Poppin' By: The Pink Haven Workspace of Poppy Jamie, Co-Founder of Pop & Suki
A very poppin’ interview.
Every month this year we're profiling a female entrepreneur, popping by their workspace and enjoying a bit of bubbly. "Poppin' By" is a Create & Cultivate profile series in Partnership with Chandon. Here's a cheers to amazing, working women!
By this point you've likely heard of host turned accessories line creator Poppy Jamie. If you haven't then you've definitely seen her customizable, millennial-friendly line of handbags, keychains, makeup bags, phone cases and so much more. Pop & Suki was founded just a little under two years ago and has skyrocketed to success.
Her business partner, Suki Waterhouse is likely a name you've heard before as well, but London-born Poppy has officially made her mark in the US fashion world. She's also the founder of Happy Not Perfect, an app built to help us better manage our stress levels and be our most productive and happy selves.
So, how does one jump from having a booming career in showbiz to having one of the most coveted accessories brands of the moment? Having a vision is only the first step, but having a partner and team you can trust can lead to the ultimate success.
In order to do your job right, you have to love your job, and Poppy loves her job. It's young, exciting, trend-forward and everything a girl wants. "I love the creative part and really thinking how we can constantly communicate the emotion behind the brand," she explained.
We're all quick to assume that working with a friend can be more difficult than successful, but Poppy's business has thrived because of such a union. Both she and Suki earned a spot in Forbes 30 Under 30 list, have had celebrities including Jessica Alba photographed in their pieces, and have gotten Pop & Suki inside Nordstrom stores across the country. The bottom line is that Poppy Jamie is not slowing down anytime soon and fresh ideas are always being laid out on the table for the brand to grow.
"Pop & Suki represents one of the most important relationships in life; that friend who is with you through thick and thin, your cheerleader and your therapist, your giggle box and your guide. Through the designs, concepts, and content I love thinking, hmmm how can we Pop&Suki’ify it more," she explained.
Just like every other business owner, Poppy finds ways to stay inspired and knows who her influences are in and out. She gave us a full run-down of who she looks up to the most and how they've impacted her life and helped shape ideas.
- Michelle Obama for her poise and elegance.
- Oprah for her mind and spirituality.
- Whitney Wolfe Herd for her kindness and brilliant marketing mind
- Krista Smith for her constant guidance and generosity of time
- My mother for her selflessness, curiosity into the workings of the brain and her amazing mum abilities
- Suki (Pop & Suki's other half) for her unapologetic fearlessness to be fully her at all times
- Alex Cronan (Pop & Suki's Creative Director) for her style
Now that's a list we can get behind. We kept the conversation going with the all-star businesswoman and here's what she had to say about her work environment, how she hopes her brand makes women feel, and all things entrepreneurship.
What is your favorite part of your workspace?
The kitchen with all the snacks... :) Haha. I love snacking! The meeting room where brilliant minds come together to share thoughts and ideas.
What do you want women to feel when they wear Pop and Suki pieces?
Fully themselves! I want our bags to give them that boost and extra spring in their step knowing they have a badass girl power bag on their arm 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽!
What has been the most surprising element of entrepreneurship for you?
How your team becomes a family and life force. All night convos, ups and downs... you’re in the rollercoaster with them 24/7. I don’t think I realized how insanely lucky I was to go into business with people who are loving, trustworthy and hardworking. The horror stories I’ve heard when you have the wrong team around you! No idea or concept can survive without a tight-knit family around supporting it.
Photo Credit: Tyler William Parker
Be sure to follow Poppy here
Check out the new Pop & Suki collection here
By: Andrea Navarro
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Poppin' By: Meet Paloma Jonas, Lingerie Designer Who Believes in the Power of Good Undies
Cute knickers. Good mood.
Introducing "Poppin' By" a Create & Cultivate profile series in Partnership with Chandon. Every month this year we're profiling a female entrepreneur, popping by their work space and enjoying a bit of bubbly. Here's a cheers to amazing, working women!
Paloma Jonas co-creator and designer of Valentine NYC lives in Los Angeles with her hubby, Jason, and two babies, Bowie and Rome. It's a full household with two under two. But the challenges, and joys, of motherhood have not stopped her from pursuing the company she and fellow former model Whitney Brown started in 2012.
It didn't start with lacey underthings. Rather, it was an online photography and interview editorial the duo dubbed "Valentine."
According the the co-founder, "It seemed people were in need of more intimacy, romance and human connection. Valentine was giving them just that. Inspired by this need for affection." As such, Whitney and Paloma decided to create their version of the best intimacy instigator, lingerie.
Before she turned her design sights on your top drawer, Paloma worked as a model where she, "learned a lot about the fashion industry through watching people who were working in it. I worked with big companies for a while and learned about how the fashion industries worked through these big companies."
More so the creative has, "always been interested in design-- that’s what I went to school for." Though she admits, lingerie wasn't the direction she initially intended. "I thought I was going to do shoe design when I was studying," Paloma says. Until she noticed, "a need for lingerie in my life that I could not find. Something that wasn’t too cheap or expensive and fit me well. I couldn’t find it, so it’s something we set out to do ourselves."
Born from the desire to reinvent romance, the Valentine aesthetic is simple, sexy shapes in a range of four sizes. It's dyed in classic colors that compliment a variety of skin tones and its stretchy enough to fit a variety of body types. By combining premium lace with fabrics like spandex and cotton their lingerie is comfortable enough to wear everyday.
Even for busy mums, like Paloma.
Though the Aussie-born Paloma admittedly lacks personal time she is learning to love every moment, which, between running a company and raising two cuties can be quite a challenge. One she's certainly proving up for. "It’s extremely difficult to be running a business as a mother of two. I’m still trying to figure it out to be honest. What helps me is having allocated business hours and being very present with my kids at home. I try to not bring my work home unless the kids are in bed and I can sneak out my laptop."
At the moment, Valentine focuses mainly on e-comm, but the co-founders know that a brick-and-mortar presence is important when selling something that fits so closely to the skin. A couple times a year they host a pop up shop selling their latest collection along with items from other aligning brands. Select pieces are sold in key retailers as well, but the plan is to keep that portion of the business to a minimum.
The women use three main goals to guide their brand. It all starts with the product. "We try to create premium product at an affordable price and that product is sexy everyday lingerie," shares Paloma. Second, they employ women, "in every aspect of our business," she explains. "From female photographers to our accountants, we’re always trying to support." And, "Lastly, reinventing romance is really what guides us. Love and intimacy have just seemed to disappear and we always try to bring it back. We do a lot of events where we do speed dating and we include romantic love notes in our orders. We really want people to feel beautiful in lingerie. We don’t want women to feel like sex objects but to feel really good about themselves and to feel understood."
As is such with a great hair day, Paloma knows, "There’s nothing like a good pair of underwear. A good pair of underwear can entirely lift your mood. If you’re wearing a good pair of underwear and bra you feel good about yourself-- and it’s not about other people seeing it, it just gives you a little bit of bounce in your step."
Be sure to check back next month for the next installment of Poppin' By.
Photo credit: Anna Maria Lopez
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Poppin' By: Why A Rebrand Was the Best Choice for This Popular LA Florist
Her vase is definitely half-full.
Introducing "Poppin' By" a Create & Cultivate profile series in Partnership with Chandon. Every month this year we're profiling a female entrepreneur, popping by their work space and enjoying a bit of bubbly. Here's a cheers to amazing, working women!
Kelsey Harper, the creative brain, founder and florist behind one of LA's most sought-after floral and event design companies, had to do the impossible.
After years of going by FLOWER GIRL LOS ANGELES, Kelsey was given an option: battle it out legally for the name or change it.
For many entrepreneurs the thought of a rebrand is a nightmare. For Kelsey, it represented opportunity. *Note, this is the frame of mind common amongst successful entrepreneurs. There are no doors, only windows.* Of the opp, Kelsey says, "I decided that I would rather invest the money I would have spent on a lawyer, into a beautiful cohesive rebrand. I had outgrown the name, it felt young and tired and I also felt confined by the words "Flower Girl" and “Los Angeles."
In other words: Kelsey's flower vase is half full.
So, inspired by her fortitude-- April showers bring May flowers after all-- we popped by Kelsey's new space Matriarch Floral in the newly launched Fred Segal LA to chat new beginnings, old names, and the flower that she's just not that into.
You trained as a special effects makeup artist. Then moved to Maui. And your love of florals grew. What was the point you knew you wanted to shift careers?
I started doing flowers as a hobby for the families I nannied for and assisted. After almost 8 years of being on someone else schedule, I knew my next step would be to work for myself. I did not have any formal flower training, but my love for taking a raw material, combining it with others texturally and color wise really made me so happy. In the back of my mind my dad always told me, "Do something that makes you happy, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” and flowers were that for me. While it is a lot of physical labor, I still wake up excited about my career.
"Do something that makes you happy, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Flowers were that for me."
Were you prepared to launch your own biz?
I was not at all prepared. I was inspired by my two best girlfriends who had both started their own businesses in the fashion industry and I learned from making many mistakes and being careful not to repeat them. I still feel like I would benefit from taking a business class or two.
At what point did you decide to rebrand to Matriarch?
After a potential legal battle for the name “Flower Girl” I decided that I would rather invest the money I would have spent on a lawyer, into a beautiful cohesive rebrand. I had outgrown the name, it felt young and tired and I also felt confined by the words "Flower Girl" and “Los Angeles". I wanted to redefine my brand in a way that didn’t restrict me from working in different creative areas or places and also use a name that really resonated with me, something that was strong and feminine, and something that wouldn’t cause brand confusion with many of the other “Flower Girl” brands that were popping up in different cities, further diluting it.
What influenced the decision to take out a retail space?
After having an online shop for so many years, I wanted to take the opportunity to really get out in the field and meet some of my loyal clients who I had never met in person. Also, I wanted to offer same day delivery and pick up for those who needed something sooner than the next business day. After 6 months in the space, I’ve realized that people still prefer to shop online, so we have transitioned the space into a beautiful plant and gift shop during the week and are there creating fresh bouquets and arrangements on the weekend when it's a bit busier, to avoid waste.
Is it beneficial to be in a space with other retailers?
It’s really amazing feeling like a one stop shop for people who are looking for a gift and want to incorporate fresh flowers. The family like environment is inspiring, and a lot of the shops in Fred Segal are female run.
What would you call the most fun/exciting aspect of your business?
It’s really fun executing my clients' visions in my own interpretation. Each arrangement is custom made to order so that we can really capture what we think our recipient might enjoy. The large scale installations are my favorite part of what I do. It forces me to think outside-the-box, as sometimes we are creating/executing things that haven’t ever been made before.
"Each arrangement is custom made to order so that we can really capture what we think our recipient might enjoy."
What’s the hardest part?
Balancing work life and family life is always a challenge. I want to be a present mother but also a good business owner and sometimes I’m needed in both areas at the same time. Also, managing accounting and emails has always been a challenge. This last year I brought on an accountant and studio manager to help in both areas and it has definitely positively affected business.
For those who want to work with big companies, how do you get in with names like Chateau Marmot and Sunset Towers?
Being an LA native, I am lucky enough to call some of the large businesses I work with friends. I think working with people who you know and people who trust your vision, whether the business is large or small, is my best advice. Sending free/ promo arrangements or work is also a nice gesture to say hello and give a client an idea of what you’re capable of.
What’s been the craziest request you’ve ever received?
The installation we did for Depeche Mode earlier this year was pretty insane. We installed in the window of Fred Segal, over 3,000 red roses that floated across the 18ft window and were suspended from the ceiling. We had creative freedom but the installation was definitely difficult to assemble. Each rose had a water tube attached to keep them alive for a full week.
Favorite floral of the moment:
Spring is definitely here early this year and I am loving a greenery called Spirea. It is such a beautiful color and the little white blossoms are so dainty and have beautiful motion.
Flower that you’d like to see put on pause:
Gerber daisies are definitely at the bottom of my list.
Your turn! Be sure to Pop BY and visit Kelsey at Matriarch Floral in store at Fred Segal Sunset:
8500 Sunset Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Check her out here: www.matriarchla.com
And follow along on her floral adventures here @flowergirllosangeles
Be sure to check back next month for the next installment of Poppin' By.
Photo credit: Tyler William Parker
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Poppin' By: In the Gorgeous Venice Studio of Designer Sophie Monet
Sundays are for champagne talks.
Introducing "Poppin' By" a Create & Cultivate profile series in Partnership with Chandon. Every month this year we're profiling a female entrepreneur, popping by their work space and enjoying a bit of bubbly. Here's a cheers to amazing, working women!
SOPHIE MONET.
For designer Sophie Monet, business is a family affair.
The jewelry maker, who currently designs all pieces out of wood, works out of a former gas station, purchased and remodeled by her sculptor father in the '80s. There is a full woodworking shop. The family dog roams about. And her father's work hangs on the walls.
It was during a break home from college that Sophie asked her dad to teach her the ways of the workshop. Though she spent time in the shop as a kid, it was during her college years that she started to really hone her own skills, sanding and cutting pieces that would soon become recognizable as Sophie Monet pieces. She handcrafts each one, spending quiet mornings in the workshop by the sea-- ocean sunsets only blocks away from the space in Venice, CA. Using wood, stone, and metal, Sophie continues the process she began in 2009, when she crafted her first ring while playing around with her dad's drill press.
Today, her office is upstairs-- a space she also shares with her sister, who runs a recruiting business. Currently, Sophie runs her entire operation, from production to inventory to sales to all photoshoots, out of the space. 'It's really amazing to have our family under one working roof," she says. "We all help each other out." One of her bigger clients is Anthropologie.
After graduating from The New School, Sophie learned the fashion ropes while working at a fashion tech startup in Santa Monica. At the time, she was side hustling on her jewelry line and specifically worked it into her contract that she'd have every other Friday off to fulfill orders. "I think," she says," when we pop by the studio, "it's because my boss was a woman, and really understood the need." That boss, was Erin Falconer, half the duo of Leaf TV and an entrepreneur in her own right. "I was so inspired by her," says Sophie, explaining that Erin and her business partner Geri Hirsch were the first two to convince her to get on Instagram. Erin and Sophie still connect at least once a week.
In 2013 Sophie decided to take the leap, leaving her role at the fashion startup, but taking the know-how learned on the job about fashion and marketing with her. Though she knows it was a risk, she's committed to growing and expanding the Sophie Monet brand.
"If you want it all, you can do it all," says Sophie. We agree.
More from the designer below.
What is the most exciting part of your job?
I get the biggest smile on my face when I see someone wearing a piece of jewelry I made. Knowing they appreciate the art of it and meeting people face-to-face is the best part of what I do.
Do you like/love/hate when people pop by the studio?
I absolutely love it. My studio is always open to creative friends and neighbors. I think it’s really important to take breaks and enjoy the space we work in. Our family art studio is a place we can all get together, talk about our ideas, and share the tools we have.
What your favorite part of your workspace?
We just finished our roof top deck. My dad made a beautiful table for it to watch the beachy sunsets from.
"Sometimes the most rewarding part is having patience and letting things come slowly."
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How long did it take you to learn all the machinery and how to use it?
I’m constantly learning. It never stops. I have mastered a few of the tools we have but would love to work more with a lathe.
Who is your biggest influence?
My family. They are my foundation from which I get all my inspiration.
What do you want women to feel when they wear a Sophie Monet piece?
I want women to feel empowered, successful and comfortable when they wear my jewelry. Accessories are meant to stand out and feel special because they add something to your outfit. When I put on a pair of earrings with a simple pair of jeans they instantly make me feel happy and a little more confident.
What has been the most surprising element of entrepreneurship for you?
Having your own business there are surprises and new learning experiences almost every day. Sometimes it’s hard to make time for yourself when you’re juggling a lot of different roles. I’ve learned how hard it is say no when you really really, really want to say yes to everything. Sometimes the most rewarding part is having patience and letting things come slowly.
For more of Sophie's work click here.
Be sure to check back next month for the next installment of Poppin' By.
Photo credit: Anna Maria Lopez
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