Storytelling has taken on many forms over time and has been encapsulated in a multitude of mediums, some of which have become obsolete. But thanks to advancements in technology, we’ve never had more ways to revive and retell stories of the past. These five small businesses are helping families learn more about each other, preserve their memories, and ensure their legacies live on.
Storyworth
Predicated on the idea that everyone has a story worth sharing, Storyworth helps people compile their very own memoirs. Through a subscription service, this small business will send prompts each week to the storyteller, and by the end of the year, all of the stories are arranged into a physical book to be read and shared for generations to come.
When Nick Baum expressed curiosity about his dad’s life, he realized there was a lot he didn’t know. It started with one question he posed over an email and turned into a business aimed to help others find out more about their loved ones. Writing a book can be a daunting task, but this service breaks it up into many parts, making it much more approachable.
The standard subscription includes a black-and-white interior and up to 480 pages. The digital book can be shared with an unlimited number of recipients and the weekly questions can be chosen from Storyworth’s library or customized by the writer.
Remento
Charlie Greene’s mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2017. Having already lost a parent prematurely, he started scrambling to learn more about his mom and her life. In the process, he discovered this was a challenge faced by many families.
Remento offers the ability to chronicle an autobiography without requiring the author to write anything down. Using its trademarked Speech-To-Story technology, Remento transcribes verbal recordings into a written book.
Differing from Storyworth in a few ways, Remento puts the prompting power in the hands of the purchaser, so whoever buys the service chooses the questions for their loved one to answer. Characteristic of the company’s technological savvy, QR codes are also used in these books in order to capture the storyteller’s original recorded version of the written word. This means the reader will always have access to their loved one’s voice.
Predicated on the idea that everyone has a story worth sharing, Storyworth helps people compile their very own memoirs.
Artifact
Taking a very fresh approach to the cataloging of memories, Artifact captures stories in podcasts. With a group of professional interviewers on staff, this small San Francisco operation produces 20-minute podcast episodes that serve as audible heirlooms.
Spurred by the death of his grandfather, Ross Chanin co-founded this business with his friend, George Quraishi. The two started off recording interviews for friends and family, and over time the word spread to paying customers.
The interviews are conducted over the phone or computer and are scheduled for 45 minutes, with 30 minutes dedicated to conversation. They’re then edited down and kept on a personal webpage, where the interviewee can add unlimited photos to help illustrate their narration.
Forever Studios
Forever Studios is a small business in Boca Raton, Florida, that digitizes media like photos and videos to preserve treasured moments forever. Since 2007, Zachary Goldberg has been leading the way by leveraging technology to save, salvage, and breathe new life into analog memories.
Forever Studios does photo scanning as well as videotape, film, audio, and disc transfers. Everything is then stored in the company’s Forever Cloud, which is easily accessible by members through the website. This membership service also allows the customer to download, share, and organize their media however they choose. The alternative option is getting everything transferred onto a USB drive.
In addition to restoring, coloring, and retouching photos, Forever Studios also offers in-house custom keepsakes such as picture framing, display boxes, lockets, and museum-quality prints.
Chatbooks
On a mission to strengthen families, Chatbooks has modernized the photo album making process by creating an app where people can customize a photo book straight from their phone. Alternatively, the user can link the software to their social media account for a more automated experience. Putting together a beloved keepsake like this has never been easier.
After seeing how much her son loved leafing through a scrapbook, Vanessa Quigley started this business in 2014. Since then, she and her husband, Nate, have grown a team of 150 who work at the headquarters in Lehi, Utah, or remotely throughout the country. Despite growing larger, the company vows to stay true to its humble beginnings.
Chatbooks sells one-off options like the classic photo book or yearbook. There are also subscriptions for Monthbooks, Monthly Minis, or the option to build your own collection.
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