapped each of my kids in a different paper with matching ribbon, etc. so my cart was pretty full. When I was at the checkout paying for the mountains of wrapping paper, all of a sudden it struck me and I said to the cashier - and I don’t know why I was talking to the cashier like this - but I said, “This is such a waste!! All I can picture is this beautiful wrapping paper in bags and bags of garbage on Christmas morning! Do you sell reusable gift wrap?” The cashier said, “No, but that’s a great idea!”
I literally got in my car and said to myself, “This IS a great idea, and I’m going to do it!!
First I called my sister Anne to see if I was a crazy (family will tell you!) and she didn’t think so. She thought it was a cool idea. Then I called my good friend Cindy to see what she thought of the idea. At the time, she had a beautiful children's clothing line called Seam and knew all about fabric and sewing - and I knew she would tell me the truth, too! (good friends will do that!) But she was also very enthusiastic. She had experienced the same feeling seeing all the garbage heading out the door after Christmas.
Cindy and I talked a long time about the idea and all the while I continued my Christmas shopping. (I was so distracted and excited about this idea that while shopping for my nieces and nephews, I bought all the wrong sizes and colors and had to return everything the next day. I’m a bad multi-tasker!) But by the time I finished my errands and arrived home, Cindy and I had decided to team up to start a reusable gift wrap venture and had come up with the name, Rapt. Then we got to work!! To be continued …