‘Home Town’ Stars Erin and Ben Napier First Thought HGTV Producers Were Only Contacting Them to Buy Paper
HGTV has pivoted from home selling to home remodeling, and Home Town has quickly grown to become a fan favorite. The network, which once seemed to hold more of a focus on buying and selling homes, is now fully in on the home makeover trend. But when Ben and Erin Napier first heard from HGTV producers, the couple thought the producers were only interested in buying their stationary.
HGTV’s ‘Home Town’ features Mississippi natives Erin and Ben Napier
When Home Town first premiered back in 2017, fans were instantly drawn to the show. It reminded them of another show with a similar concept: Fixer Upper. People had quickly grown to love Chip and Joanna Gaines, and it was only a matter of time until the same viewers flocked to Erin and Ben Napier.
The Napiers are a sweet, low-key couple who met in college back in 2004. The two both attended Ole Miss (The University of Mississippi), and Erin revealed in the first episode that she quickly fell for Ben, who was the “popular” guy while she was the art student. But the love was mutual, and by 2008, they were married. The couple found a passion for restoring old homes in the small town of Laurel, Mississippi, and it wasn’t long before HGTV producers discovered their talent.
Erin and Ben Napier thought HGTV producers were contacting them about stationary
The Napiers had developed a business in remodeling homes, but it wasn’t their only project. The two also made and sold stationary, which was their primary business at the time producers discovered them. And when someone from HGTV found the couple’s portfolio via their Instagram hashtag, Erin had no idea they were interested in signing on the two to do a home remodeling show.
According to House Beautiful, when producers contacted Erin and Ben about potentially shooting a series in their small town, they assumed it was regarding their stationary company. After the mix-up was sorted out, Erin was skeptical that a home remodeling show would work.
“We didn’t think it would be possible,” Erin said. “Why would it be possible to make a TV show in a town like Laurel, Mississippi? We love it very much, but that doesn’t mean everyone else would.” Clearly, the two were wrong.
Erin and Ben Napier’s businesses have expanded beyond HGTV
The couple’s first episode aired nearly four years ago, and since then, their business has expanded quite a bit. The couple own two businesses, Laurel Mercantile and Scotsman Co., and they’ve also partnered with Vaughan-Bassett to do a furniture line.
Despite having busy schedules, the two always make time to relax with their daughter, Helen. The two love the collaborative effort of parenting, with Erin telling House Beautiful that Ben always wakes Helen up in the morning, while she then puts her to bed at night. Though they occasionally do relax, the couple has even more projects in store — they won’t be taking many days off any time soon.
