The Stress-Free Way to Refresh Your Work Wardrobe
Plus, some easy shopping tips.
As working women, we understand how difficult it can be to fit everyday activities into our schedules. We’re way too busy for leisurely activities such as shopping, but does that really mean we should miss out? After all, every woman wants (and deserves) to look and feel fabulous in her clothes! We should all be able to stay on top of the latest trends and update our wardrobes whether it be for in the office or play.
So, what are our options when there’s no time to peruse endless racks at the mall, camp out at the next trending sample sale, or spend a few hours scrolling through your favorite online shop? You turn to the next alternative, and that’s shopping right at home with your own personal Stylist (and a few of your best girlfriends, of course!). Yes, you read that right. Think you can’t afford a personal Stylist—what if I said you could get one for free? Yes, you read that right.
Maybe you’ve never heard of cabi before: Cabi is the solution to the frustration and inconvenience of shopping. It offers a unique “pop-up boutique” shopping experience in the comfort of the home, where a cabi Stylist provides personalized styling, and presents a designer collection to you and your friends. Your Stylist will curate looks for you based on your lifestyle, help ensure you get just the right fit, and show you what works and doesn’t work for your body shape. The result? A fun, stress-free shopping experience surrounded by friends, with a trusted Stylist guiding your choices.
So, what’s a girl to do when she needs a new blazer for work? Find a cabi stylist near you, and get your office attire on point.
How It Works
At a cabi Fashion Experience, a Stylist presents the seasonal cabi collection (usually 80-100 pieces in a varied size range), sharing educational fashion and styling tips all along the way. After the presentation, you can try on the clothes, while the Stylist works with you on fit and helps put together looks based on your needs—this part of the experience is personal to you! And of course, no shopping experience is complete without the trusted fashion advice of your girlfriends—as you all try on your favorite pieces, you’re able to share thoughts on each other’s selections and to encourage each other to step out of your comfort zones.
Becoming a Stylist
Becoming a cabi Stylist yourself might be something to consider, too! Maybe you’re looking to work remotely or pick up a side hustle for some extra cash, or maybe you’ve recently suffered a job loss, want to get involved in fashion, or need a little bit of a creative outlet. Whatever your situation—cabi offers a simple business model that balances the realities of a busy woman’s life, while having very real earning potential, building relationships, and serving other women through her business working as a fashion Stylist.
Cabi has created thousands of opportunities for women to have a relevant, liberating and profitable career. You can find out more information on how to become a cabi Stylist yourself here.
Tips from cabi Design Team
How to dress for your shape: A huge part of nailing down the best work wardrobe for you is to dress for your body type. Determine if your shape is triangle, rectangle, diamond, hourglass, pear, etc. You can find a full breakdown on dressing for your shape here.
The perfect fall color palette: According to the styling experts at Cabi, there are three colors that should be on your radar this fall: red, gold, and currant. The shades are all perfect for the changing season and are complementary to one another.
Day-to-Night looks: Find some multi-functional pieces that can be worn from from day to night. A lot of us working women have a busy schedule outside of the office too, and that involves a lot of after-work plans. Rather than stressing over an outfit change, find pieces that can work for plenty of different occasions. The perfect example would be a jacket that works well with a dress but also just as well with a pair of jeans.
Rather than experiencing another shopping nightmare, shop the cabi way!
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6 Things You Should Do If You Seriously Want To Buy A House in Two Years
Like, seriously though.
Photo credit: Brittany Ambridge for Surf Shack
Fact. Millennials represent the largest generational group of homebuyers, according to the National Association of Realtors 2017 Trends report. So if you’ve got #Homegoals and aspire to join the club of homeowners in the foreseeable future, it’s definitely within your reach but not without having a strategic plan to get you there. Here are six things you should do right now if you’re seriously looking to buy a house in the next couple of years.
1. Get your credit score right:
When it’s time to shop for a home loan, the best interest rates will go to those with the highest credit score. Make sure your credit score is in its best shape and review your credit report to make sure nothing looks out of the ordinary. When you’re closer to shopping for a home loan, avoid making any huge purchases (ie. buying a new car or new furniture for your dream house) that could affect your score at a pivotal time.
2. Get preapproved:
The first step in the process is getting an honest look at what you can really afford. That starts with meeting with a lender and getting pre-approved for a home loan. You can start talking to a lender a year out from when you you’re ready to buy to start understanding what you’ll need to provide to qualify for a loan. I’d recommend talking to at least three lenders and shop around to compare each rate they offer. Researching a lender is just as important if not more important than researching the type of house you want. In a competitive market like we’re in today, most sellers won’t even look at an offer without a buyer’s pre-approval letter attached. The better prepared and researched you are to understand what you can actually afford, the more leverage you’ll have as a buyer.
3. Get smart about your finances:
If you’re seriously committed to buying a home in the next couple of years, it’s time to get smart about your spending. Start a special savings account just for your down payment fund and set it on auto to contribute monthly to it. Having money saved for a down payment and closing costs is typically the largest barrier to entry in buying a home and most people don’t know that there are over 400+ Down Payment Assistance Programs in California that they can easily apply for and essentially get free money. Start researching and see if you qualify.
Photo credit: Brittany Ambridge for Surf Shack
4. Be realistic
You may not get everything on your wish list so it’s important to prioritize your list of can’t-live-withouts. Most people are drawn to homes that are completely move-in ready but sometimes there are gems to be found with homes that need a little fixing that you can really make uniquely yours. Don’t max out your budget and spend every dollar of your savings on your dream home. With homeownership comes closing costs, added bills, and maintenance expenses that you want to make sure you have money leftover in savings.
5. Have an open mind
Searching for the perfect home in your perfect neighborhood in your ideal price point can get tricky, so it’s good to have an open mind throughout the search process. Work with a real estate agent that’s local to the area and well connected who might introduce you to a nearby area you may not have thought to look in. Try to look past things that can be easily changed or renovated over time like fixtures, paint color and even floorplan and consider those factors that you can’t change like location, school district and lot size when making your decision.
6. Think about the future
When making the step to buy a home, do think about your future plans and whether you see yourself living in that home for at least the next two years. After living in a home as your primary residence for a minimum of two years, you’ll be able to take advantage of the capital gains exemption which lets you deduct up to $250,000 of your capital gains from tax (up to $500,000 for married couples) when you are ready to sell. Most people don’t live in one house all their life so as you make renovations or updates to your home, it’s good to keep the future resale value of your home in the back of your mind when making design choices. A good practice is to keep track of how much you’ve spent on renovations and improvements over time which could all be deductible to your home’s original cost basis when it’s time to move on and sell.
(and p.s. editor's note: if you're stressing that you can't afford to decor your home-- yes, we just made that a verb-- please check out C&C fave Emily Henderson's post on how to do Cali-casual look on a budget. She breaks down the realness here.)
Audrey Leoncio is a Los Angeles real estate agent with Compass who’s lived all over LA’s east, west and downtown neighborhoods. Have #homegoals or questions about buying a home? Email me at audrey.leoncio@compass.com
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Wait, What?! How This Founder Is Applying the Tinder Model to Motherhood
Motherhood used to be about wiping, not swiping.
We're not going to mince words. The solo dolo doldrums of new motherhood is real. Too real. We'd say it's almost harder to find your #momsquad than to master breastfeeding (which, power to all breastfeeding mamas and your boobs; it's no walk in the park).
This thinking is exactly what drove Michelle Kennedy, the former deputy CEO of European dating app Badoo, to develop Peanut, a social app aimed at platonically connecting mothers who feel isolated, alone, and often cut off from friends and their old lives. It's a pain point for many women (which means, there's a solve). "When you're up for a 2am feed and your friends are just leaving the club, those feelings can compound and you wonder 'What does Michelle the mommy look like? Do I have to change?'” the founder shares. The answer the mom and business woman arrived at was no. You certainly don't have to change. But that doesn't mean you have to feel alone.
Taking what she learned from the dating app space, Michelle applied to the same thinking to motherhood. As a generation armed with a fleet of apps at our disposal, from transportation to shopping, to dating and streaming music, Michelle, who was the first of her friends to give birth in 2013, decided that moms "should be able to have that too." And it didn't have to be through a patronizing or unsexy product. "I really learned a lot from working in the dating industry," she says. Including, a unique understanding of how, why, and when people use social apps. It's why the app includes a poll feature and a scheduling feature, making it easier for moms to meet up-- which is highly encouraged.
The founder says Peanut is not meant as substitution for grabbing coffee with a mom friend in person, but rather, the point is "break down the barriers to make it easier to have the conversation." For Michelle that means any conversation. "Yes, sometimes it is not all roses when you become a mommy and that is OK. It's safe to say that. It won’t make you a bad mom and no one is going to judge you. And sometimes you drop plates and you feel like the worst mom in the world or employee, or partner. Whatever it is we can keep having those conversations and it is all OK."
Peanut is the barrier to entry for many moms who are too anxious to approach strangers in the park. When she became a new mom, Michelle says, "I could never approach those groups of women who looked like they really have it together and like they were all so close. I couldn't put myself out there in case I got turned down. I used to mentally exhaust myself, as I judged them thinking about them judging me."
She recalls a bad experience in a Starbucks when her own son was tiny. She saw a woman who looked like she had it together and so Michelle gathered her courage and asked if they might want to get together. "She then said to me, 'You know what I’m so busy at the moment I don’t want to take your number incase I never get back to you.' I was so traumatized by this. So I thought is there a way to erase all of this and make it easy?"
"Sometimes you drop plates and you feel like the worst mom in the world...it is all OK."
Tweet this.
It's also why Peanut uses the double opt-in model favored by dating apps. "You have to think about a woman and the position she's in and how rejection would feel-- especially if it's her and her child. It's one thing for you to reject me for a date, but if you reject me and my baby, that's a whole different ballgame." Michelle insists that the way Peanut works protects "your dignity and your pride. You can put yourself out there first and swipe right. The other mom will never know unless they swipe right on you too."
Though meeting a mom through an app might initially feel impersonal, it's the way we operate. And in this case, Michelle insists that a picture is worth a thousand words. "If you see another woman's profile, it is never about her picture. You are looking for the clue in her picture. Like is she wearing hiking boots, is that part of who she is, or is she eating food, where is she eating, what is she eating? You are always looking for those social cues, that look and acknowledgment that says 'let's play next to each and play together.'"
She also insists that, "Anything we do on our phones has to be an extension of what we are doing in our every day lives, otherwise we aren’t going to use it." And using it women are. After all, we all get by with a little help from our tech.
Follow Peanut on IG here. Photo credit: Peanut
Feel like sharing your struggles as a new mom? Comment below. We got you.
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C&C Classifieds Nº43: House of Shameless, Wedding Wire, Saje & more
Stand out from the pack.
When you look into your future what do you see? Corner office? Traveling the world? A book deal?
The JOB is out there, but you have to put in the work. Luckily, we've covered some of the ground for you, sourcing jobs that will take you where you want to go. Enjoy C&C Classifieds No. 43. Go after it today.
WeddingWire, Washington, DC
House of Shameless, Los Angeles
Of A Kind, New York, NY
Saje, New York and New Jersey
This Is Ground, Los Angeles
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Actress & Director Zoe Lister-Jones Just Took on Hollywood in a Major Way
She's a bit of a Wonder Woman herself.
Zoe Lister-Jones does not drink coffee. In fact, the writer, director, actress, and producer of Band Aid, her new indie film, says “I don’t drink any caffeine.” If you rattled by this (what, how, why, how?) you’re not alone. But there’s a pretty simple reason.
“I never really started,” Lister-Jones shares. “I was a barista in high school at a coffee shop. I opened the shop one day at 5am and drank about six shots of espresso and got so violently ill that I’ve never gone back.” Espresso barfs aside, she still has her human share of the 4pm slump like the rest of us. But java does not jive with the NYU Tisch grad. Like a true artist, Zoe says, “I just suffer through it.”
Luckily, the only suffering in her new movie is that of the protagonist couple tortured by all of the things that torture married couples: Dishes, blowjobs, banality.
In Band Aid we’re witness to the world of Anna (Lister-Jones) and Ben (Adam Pally), a married pair hanging on by a pinky promise and some vows. Everything is out of tune, so the duo attempts to salvage their relationship by starting a band called the Dirty Dishes, turning all of their fights into songs.
The industry vet actress (did you know three-year-old Zoe starred in her mother’s short film?) and writer (her 2009 work for Breaking Upward was possibly the inspiration for Gwyneth Paltrow’s “conscious uncoupling,”) not only took on her first solo directorial role with Band Aid, but she challenged herself further.
Band Aid employed an all-female crew. From producer Natalia Anderson, director of photography Hilary Spera, and a team of female art directors, camera operators, electricians, sound editors— the WHOLE squad was women. Brooklyn Decker, who also stars in the film, told NPR, “Let me tell you, the efficiency on that set was unparalleled. These women are like, I have families to get home to. I have to feed my child at 6 o'clock. I've got to clean my house when I get home. Let's get this shit done, you know?”
As a first time director, Zoe understood that women face certain double-standards. “I think there was a part of me that was looking for as supportive an artistic community as possible.” She’s quick to clarify that she has “wonderful working relationships with a lot of men,” but acknowledges the female crew, “definitely shifted the energy on set in a way that was palpable and impacted the product for the better. The energy on set, it did feel more intimate. It was a really calm, quiet, and supportive energy that allowed for us to go to deeper places in some ways.”
She mentions the physical intimacy in the film. “As an actress, I felt my most free in those scenes to not be encountering the male gaze.” Others on crew and cast were quick to agree.
“I think what was so exciting every day was that as new actors came to set, immediately they all wanted to talk about the energetic shift that they were experiencing. And as the all-female set had normalized for those of us who had been on set for days or weeks, it was cool to get a fresh perspective on it.”
She also loved getting feedback from Pally, whom Zoe says was often the only male on set. “He now says he only wants to work with predominantly female crews or at least to push for more female crews. The decks are stacked against us. Until there is more equity you have to put more focus on it.”
She says, “I think as women we have to walk a tenuous tightrope. We have to be fearless in a lot of ways and lean into our confidence, especially in the workplace, but we also have to play the game because we also are still living in a patriarchy.”
Which brings up the fact that it’s not just Hollywood. Zoe is aware that the inequity exists across all industries (and is quick to praise Brooklyn Decker and Finery “that she’s moving into the tech space, especially as a woman.”)
Zoe claims that the idea that we’ve moved past any issues or injustices is the most dangerous flaw that continues to feed into these broken systems. “It does require such hyper-vigilance because we all have to confront our own biases every day. It requires so much self-awareness and awareness of others in a way that can be irritating to people. People want to continue on with their habits and way of life-- it’s hard for anyone to shift their lifestyle. We all get really stuck in our habits, especially when those habits have gone unchecked for so long. It requires work on everyone’s part.” For Zoe, putting in the work beyond the words is where change occurs.
“In Hollywood, when it comes to the gender disparity, the number of female directors and crew members has actually gotten worse in the last few years. We can talk about it, and talking about it is important, but so is walking the walk.” It’s exactly why making a movie this way was so important to her.
The LA Times agreed, taking a big stance with their headline: “Zoe Lister-Jones made 'Band Aid' with an all-female crew. Your move, Hollywood.” “That headline shook me. It’s an amazing headline. It’s something that people in the industry definitely read. “And,” the director adds, “it’s scary to be the face of that headline.”
Her indie film also happened to open the same weekend as Patty Jenkins’ superhero box office triumph, Wonder Woman. “It’s been an incredible moment in history to even be a small part of,” Zoey says. “The fact that we opened on the same weekend, it wasn’t something any of us really thought about, but to be in conversation with what Patty Jenkins and Wonder Woman mean in the grand scheme of things and what Band Aid means in the grand scheme of things is really cool. It’s nice to see it all working together.”
Guess she doesn’t need caffeine— she’s a bit of a Wonder Woman herself.
Arianna Schioldager is Editor-in-Chief at Create & Cultivate. You can follow her @ariannawrotethis.
Band Aid is currently playing in New York City and Los Angeles and will open in Chicago and other major cities on Friday, June 16.
Photos: Zoe Lister-Jones/Band Aid
Photo Credits: Mister Lister Films
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Forget Your #SadDeskSalad: This Week Do This Instead
Hey you lean, green big-brained machine.
Eating greens makes green. Seriously. Your brain and body are fueled by the vitamins, and antioxidant-rich, superfoods you put in your body. And the more productive/creative/boss you are, the better your career.
Part of getting your life in order is making sure that you eat lunch. Every. Single. Day. People always talk about the benefits of eating breakfast, but that lunchtime slump is no joke. A healthy lunch will keep your energy up (yup!!) and concentration on point.
But you don’t have to pack a sad desk salad.
Get your lunch in order with a Mason Jar Salad. Don’t know how? Well we checked in with our healthy friends at organicgirl to get some tips on how to pack a super smart mason jar salad for lunch to help you eat well, be well and dominate your work week.
Order is the word of the day.
You keep your inbox in order. Same goes for your mason jar salad.
First things first, fill the bottom of your jar with a fresh, delicious salad dressing. This ensures that your salad doesn’t get soggy as you charge through morning meetings and conference calls. organicgirl has so many delicious options. Our favorites include: Kale Parmesan (which gives you the double dose of putting greens on your greens), Lemon Agave (which is the only the only fresh vinaigrette on the market made with an entire lemon and touch of blue agave nectar), or get a little funky with White Cheddar, because everyone loves a hearty treat sometimes (especially when that treat is only 60 calories per 2 tablespoons).
Next, add in a grain or a protein, like farro, which is high in fiber, protein, and is a good source of antioxidants. On this layer, you could also toss in ingredients that taste yummy after marinating. Think: apples, radishes, celery! The crunchy bits.
Next come your fixings: Nuts, dried fruits, and cheese nibbles. Anything you want to stay dry before you shake up your jar (and shake off your crazy morning).
The following ingredients will help boost that brain.
Blueberries. Toss blueberries into a Mason Jar Salad (you can add these last to keep them from getting smashed) for a high dose of antioxidants and phytochemicals.
Beets. They’ll give your salad a little sweet as well as improve blood flow to the brain with their naturally-occurring nitrates.
Walnuts. Almonds are often credited as the go-to desk snack, but overlooked walnuts (that also kind of look like mini brains) are full of omega-3s. Your brain needs this high-quality fat to function properly. So go nuts.
Finally, top it all with the leafy greens. organicgirl has so many options when it comes to rad leafy greens and when it comes to salads you know it’s all about that (leafy green) base.
Leafy greens contain many benefits that you might already know, but were you aware that kale, spinach, and the newest organicgirl salad, butter, plus! are rich in iron? Studies have shown that an iron-deficiency affects your learning, memory, and attention.
Give it an A+
Butter Plus is rich in iron for your memory and attention!
Or that leafy greens are good for gut health? Studies have shown that good gut health boosts your energy levels and improves your mood and mental health!
Kelly LeVeque, Health Coach, Holistic Nutritionist and founder of Be Well by Kelly, says “I have a personal goal to eat greens at every meal and recommend my clients do the same. Leafy greens are loaded with significant levels of vitamin A, C, K and B6, folate, magnesium and zinc, they are a superstar for gut health because they contain sulfoquinovose, a sugar that feeds healthy gut bacteria and fiber to promote detoxification and they are my secret weapon for glowing skin. I don't go a day without my Fab Four Smoothie, my formula includes a handful of greens in every morning smoothie – organicgirl’s SUPERGREENS are my favorite.”
Want an extra boost of protein? The sweet pea greens from organicgirl are also a great source of plant based protein - packing 5 grams of protein per package. Protein is great for keeping concentration, focus and energy levels up. Helping you say goodbye to that post lunch slump!
Personally, we’d opt for: I heart baby kale (to make sure you kale your afternoon pitch) or Super Spinach, which blends baby spinach, with bok choy and baby kale, to create a trifecta of the top nutritional greens to help you knock your day out of the park.
Here’s a recipe with organicgirl SUPERGREENS to help get you started – your career will thank you.
Image Source: organicgirl and @kirstensansom.
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Finally, This Major Blogger Is Launching a Solution for This *Hush Hush* Beauty Issue
Say hello to Megababe status.
photo credit: 12ish Style
Boob sweat? Thigh chafe? Raise your hand if you’ve been there. Yeah, us too. And it’s why megababe Kate Sturino of 12ish Style is launching her Megababe product line.
Determined to deal with the not-so-chic, but oh so relatable parts of fashion, Kate developed Megababe Thigh Rescue ($14) to deal with the issue. Forget men’s products. Forget rubbing Vaseline on your body. The fashion blogger took matters in her own hands.
The deodorant-like stick, which is available for pre-order now, starts shipping on June 26th. Crafted with ingredients like aloe, grape seed oil to promote collagen production, lime oil for healing purposes, and pomegranate seed extract to protect the skin, it is a toxin-free formula that will keep skin happy, hydrated, and chafe-free. While you’re at it, Bust Dust, which is set to launch mid-July, is a ultrafine, 100% natural powder. Kate calls it the “final word on boob sweat,” because “talc is nasty stuff.”
We caught up with Kate to talk the sweaty motivation and why this is product you’ll want to pull out of your Chanel bag.
Why launch a product line?
I have been dealing with thigh chafe forever! And yet judging by the anti-chafe products out there, chafing seems to be reserved for men and athletes. I was sick of toting a men’s stick around in my handbag, and even worse was having to pull it out in front of people. Even though some of what’s out there does work, a lot of it is full of toxins and none of it is designed for me to pull out of my Chanel bag! And I was done wearing bike shorts under skirts -- the last thing anyone wants on an 80 degree day is another layer!
All I wanted was a non-toxic anti-chafe stick that would make me feel cute and not embarrassed. And year after year I couldn’t find it, so I decided to make it myself.
Tell us about Megababe?
Megababe was born out of a personal need for cute solutions to not-so-cute issues like thigh chafe and boob sweat. Start asking around and will you discover how many women of different shapes and sizes actually deal with these “hush hush” things. So many! I don’t know how or why there came to be a stigma around these very normal issues, but Megababe is here to say there’s nothing embarrassing about your thighs rubbing together or your boobs sweating on a hot day. We’re going to take care of it for you so you can get out there and live your life!
"Megababe is here to say there’s nothing embarrassing about your boobs sweating on a hot day."
Tweet this.
Where can we buy it?
Exclusively at megababebeauty.com ; IG: @Megababe
There you have it. Sweaty girls unite.
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Exclusive Photos: Our CEOs Home Tour + Your Chance To Win a Total Living Room Makeover!
A total dream.
For the past 6 months, I took on a side hustle to C&C, full on home renovation. Is this for the faint of heart? No. Did I know what I was getting into? Absolutely not. Was it worth it? You bet ya! Over and over again people will tell you that real estate is the best investment and as such, I wanted to make smart moves with money I saved. My dear friend, Lyndsay Siegel, runs a home renovation company called The Tradecraft. She told me that the best real estate in LA is the fixer-upper market. After nearly one year of looking, we found our fixer. That's when the work started and we enlisted an army of amazing brands and partners to help us bring it to life. Here are the final results (as photographed by Monica Wang) and some of the tips and tricks we learned along the way. Best part? Myself Havenly and CB2 are teaming up to give you a living room makeover, scroll to the bottom for details! (Plus click here to read how their VP of Marketing creates the company's swoon-worthy appeal.)
The Entryway
Our house was a 1920s semi Spanish Style home. Our first big move (and investment) was adding the Spanish style roof! Once we nailed down the roof tile color, we teamed up with Dunn Edward on the paint colors (Which is one of the hardest things to pick out!). I definitely recommend doing test swabs as some of the initial colors I picked weren't working. We ended up using Vanilla Shake for the exterior and Misty hillside for the accent color. Lighting Fixture is by Cedar & Moss.
The Living Room
This is one of my favorite rooms in the home. We teamed up with CB2 and Havenly to design the space. The Space was beautiful to begin with, featuring an A -frame ceiling from the '20s, but the floorpan was a little trickier as the room was super long. My friends at Havenly helped re-jigger things to make it flow perfectly and I couldn't be happier. We added brass shelving which serves as our own kind of "built-ins" plus the couch is beyond comfy!
Feeling Inspired?
Download the credit list for all items pictured
The Guest Room
We wanted to make the guest room feel boho, chic, and comfortable but also wanted to combine some of the items we already had in our house into the mix so the results were a super eclectic mix with brands ranging from Design Within Reach to Target Style. The centerpiece of the room is the photography by Rick Rodney, framed by Framebridge.
The Kitchen
The heart of the home! The kitchen was the biggest overhaul we did-- we literally gutted walls, appliances, you name it! We teamed up with Kohler on the sink and faucet and used Cb2's Brass Hex Handles for the cabinets. The countertops are quartz by Cambria Quartz in the Torquay pattern.
Feeling Inspired?
Download the credit list for all items pictured.
The Master Bedroom
My husband urged me to skew slightly masculine when it came to the master bedroom. We paired High Fashion Home's Hansen Bed and Hauser side table with navy and shibori accents including our wall, which is painted "Parisian Night" another Dunn Edward paint.
The Master Bathroom
The master bathroom was a fun challenge as it was a larger room that we wanted to strategically fill, but not crowd. The main focal point is the tile which is Fireclay diamond tile with dark grout. The pattern is so mesmerizing and when paired with a vintage rug and gold West Elm pots it's the perfect minimally chic moment.
The Guest Bathroom
We had a little fun with the guest bathroom! We designed the room based on the wallpaper we chose from Hygge & West (Strike / Mist in collaboration with Heath Ceramics), the vanity is from Kohler as are the faucets and towel bar. The mirror is from West Elm and the tile is by Fireclay.
Feeling Inspired?
Download the credit list for all items pictured.
The Home Office
Notably cleaner than my actual office (LOL) I wanted to use this room to create a small little work sanctuary in the home for those weekends where I have to crank out some emails! The color palette was focused around black and gold which was perfect for CB2's collection. The wall hanging is from Target Style and part of the Nate Berkus collection.
The Outdoor Space
Living in Southern California, we had to take advantage of the outdoor space. One of the best hacks I learned from a friend was using the corrugated metal fencing -- not only is it cheap and durable but it looks amazing! Further we wanted to add some green as we don't have true grass and olive trees are a great way to bring shade and greenery with very little upkeep.
The Giveaway
We are teaming up with our friends at CB2 to give you your dream living room makeover which means $2,000.00 worth of CB2 goodies and a design consultation with the team from Havenly. Enter to win below ( US Residents Only), winner announced July 1st, 2017 and will be contacted via email. All rules and restrictions apply. See terms & conditions.
Feeling Inspired?
Download the credit list for all items pictured.
Create Your Own Dream Job: Meet the Woman Who Taught Herself Graphic Design
And entirely turned her life around.
photo credit: Anelise Salvo & Hey Mama
Anelise Salvo not only left an unfulfilling career behind to follow her dream of becoming a graphic designer, but she is completely self-taught. So don't ditch out on your dreams quite yet. Remember what mom used to say? Where there's a will, there's a way.
Anelise is here to tell you it is possible and breaking it down in six easy steps that anybody can follow. Her story below.
Like most people, I received an undergraduate degree in a field I ended up doing nothing with post-graduation. I studied Political Science, and while it enchanted me with dreams and aspirations of saving the world while living in a United Nations compound in a remote village in a far-away land, “real life” hit me with student loans that needed tending to that the non-profit world was, needless to say, not cut out for. I took any job I could get for the majority of my mid-twenties just to make some significant dent in my education-turned-debt. I learned a lot, but most importantly, I learned what I wanted from a career and what I could not stand another day of. I needed to be able to pick my ideal location and have independence and I would never again work for a cause I had no passion for.
Flash forward to today. I own a boutique graphic design studio, specializing in crafting custom WordPress websites and designing brands for outrageously superb humans and I’m happy to report I. LOVE. MY. JOB.
You may be wondering, how?! How did I go from knowing literally nothing about design to running my own design business. Well ladies …I’m here to share what I did and how you can do it too:
1. Absorb: Learn as much as you possibly can and seek out the masters
A: Start by learning the founding principles of design – what makes good design, what is the history? This is vital to understanding where graphic design is today and it’s also critically important to know the rules first, so then you can break them later (not the other way around). Good design can look so simple, but trust me, it doesn’t just happen. It takes intention, practice and critiques. To do this, read books (this is a fave, as is this) and take online courses through sites like Skillshare.
I did take an InDesign 101 course at my local city college the second I quit my cubical job, but the pace of learning dragged on, so I resorted to 100% online learning.
B: When you feel you have a good understanding of step A, then start to find other graphic designers who are doing their craft reeeaallllyyyy well. Learn from them. Email them and ask questions. Study them and their work. Chances are, if you surround yourself with well-crafted design, you will start to emulate it in your practice and then eventually, you will start to create original practices because you now know the founding principles.
2. Practice: Bring your knowledge into the Adobe Suite
A. Sign up for the Adobe Suite (at this point you only need InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop) and, wait for it…yep, take more classes. This is the time to practice what you just absorbed and that can be done by committing to taking X amount of classes per week. I learned most of what I know through Skillshare graphic design and web design classes (with some hand lettering classes sprinkled in the mix) and Nicole’s Classes; Illustrator, InDesign and Branding 101.
B. Hire yourself to create something. Anything. By doing this you will struggle to figure out how to achieve what you are looking to achieve and through this process you will learn so much. At this point, utilize YouTube like it’s your best friend. Don’t know how to use the pen tool? No problem. YouTube it. This cycle is such an important part of learning on your own, so don’t rush it.
3. Don’t Say No: No job is too small. Do them all
Put your skills out there to your friends and family! Offer your services and you will be amazed at the things people ask you to do. You will learn a lot. Fast. When you get a request to make a flyer for a retirement home’s 10th annual pot-luck, trust me…don’t say no (even if you want to). You never know what that opportunity will bring; from learning a new skill, meeting a potential new friend, or a client with a job that may be more up your alley.
4. Find Your Niche: Do one thing really well
They say it takes 10,000 hours and yea, they are probably right. But in the meantime, start to hone-in on what you get excited about doing and do more of that. I firmly believe it is better for you and your future clients to do a few things really well instead of doing a bunch of things kinda well. By making your offerings short and concise, you are able to work on the things you dream about instead of things you dread. Don’t worry, this has taken me years to figure out.
5. Take an Hour: The learning never ends
Set aside one hour a week dedicated to learning. Be it learning by reading design-related articles or taking a class on a design element you have yet to tackle. Even when you feel you have it down, chances are you could benefit from refining your skills and soaking up new inspiration. Whether you’re taking graphic design on as a profession or not, this mindset will help you keep current.
6. Collaborate: PR is your best friend
A very fun and effective way to get your name and craft into the world is to collaborate with other creatives. Reach out to people whom you admire and make some magic. Styled photoshoots are a great way to show off your hand lettering talents, or your skills in invitations or print design. At this point, you will quickly realize that whatever you put out into the world you will get back, so choose your collaborations wisely so you are staying true to your niche and don’t find yourself being hired for jobs outside of your “love zone.”
The original version of this post appeared on Hey Mama.
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How This CEO Plans to Make Other Women Really Rich
If it don't make dollars, it don't make sense.
With the unofficial tagline “Make other women really rich,” Cindy Whitehead, CEO of The Pink Ceiling, the business she founded in 2016 focused on mentoring and investing in female-focused startups, expects the pay it forward model to work. “Money is in many ways power,” Whitehead says. “And it’s a power women need for the next stage of the entire women’s movement.”
Cindy Whitehead has spent 20+ years at the helm of companies. Most notably, her third venture, Sprout Pharmaceuticals was responsible for breaking through with the first FDA-approved drug for women with low libidos. This little pink pill, known to Whitehead as Addyi and to the media as “the female Viagra,” gave the entrepreneur “a front row lesson on what it means for women to advocate for themselves and each other.” It sold for a whopping $1 billion upfront payment.
She’s a businesswoman. A force. And a breakthrough artist in the field of health tech. Though Addyi’s trajectory didn’t play out as Whitehead expected (that story can be found here) and she says there isn’t a day that goes by that she doesn’t think about the company, she took away an understanding of how to champion for others, the way many supporters have done for her along the way.
Having always built companies from scratch, many people expected her to jump into the next operating role. She surprised them. “What rips the sheets off in the morning for me is fighting injustices. It is an injustice that women get 2% of funding. It’s a ridiculous idea that half of the population only has 2% of the good ideas.” It’s also statistically incorrect-- and Whitehead likes data. She also likes pink. For her, these are not incongruous notions. “I like pink,” the CEO explains. “I like being a woman. I think women have unique strengths to bring to the table and by god nobody is going to make me lose my pink.”
"It’s a ridiculous idea that half of the population only has 2% of the good ideas.”
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When she says people use “pink” and the stereotype it conjures as a means to dismiss an idea, those are conversations she tends to run towards, as breaking preconceived notions is what will ultimately create change. “It’s why I showed up in blazing pink to the FDA. Every time. Unmistakably I was there to have a conversation about women because we weren’t listening to them.” She’s had her critics, sure. But thinks women embrace an unapologetic approach. “When I showed up [to the FDA] talking about sex in all pink, there was a healthy dose of underestimation. And then I’d surprise them with all the data I know.” This piggybacks on her favorite piece of advice: “Prepare to be underestimated. And then show up and kill them with competence. I say it over and over again because underestimation as a woman in business is inevitable. It is going to happen. That can either force you to retreat or you can harness it and surprise them.”
The Pink Ceiling is not a classic VC. It is Whitehead’s own investment post Sprout.
Inbound proposals abound and Whitehead and her team take an active role in the companies they choose to move forward with. “We make decisions based on bandwidth and our ability for real impact.” Can she help a woman in fashion tech as much as she could help someone in the health tech? With the fundamentals of business, yes. With her rolodex, no. She thinks “below the belt for women” is an untapped area. “It is the last taboo in health. Even as women we don’t talk about the things we haven’t been ‘given permission’ to. If it’s below the belt it comes to me.” However, she says The Pink Ceiling teams works really hard with the companies that make it through the vetting process to find them a home. Admitting, “It’s not always with us. We have 11 companies that we actively work with every day. About another 4 that we’re about to go into. And we’ve taken 50 women through the 3-month mentorship program thus far.”
"Underestimation as a woman in business is inevitable. It is going to happen."
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The company’s battle against injustice is happening on two fronts. First, the lack of access to capital.“It requires an extra step and requires them [investors] to do their own homework with the audience that [the product] effects,” she says of why male investors aren’t funding female-focused companies or female founders. “My career has taught me the unconscious bias runs deep. I don’t think when [men] are sitting across the table that they’re intentionally thinking, ‘oh well this is for women I’m not going to fund it,’ but they’re sitting there not connecting to it.
She continues, “If I’m going to go up for investment dollars tomorrow, I have the highest probability that the entire table seated across from me will be men. And if I’m pitching an idea that is uniquely suited to women, I’m talking to an audience that fundamentally doesn’t relate. And I think the human nature component of that is that I’m less likely to invest in things that do not particularly impact me. Hopefully we’re catching up. But it’s why at the Pink Ceiling I equally look at men doing great work for women.”
To point: Undercover Colors, founded by four men. It is a nail polish intended help wearers detect the presence of date-rape drug. For Whitehead, that company is the sweet spot. “It’s not just a tool, it’s a conversation,” she says. “I’m always going to love health tech. I like the geeks that are innovating, creating a real tool-- one that creates a social conversation.” At the time we speak, she’s got at least one eye on Lauren Weiniger's “The Safe Sex” app. “We’re not yet invested, but I’m closely watching." SAFE let's you show your verified STD status on your phone, and know your partner's status.
The company is also fighting injustice with the “Pinkubator” program, The Pink Ceiling's way of addressing the lack of access to female mentors. It’s an integral part of the business that tackles the need for more straight-talk amongst female entrepreneurs. "The conversation that I’m going to have woman to woman is different," Whitehead says. "There’s nothing wrong with a climate of encouragement, I agree with that wholeheartedly. But we have to be careful that we balance that with candor,” she says.
And while she marks the powers of observation and empathy as a “superpower” of women, particularly when applied to business, she believes "data, in particular, is informed differently through the lens of empathy.” When combined the two have immense power and potential. Totally solo however, they might make for risky business.
“Oftentimes we’re delivering news that people don’t want to hear,” she explains. “But here’s my worry: If I’m a young woman coming out of college today and I know by the numbers that my chances aren’t as good in a classic corporate world and I have this idea of entrepreneurship from Shark Tank, which has given me the moxy to go out and start on my own, that’s great." The danger lies in blind encouragement. “If nobody talks about the scalability or sustainability of her business, here’s what’s going to happen: she’s going to fail. And when she fails, I fear that we are going to reinforce a narrative that women don’t have what it takes.”
Mentorship is so crucial to the process that it’s part of her team’s investment consideration. If you look at the numbers, she says, women are not only starting businesses faster than men, they're also often starting businesses alone. "One truly is the loneliest number in entrepreneurship. When we look at investments, I’m looking to see if they’ve been resourceful enough to find that network of other women who are going to help propel them.” She says resourcefulness is as easy as Google, where you can find conferences (*cough cough*), programs, accelerators, and the access to people who will push you. “Sometimes we have a paralyzing fear when it’s not going the way we expected that there’s no fallback. There’s always a fallback. And I hope that when women feel that way they can push through the moments of the deepest fear of entrepreneurship."
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C&C Classifieds Nº42: The Narrative Group, Modway Furniture, Framebridge & More
Your new future is only one application away.
Still on the hunt for the job that's perfect? Newsflash: there's no such thing as a perfect job. There IS however, a job that's perfect for you. So we're bringing you some great midweek opportunities from companies that we'd love to work at.
Check out the below and then click-thru for access to our full Classifieds listings.
Modway Furniture, Cranbury, NJ
The Narrative Group, Hollywood, CA
Framebridge, Washington, DC
Outdoor Voices, Los Angeles, CA
Food52, New York, NY
Soul Pancake, Los Angeles, CA
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ITK: How to Use Affiliate Links the Right Way
The money is out there. Do you know how to get it?
Where do content and commerce collide? “In a beautiful space,” said Amazon Fashion Director Kate Dimmock to a crowd of hundreds of women at Create & Cultivate NYC at the Knockdown Center in Brooklyn. “What’s important for you to know is that every piece of content that you create is shoppable and able to be linked to affiliate links,” she added.
And then the influencers took to Amazon Fashion’s "Content Meets Commerce" panel to share their tips on affiliate linking, how to navigate the content world, and what it means to be a successful blogger.
First they broke down some myths. The blogging world is “overcrowded.”
Or is it?
This is something we hear time and again, and what many members of our audience ask-- how do they break into an overcrowded market? How do they stand out from the pack?
Mary Orton, creator of Memorandum and co-founder and CEO of Trove, took a moment to break down the “so crowded” myth of the blogger world. “There are a lot of bloggers and content creators,” she shared, but then mentioned how many new restaurants open up in Manhattan. “Every time a restaurant opens on your block, you don’t say, oh no annoooother new restaurant. If you are being yourself. If you are presenting a unique POV, people will find it compelling. There is room for everybody. That’s important to keep in mind and don’t be discouraged by.”
Cynthia Andrew of SimplyCyn added, “Content is king. It’s really about what you bring to the conversation. “Every day I’m finding someone new and I’m following them and adding them. I wouldn’t say that it’s too saturated. But you have to understand that there is competition and it is harder to get eyes. Which is why you have to be consistent. You have to care about quality, more than quantity. There are people who post four times a day who aren’t adding anything to the conversation.”
Courtney of Color Me Courtney got her MBA young, at 21, but says she looked like “a numbers nerd on paper.” So she started her blog to break into the fashion industry in a less nerdy way. She told the audience, “Have true intent. The blogging game has changed in the last two years-- it has become a major monetization opportunity. But you shouldn’t start out to hit a bottom line. You should start to create content and to create community.”
"Have true intent. The blogging game has changed in the last two years-- but you shouldn’t start out to hit a bottom line."
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Lauryn Evarts of The Skinny Confidential advised the audience to “Think of a niche. I see a lot of girls get into blogging and they’ll email me and say, ‘I wanna be a lifestyle blogger.’ But that’s not where I would start. It’s so broad. Lifestyle blogger is the long-term play. Start niche. Like farming sea-monkey niche. And expand from there. You need to think about your niche as an upside-down triangle. The tip is your niche and the wide-part that you grow to is ‘lifestyle blogger.’ I think that is the trick to being a successful blogger.”
Content meets commerce-- it’s a relationship that goes hand-in-hand, but how do you do it?
This was the main question of the day: How do platforms work together to drive sales and earnings?
Mary Orton took on the big picture. “A lot of social platforms started out as a place that allowed quality content to thrive and content creators to be discovered. We’re seeing a lot of people struggling with that because these social platforms follow a similar life cycle. So ownership of your content is critically important,” she shared. “Be smart about where your content lives and that your business is diversified. You don’t want to become too dependent on a social media platform whose algorithm can change on a dime.”
So while you can make $ on sponsored IG posts, monetizing content on your platform with affiliate links and programs like Amazon Fashion’s are vital to the longevity and success of your business.
“My Instagram can go away tomorrow,” Evarts noted. Which is why she continually works on growing her audience on channels that aren’t beholden to someone else’s platform. “I didn’t go into blogging solely to monetize,” the outspoken blogger explained. “I went in to provide value. That’s one of the most important things. You need to establish value and trust with your readership before you think about money.” Orton echoed this sentiment saying, “Monetization opportunities will come. Any time you focus on monetization opportunities only, that’s when it comes across as commercial. It’s not only important to know this in the beginning, but throughout your journey.””
It was three years into blogging for Cynthia Andrew, who is attorney by day, blogger by night, when someone mentioned to her, “You should be using affiliate linking.” Andrew said it sounded like a “headache,” but then realized how much earning potential there is. Today she tries “not to overlink. I link to things I like. But I use it as an additional tool because brands want to see the information.”
“No one knows if you’re actually able to drive sales,” said Courtney, “but with affiliate linking you can show proof of concept to brands who want to see those numbers.” The colorful blogger also shared, “Now if I wear anything over a hundred dollars, I also link to something similar that is under a hundred dollars.”
"With affiliate linking you can show proof of concept to brands who want to see those numbers.”
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It all ties back to providing the most value and creating community among your followers. It’s not about selling out. “No one wants to be sold to,” said Lauryn. “Talking about something organically on your platform is so powerful.” Don’t forget it.
To learn more and sign up for the Amazon Fashion Influencer Program, please email fashion-influencer-program@amazon.com.
photo credit: Becki Smith/ Smith House Photography
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Sign Language: How to Deal with a Gemini Boss
Twin bosses! Twin problems!
graphic credit: Chloe White
Does your boss leave you to figure it out on your own? But then also, not…? Does she feel like a moving target that you can’t seem to hit? But wouldn't want to because she’s also the sweetest, most fun-loving boss you’ve ever had? Oh girl. Your boss must be a Gemini.
The twin sign that is both quick-witted and sociable but can switch on a dime to her more serious side. For a worker bee, it’s hard to know which boss you’re going to get come Monday (or any day) morning, so we’re breaking down a couple ways to deal.
Date range: May 22-June 21
Element: Air
Lucky Numbers: 5 - 14 - 15 - 18 - 26 - 31
Strengths: Enthusiastic, witty, intellectual, great communicator
Weaknesses: Lack of consistency, superficial, anxious, lack of decision making
The best part of a Gemini is that she is considered the best at seeing both sides of the situation. Highly-intelligent and communicative, she is ruled by the motto “I communicate,” which means she is going to want to talk things out. She is ruled by logic, but since she is able to see both sides, she can also argue both sides. When people say don’t fight with a Gemini, you’ll lose— they’re often right. In the workplace this can be hard.
The safest way out of a disagreement is to use the fact that “the twins” of the Gemini sign are never idle. Use this to your advantage and don’t expect to take up too much time belaboring one issue. When talking to your boss, know what you want to say, present it, and move on. You’ll both be in a better headspace.
Ruled by Mercury, the Gemini boss has a first rate mind with unique and original ideas— probably what landed her in the boss seat. However, a fast mind often leads to an “on-to-the-next” approach. She can get bored if she’s not being WOW’d and needs to be challenged. If you see her eyes glazing over during a presentation, chances are you’ve lost her. This can feel like a blessing and a curse. Use this trait to you're advantage and present out-of-the-box ideas. We bet she’d be willing to take a risk on an idea you think is too out there. She’s a little impulsive. Not always great when it comes to feedback… but more fun when it comes to saying ‘yes.’
A little wild in the working world can be difficult. Inconsistency is part of her nature, so if she loves an idea one moment and hates it the next, don’t feel discouraged. Find a way to update it. Expand it. What she’s doing is challenging you to make it better. So you always need to be game. Don’t get too attached to one idea, because it may very well not play.
The Gemini boss can get a little restless, so you need to keep her in the loop on what you’re doing. It may feel like overkill to always be sending updates, but it’s a way to give her peace of mind and also keep her off your back. The best way to avoid feeling micromanaged is to stay one foot ahead of the email. Quick bullet-point updates at the end of the day are a good way to let her know, you’re on top of your tasks.
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Dream Big, But Abandon These 4 Dangerous Expectations
Aim a little lower, would ya?
image credit: Jenna Peffley
There's nothing wrong with holding onto your dreams and doing your damnedest to make them a reality, but expectations are the root of all failure. Mainly because there is no way for reality to hold up against them. Reality is messier. Reality is murkier. Reality keeps you real.
This year, we want you to dream big. But we want you to ditch these expectations that only lead you down the rabbit hole.
1. THAT YOU'RE OWED SOMETHING
You're not "owed" anything.
It's tough to accept that simply because you work hard, hard work doesn't always pay off-- at least in the immediate. But it's true.
There are plenty of other busy bees working equally if not harder than you. It's why every creative or successful entrepreneur we speak to tells us the same thing: work, work harder, and then by golly! work some more.
You're not owed a raise, a promotion, or a job. It's hard to argue with hard numbers. But in order to get a raise or advance your standing, you need proven metrics. You need case studies. You need to be able to not only show but prove your worth. Don't work for the congratulations, but because you enjoy it.
2. NEEDING TO "WIN"
Never take a deal you can't afford to lose. If you're expecting that your career or business rests entirely on closing ONE deal or making ONE sale, it is a one-way ticket to failure. Why? The energy you bring to the table will likely not be one of composure or clear-headedness, but they'll be able to smell that insecurity on you. People don't like insecurity because it makes them question not just you, but themselves as well.
"Never take a deal you can't afford to lose."
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More so, an obsession with winning can prevent you from doing so. You become so focused on advancing that you don't pay attention to what's in front of you: the small, over-looked details that will trip you up and allow others to get ahead. And when you do get tripped up... it's time to ditch this next expectation.
3. THAT YOU ARE THE SMARTEST
Self doesn't always know best. And most successful people will tell you to surround yourself with people smarter than you are. There is always something to learn, and if you think that you're the smartest person in the room, either look harder or find another room.
The expectation that you will be the smartest, the fastest, the [insert any est here], can actually be more detrimental than beneficial to your well-being. This article on women who regained their confidence after graduating to Harvard speaks to this. The three women describe the daily difficulties and high expectations as such: “Succeeding was the baseline. There were fewer opportunities to excel and do something praiseworthy.” It gave each of them a complex to get over, before they were able to get ahead.
4. THAT YOU NEED TO WRITE A "WAY WAY TOO LONG" GOAL LIST
Tina Wells, CEO and founder of Buzz Marketing Group says, "Know what you're going to do," and that "goals are important and you need to set targets that also have deadlines associated with them."
However, the marketing guru warns, "You should not have more than three goals." The why of these goals are equally as important. "For every goal you set, you should have a reason for why you want to accomplish that goal," say Tina. "If you don’t have a reason, then it shouldn’t be one of your goals!"
If we set too many goals, we have the expectation that we will and can achieve all of them. But overreaching is the first step in over expecting. You don't have to aim low, but aim just slightly about where you want to go. That way, if you fall slightly below your expectation, which is common, it doesn't feel like a failure that stops you from moving forward.
You can land on your feet and your dreams stay alive.
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You'll Never Guess What This Top Blogger Says Is More Valuable Than Being #1
"I am the opposite of an overnight success."
Photo credit: Keiko Lynn
Before Live Journal, there was Open Diary. A platform that OG, now Brooklyn-based blogger Keiko Lynn, used as a personal outlet. Today her blog KeikoLynn.com is a space where the self-proclaimed "restless adventurer" shares her take on fashion, beauty, and her daily life.
We caught up with Keiko to chat all things influencer and why you have to be willing to put in the time, without any immediate return.
After more than decade in the blogosphere (shout out to your 1999 Open Diary) how have you been able to stay true to yourself?
Since the primary focus of my blog started out as a personal diary, it's actually pretty difficult to not stay true to myself. I named my blog "Keiko Lynn" before I ever intended for it to be more than just a personal outlet, but it still maintains that personal feeling. If I ever strayed from my true self, I'd have a lot of friends and family and loyal readers to answer to.
You didn’t set out to build a brand, but that’s what you’ve done. How do you feel about person as brand? Did you ever have any hesitation?
It happened so gradually that I didn't really contemplate it, before or as it was happening. I am the opposite of an overnight success. It was little things here and there, starting with blogging for Cingular when I was on LiveJournal, or having a magazine featuring me in a photo shoot, etc. I would just think of them as solitary opportunities that I couldn't pass up, not as stepping stones in my career path. It was years before it became a career, and by that time, "Keiko Lynn" had been my online (and real life, of course) identity for long enough that I didn't think I should change it. I still don't think of myself as a brand. I never think, "Is this on brand for me?" I just know what I do and do not like; I know myself.
"I never think, 'Is this on brand for me?' I just know what I do and do not like; I know myself."
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Do you consider yourself an early adaptor? What are some other important traits to have as a blogger and influencer?
When I started my current blog, I was a young and perpetually broke independent clothing designer, so everything I wore was handmade or from a thrift store, and most of my photos were taken with a self timer. That was what blogging was like, back then. We were remixing what we had in our closets. Now, we have bloggers who are starting out with a whole creative team behind them; they're coming in with photographers, beautiful web design, and a closet full of current, contemporary and designer clothing. I think that's amazing, and if you have the wherewithal or creative contacts to start a blog as a legitimate business platform, why not?! That's what's so cool about modern blogging -- you don't always have to go through the awkward growing stages that many of us went through. But I probably wouldn't have had a fighting chance, with my wide-angled, self-timer photos and second-hand clothing, if I weren't one of the early adopters. Even now that I have an actual closet (I didn't, back then), at least half of what I wear is vintage or thrifted...and I still take many of my own photos. I'm in a very particular niche, and I'm well aware that I was lucky to have early exposure.
The most important trait to have as a blogger is tenacity. I've known many people who started blogging and gave up after awhile, when they didn't see immediate growth. Overnight success stories usually only look like overnight successes. You have to be willing to put in the time without any immediate return, and keep going until you build yourself a base. It will come, but you have to keep going.
"You have to be willing to put in the time without any immediate return."
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What are some shifts you’ve been hesitant to adopt, but eventually jumped on board?
I am famous for being late to just about every social media platform. My very first tweet was something along the lines of, "Let's see how long this lasts..."
Do you ever feel like, enough! No more apps, no more sharing, I can’t possibly add one more “must” to my social lineup?
I feel like that almost every day of my life. I drew the line at Periscope. I won't do another one...I can't!! Although Instagram just added their very Snapchat-like feature, and I might end up giving that a try. I'm trying not to be the last one for that.
We’ve talked to a few bloggers about unexpected difficulties and the BTS realities, but what are some BTS unexpected joys?
I have made some wonderful friends through blogging, whether bloggers, readers, or people in the fashion and beauty industry. When I moved to NYC, I barely knew anyone. I had one friend and a LiveJournal friend, and my roommate and I had only met a few times before living together. Making friends in a new city is so difficult, and the blogging world really opened me up to a whole community.
How do you come up with creative ideas?
With style, I look to the past. With makeup, I look to both the past and the runways. But mostly, I just garner inspiration from everyday life, whether it's someone I pass in the streets or a page from a current read.
What’s a business aphorism you live by/what’s one you don’t think rings true anymore?
As trite as it sounds to "stay true to yourself," it's something I live by in both work and in my personal life. But I also think it's important to let yourself evolve naturally; the two are not mutually exclusive. 31 year old me is not exactly the same as 19 year old me. Part of staying true to yourself is allowing yourself room to grow and evolve. What doesn't ring true anymore is that you have to always be number one. Staying power can be just as valuable.
"What doesn't ring true anymore is that you have to always be number one. Staying power can be just as valuable."
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What do you think you’d be doing without the advent of social media?
I think about this often, because when you're in this sort of career, you have to be on your toes. What if it all went away, tomorrow -- what would I do? I imagine I would go back to my roots and start a new clothing line or invest in starting a makeup line, which is something I've always dreamed of doing.
How do you feel about the term influencer?
What do you think is the future of influencer? I prefer the term when referring to other people, and don't mind when others use it to describe me -- but referring to myself as an influencer feels strange and boastful. The truth is, we're all influencers in some way. Some just have a larger audience.
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Exclusive Tour: This Company President Just Completely Revamped Her Office
Can we say #officegoals?
Michelle Newbery, who leads the team at online home furnishings retailer The Mine (née ATGStores.com), is fast becoming a recognizable player in a very competitive market niche. In the fast-paced world of interior design, where bright ideas often burn out as fast as they’re born, the new President's star is on the rise.
And, thanks to this experience, Newbery’s got some amazing tips on how to navigate the executive arena. (Find those here.)
But she also knew that when it was time to take on her new role, new office digs were in order as well. We chatted about the redesign and the most productive color (according to Google).
Q: What was the design plan for Michelle’s office?
A: We were really trying to achieve a space that had multiple “zones” that felt more like a home office than a business suite. We wanted to create a calming place with soft blues and greenery.
Q: Tell us about the zones.
A: We organized zones by use. We wanted to create two separate workstations; one stand-up area to facilitate movement and action, and a tech-free seated area to serve as a more contemplative, creative space. The former is outfitted with Michelle’s computer, phone, etc., and the latter offers open desk space where she can spread her work out, look over documents or just take a break from the flicker of the monitor.
Q: Is there a meeting space or lounge area?
A: We chose a lovely conference table that anchors the room where Michelle can host meetings, but it’s also a great place to enjoy a casual lunch, which is in keeping with Michelle’s inclusive leadership style. And yes, there’s also a lounge area with comfy chairs and a coffee table that also promotes a relaxed vibe.
Q: Was promoting a “relaxed vibe” really important?
A: Definitely! Like most of us, Michelle appreciates a serene environment, so we incorporated calming blue hues to create a more soothing atmosphere. And, blue is “the most productive color” – according to Google, anyway – so it feels like a win-win.
Q: So, the room is blue?
A: Ha ha! No, not all. The dominant color is white, and we accented with blues. We also added greenery into the mix, to offset that cold tech feel that seems to come standard in every office building. We think staying connected to nature helps dial down the static in our otherwise tech-obsessed lives.
Click on the photos to shop some of our favorite pieces from the story below!
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Beauty Brand Founder's Favorite Emails Are From Women Who Don't Wear Makeup
Find out why.
Who: April Gargiulo, Founder, Vintner's Daughter
Where: March, the first stockist of her product, Lower Pacific Heights
Favorite spot to find the perfect chair: Hedge Gallery or Almond Hartzog
Where she'll grab a glass of wine with a career peer: The Progress
The facialist to whom she entrusts her skin: A Facial Massage from Julie Lynge. Her hands are magic.
Where she'll take a client dinner: Octavia
Favorite spot to grab coffee with a friend: As Quoted
If she could choose to sit and be still anywhere in the city, it would be: Wood Line. An installation by artist Andy Goldsworthy in the Presidio.
Tourist attraction in SF she's never visited: I’ve never walked across the Golden Gate Bridge.
She's a designer, wine maker, and now skin care expert, but the through line of April Gargiulo's career has always been "businesses that are focused on quality and expression at the highest level."
April founded Vintner's Daughter an active botanical face oil "designed to be a powerhouse of multi-correctional activity." She calls it her desert island product (and has the skin to prove it). "It address all of my skincare needs (acne, discoloration, elasticity, tone and clarity) at the highest levels and without toxins. It's the product I would never go without. Interestingly, because we addressed my skincare needs at such a foundational level, Active Botanical Serum is able to correct a multitude of skin issues; from rosacea to acne."
"I love helping woman feel confident in their skin. The best emails I ever receive are the ones that say 'I have stopped wearing makeup.' It might sound silly, but there is a lot of freedom in that."
"
The best emails I ever receive are the ones that say 'I have stopped wearing makeup.' It might sound silly, but there is a lot of freedom in that."
It's also a face serum for the busy working woman who doesn't have the time for a multi-step skin care regime every night. 6-8 drops, 30 seconds of pushing and pressing per the serum's instructions, and you're glowing. "I am a business woman," she notes, "who is focused on creating the most uncompromisingly effective skincare made from the world’s finest ingredients."
"The most surprising part of entrepreneurship in the beauty space is how intimate it can be. When talking about skincare, you cut through so much artifice so fast."
photo credit: Andrea Posadas
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Real Talk: Why Ruthie Lindsey Pulled Back the Curtain on Her Instagram Perfect Life
Life isn't always as it seems.
There is a kind of pain that can squeeze the soul right out of your heart.
Edit: If you let it.
Inspirational speaker, designer, and stylist Ruthie Lindsey spent the majority of her twenties confined to her bed. There was an accident her senior year of high school. There was her recovery. Then, years later, came an insane pain that “shot up her head.” Multiple doctors had no answers. Scans were read wrong for years. Until finally, one figured out that one of the wires from a spinal cord surgery had pierced into her brain stem. Shocked that she wasn’t paralyzed, they operated and removed the piece. A new pain ensued. Nothing helped. And the pain medication dependance dominoed.
But all dominoes can be reset. Picked up. And Ruthie realized she didn't want to live confined to pain; sunlight would be the best antidote. Her life started to change.
But as direct messages rolled in from strangers on social media, those who wrote her that her life looked perfect through the lens of Instagram, she felt a conviction to give people the full context. That story can be found in the below video where Ruthie says of the pain, “I would pinch myself to draw blood because I thought I was living in a nightmare.”
video: Loupe Theory, directed by Max Zoghbi
These days you could throw Ruthie to the wolves and she’d return leading the pack. When we speak, she is in Telluride, Colorado, having travelled there for Mountainfilm, a documentary-based festival held every year since 1979. The theme for 2017 is “The New Normal.” Spoiler: there is no normal and Ruthie would be the first to agree.
“It’s very intentional,” she says of the festival, though this also serves as doublespeak for how she lives her life. “And full of people who want to do good in the world— incredible humans are coming together here to try and make the world better.”
After traveling to Telluride in the fall for a job Ruthie made a pact with herself that “no matter what,” she would be back in May. She’s made it. This is her first year in attendance. “I’m jumping in at the end,” she says, noting friends like BFF and writer Jedidiah “Jed” Jenkins, who has been coming for about eight years. Those friends, including Jed, are currently on a hike, and while she admits she’d like to be with them, she’s also happily in awe at the sight right outside the window. “The view I’m looking at right now is so beautiful. I’m sitting on this couch, looking at glory and it is majestic.”
She’s been traveling for about a month, having arrived in the tiny mountain town from Paris the week prior, and she’ll touch back down to her home base of Nashville once the festival ends. Of the schedule she admits, “It’s not sustainable and after this I’ll take a break. Rest. Get back to routine and that’s my life.” But for now, she’s excited about the festival and "the one little strip in the main area [of town] where everyone knows each other.”
“I got my booklet today,” she says of the programming, mentioning the film Charged: The Eduardo Garcia Story. “The documentary is about how he found joy,” she says. “He woke up so grateful to be alive.” After happening upon a dead bear, Garcia poked the animal with his knife, only to find that the bear was concealing a live wire. Garcia was hit with 2,400 volts of electricity, which altered the course of his life forever. There are obvious similarities between them. “You don’t just have to survive,” says Ruthie. “You can thrive after trauma.”
"You don't just have
to survive.
You can thrive
after trauma."
photo credit: Chris Ozer
Thrive is a word that surrounds her like a halo. But for many millennial women wondering how to escape the feeling of hopelessness, whether because of a job or otherwise, there has to be a starting point; feeling stuck is a universal emotion. For Ruthie it started with action. "What I’ve realized,” she says, “is that the emotion doesn’t have to precede the action." She talks about the concept of, “Once I feel better I will… pursue this new job, then I’ll be happy, adventure more, or whatever it is— it’s not true. The action always has to come first, but it’s a choice and a decision. Take the action and trust that emotion will come.”
Ruthie explains that when she the made conscious decision to change her life she first made a list of all the things she loved to do before she had pain. “Each day I made myself do one of those things,” she explains. “At the time, I didn’t care about flowers or doing things for someone else. I felt black and numb and dead inside. Truly. But I made myself get up.”
In that transition period she gave herself one more task as well: “Look for beauty and speak it out loud.” She admits this all initially felt like, “a chore and a job — I hated it.” But there was something deeper at work. “I knew I had to do it,” she says. “There was something in my psyche forcing me.” A few weeks in she started to feel the things she was saying. “I had this image of myself in second grade getting glasses for the first time, and that’s how I felt. I was in awe after two months.” She was simultaneously weaning herself off of the pain medication she had been on for years. It took four months and her marriage didn't survive the detox.
“Look for beauty and speak it out loud.”
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Today, her life looks the opposite from the one she thought she wanted (as well as her life from bed) but therein lies the beauty: a sidesplitting pain can became a sidesplitting giggle. “People confuse happiness with joy,” she says. “Joy comes out of such a deeper well than happiness. Joy comes from digging into those really painful, hard, deep parts.” And Ruthie believes you can manifest the life you want. “I thought I would be married and have babies of every color from every nation and that is not my reality, and very likely might not ever be. But what I do have is so cool, so rich, nothing like I envisioned, but it’s better than what I ever hoped for and so much more beautiful.” At the same time she says, “It’s harder and more painful than I ever dreamed.”
Setting boundaries has been a big part of her story as well— understanding her limitations in a way that many young female millennials are grappling to understand. Millennial burnout is real. Young women feel like they’re replaceable. Ruthie says finding those boundaries has come with “a steep learning curve.” It wasn’t her natural state to say no or draw lines in the sand, but laughs, “My shitty body is the best thing that could have ever happened to me because it won’t let me do things. Everything I do comes at a physical cost. When I was stretching myself too thin, taking on a ton of little jobs, it came at a cost. I wasn’t able to be my best self.” Now she’d rather take a financial hit, instead of a physical or emotional one. “I also know I have the luxury of not supporting a family. It’s just me. I’ve done things for way less money that are life-giving and so much more important than any paycheck.” For anyone who might consider this "high-maintenance," Ruthie maintains it’s not so. “My time is valuable and so is every other human’s time. I’ve learned to take fewer jobs that sit better with me and pay better.” Sit better means that she won’t speak about something that she wouldn’t do, say, wear, or eat. “I just won't." She's firm on this.
"People confuse happiness with joy. Joy comes out of such a deeper well."
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Drawing those lines meant making a plan to only meet with three people per week that wanted something from her. “I was so exhausted and giving out so much. I didn’t have time for my people— or my own time. My body gave me the middle finger and said you can’t do this anymore.”
Now when home, she adheres to a morning routine and finds salve in the presence of friends. “Nothing can interfere with it,” she says. However does admit, “Routine is not my personality type. Not knowing excited me.” But she sticks to it. Before 9am Ruthie can knock out writing, reading (“my prize for writing”), using the app Headspace, and doing a 20-minute Pilates video. “That time is sacred. I schedule time with my friends and that is sacred as well. That is life-giving beneficial time."
It's not all flowers and awe all the time. She wouldn't wish this train ride on anyone else and says that learning self-care is a constant battle. "I don't always live in that place, but that’s what I want to step into the world with. That’s when I am my best self.” It is a means to life dividends. “You can’t love other people if you don’t love yourself well,” she says. “When you learn to live out of that space, everything else is better— you work better, you’re a better employee, a better friend, a better sister.”
Adding, “You get to live your best life when you put out your best life. We think we need to only take care of ourselves. But you don’t need to hoard every beautiful thing that comes your way. If you give freely with your words, time, and knowledge, it comes back so much greater. Nothing was ever really mine in the first place, so if it leaves…it was only passing through. It was a gift. Maybe someone else needs that right now. It’s freeing living out of that place. It’s freedom. It feels like freedom."
top photo credit L to R: Kate Renz, Jones Crow, Sadie Culberson; cover photo: Chris Ozer
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How to Build the Ultimate Support Network
It's 2017. Where's your support squad?
C&C is all about hugs, not mean mugs. And if you want to build out your support squad in 2017, we tapped major marketing boss and founder of BuzzMG Tina Wells to give us insight on how to do so.
JOIN LOCAL SOCIAL CLUBS
It’s important to build your personal network, and joining social clubs is a great way. Not only will you be exposed to great events, you’ll also meet potential clients, employees, and friends. Check out clubs like the Union League for “Young Friends” memberships, as well as the Young Friends clubs at your local museums, orchestra, and ballet.
JOIN ASSOCIATIONS
If you’re a female entrepreneur, look into local chapters of the National Association of Women Business Owners. If you are starting a plumbing company, check out the local chapter of a national plumbers association. You’d be surprised how many fields have associations. You can receive great product discounts, invitations to great conferences, and a network of peers. Entrepreneurship can be lonely, so cultivating a group of peers is important. And of course, there is the newly formed Young Entrepreneur Council (I’m a board member!).
CREATE A SMALL GROUP OF 5 LIKE-MINDED ENTREPRENEURS
You may have already heard of these “mastermind” groups. But what do you call a group for those who haven’t yet mastered something? Call it whatever you like, but build one – quickly. Make sure that the four other people you engage don’t have competing businesses, and think of ways you can help each other. I know of groups that meet monthly and each member has to come to the meeting with at least one lead for another member of the group. Also, be mindful of time. You’re all very busy entrepreneurs, so don’t schedule more than 60 to 90 minutes once each month.
HOST A DINNER/HAPPY HOUR EACH MONTH & INVITE NEW PEOPLE
Consider this your start-up marketing expense! Host an event for a select group of people you want to get to know. Be strategic in your invitations, and make sure you personally meet and greet each person who’s on your list. Allow each person to bring a guest if it’s a happy hour. If you’re hosting a dinner, it’s OK to extend the invitation just to that person. Also, make sure that the people you’re inviting can benefit from getting to know your other guests, not just you! I love to cook and entertain people in my home, so I usually host dinner parties once a month. At this point in my career, my parties are more about hanging out with my friends and mutual support. But they’re always fun! So don’t make it all about business!
DON'T MAKE WITHDRAWALS WHERE YOU HAVEN'T MADE DEPOSITS
It’s really unfair to email people asking them to mentor you when you have nothing to offer them. I know it sounds harsh, but it’s true! I get hundreds of requests for mentorship each year, and the ones I normally respond to (outside of the tip sheet I give to everyone) are the people who say, “can I take you to coffee?” The reason is, that small gesture shows that the person believes in a mutually beneficial relationship.
"Marketing #Protip: Don't make withdrawals where you haven't made deposits."
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I have a good friend who built his entire business off of taking people for lunch – even when he barely had the money to do so. And he was able to convince some pretty important people to have lunch with him and eventually fund his business. If you ask him his secret to success, he’ll tell you it was simply asking people to lunch.
GIVE BACK
My most important contacts professionally have been a result of my philanthropic work. I tend to join the marketing committees of non-profits I work with, and meet other people and collaborate on ideas. They get to see my skills firsthand and evaluate me as a colleague. You shouldn’t join an organization you’re not passionate about just to meet people, because that will backfire. But if you have an opportunity to partner your skills with a deserving organization, generating new business will be a nice result.
PARTICIPATE IN CONFERENCES & PANELS
I really like to spend time working – whether it’s at home or in the office. And while I love to travel, I don’t like being away from the office during the week. But I will make the exception for the right speaking engagement. Panels have been a great way for me to make new friends and expand my professional network. I’ve met some of my best friends on panels, and it makes sense. The best organizers work to place people with synergies on panels together. If you can have an hour conversation together on a stage, you probably will want to spend more time getting to know those people.
Tina Wells, founder and CEO of BuzzMG, earned her B.A. in Communication Arts graduating with honors from Hood College in 2002. Currently a Wharton School of Business student for marketing management, Tina continues to create innovative marketing strategies for numerous clients within the beauty, entertainment, fashion, financial, and lifestyle sectors. Tina has worked with clients including: Dell, Girl Scouts of the USA, Maidenform, SonyBMG, PBS, P+G, Sesame Workshop, and American Eagle Outfitters.
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Why Kopari Co-founder Says Great Leadership Isn't About Gender
You'd be nuts not to read this.
The daughter of an entrepreneur (and surf legend Joey Cabell), some might say Kiana Cabell, co-foudner of the cruelty-free organic coconut beauty brand Kopari Beauty, has business in her blood. But it's the company's lightweight Coconut Sheer Oil that's on her body. Working since the age of 12, she's always be a go-getter goal setter. Unafraid to fail, the Honolulu-raised business woman knew she could take the coconut cooking craze (she's also a certified organic chef) and apply it to beauty.
Dedicated to exploring the different ways coconut benefits the body, inside AND out, Cabell, along with co-founders, beauty entrepreneurs and industry veterans, Bryce Goldman and James Brennan, launched with a firm understanding of their miracle multitasking ingredient. Today, the Kopari Beauty success is so real that some Hollywood heavy hitters have gotten involved. It's a startup tale that proves successful entrepreneurs know their business from soup to coconuts.
We caught up with Cabell to find out how she launched, what scared her, and her standout moment as a business owner this year.
What was your first job and are there any lessons you learned early on that help you today as an entrepreneur?
My father was an entrepreneur himself - he founded the Chart House restaurant chain - so those practices were instilled in me from a young age. It was important to him that I set up values and worked throughout my childhood. From the age of 12 and on, I spent every summer working at the Chart House as a hostess. I cleaned menus, greeted guests, managed the seating arrangements and answered calls, and that definitely helped position me as a self-starter. I began networking and really honed my communication and organization skills. Above all, I found that starting in the workforce early instilled in me a unique drive and understanding that hard work truly pays off.
People always tell you to find the white space in business. So what prompted you to start Kopari? Where did you see that white space?
I was initially inspired to go into the natural food space by attending New York’s Natural Gourmet Institute to become a certified organic chef. Consumer awareness of health and wellness, and a greater concern over what you put in your body, was quickly growing and I saw an opportunity within that movement. I never ate with any dietary restrictions, but I enjoyed learning more about nutrition and the benefits of good, clean ingredients and wholesome foods. I ultimately took what I learned at the Gourmet Institute and applied it to Kopari. Similar to the organic food movement, there was a wellness trend in the beauty space. I capitalized on the growth in awareness of the ingredients consumers were slathering on their skin, as well as a mounting love for coconut oil, to co-found a brand that really addressed an unfilled niche in the market. The movement for coconut products in food was blowing up, but in the beauty space, it was just now kicking off. I really just recognized that this was my time.
Can you tell us about the initial stages of your company. How did you get funding to get it up and running?
Everything came together so quickly. I was lucky enough to have two amazing partners, James Brennan (also the co-founder of Suja Juice), and Bryce Goldman who is an accomplished beauty industry veteran. They both really helped on this end. Additionally, we all reached out for initial funding from close friends and family, who were happy to contribute. They really believed in us and that was when we first knew that we were onto something.
Why did you decide to start online only?
Digital and social was where everything was moving. We knew that we could create a lot of buzz, drive traction, and create demand via a thoughtful, well-constructed online and social presence. As opposed to reaching out to retailers as so many brands do, we had them coming to us.
As opposed to reaching out to retailers as so many brands do, we had them coming to us.
Let’s talk for a minute about finding co-founders and taking the leap. What does your team look like? How did you know you wanted to go into business with them?
Initially, it was myself, Bryce Goldman and his wife Gigi Goldman, and James Brennan, and we immediately had great synergy. We were all on the same page with what we wanted to create, but everyone brought something unique to the table. Obviously our team has grown substantially since launch, but the four of us continue to balance each other well, and our team does the same.
Starting a biz is no small undertaking. Were there any lifestyle changes you had to make in order to make the leap?
Like my father, I was very entrepreneurially-minded. I never really had a traditional 9-5 job, so starting a business where you’re working the 9-5 plus was a different experience. I have learned a lot along the way when it comes to maintaining a good work-life balance, but I definitely still struggle with knowing when to “turn off."
Were there any growing pains? Did you ever doubt your decision?
I never had a traditional job and didn't come from a background of having my own business, but I have always been a hustler and a doer, so it came pretty naturally. There were definitely times when I was in the day-to-day and would get frustrated with the little things that you’d never think about; but I had to learn along the way. Now, I feel confident in what I do and it feels amazing. Sometimes you can be the person that gets in the way of yourself, but you have to put your head down and just get it done.
"Sometimes you are the person that gets in the way of yourself, but you have to put your head down and just get it done."
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Natural skincare and skincare products are definitely having a moment. How do you continue to stay out in front of trends and make sure that your business has legs?
Naturally, coconut oil lends itself to so many versatile uses which give our products endless multitasking possibilities. The versatility helps maintain a steady stream of innovation and the ingredient itself paves the way. Our use and knowledge of cutting-edge technology and complementary ingredients keeps us in front of the trends and our competitors.
You’ve attracted some high profile investors like Karlie Kloss and Ashton Kutcher. What was it like in those meetings? Have you seen a benefit to bringing on big names?
I actually didn’t meet with them personally. Most of the relationships are through my co-founder James Brennan's connections from working with brands like Suja Juice. Although, I am excited to be meeting with Shay Mitchell at the end of the month!
The benefit is providing Kopari with clout, and lending greater recognition to the brand. It’s validating to have some of the biggest, most recognizable names in the entertainment and beauty industries supporting and investing in our brand. It’s just another sign that we’re on the right track!
What platforms have been the most helpful in spreading the word about Kopari?
Definitely social media, and Instagram by a landslide. Consumers really connect with our lifestyle imagery and our packaging lends itself well to visuals. We recently did a big micro-influencer push that was extremely successful, but we also prioritize cultivating and maintaining relationships within the industry.
How do you continue to utilize digital even as you’re set to launch into 340 Sephora stores?
We use our digital channels to have a direct line of communication to our customers. We use our ecommerce store not only to sell our full line of products that aren’t sold in Sephora stores, but to also further educate the customer on the products - how to use them, their benefits, why they’re different, etc. Having a digital presence through our online store, as well as through various social media channels allows us to communicate directly to our customers for feedback on what they like or don’t like about our products, how the packaging could be improved, as well as what they want to see next.
What accomplishment are you most proud of in the past year? Or, what has been a standout moment for you as a business owner?
The growth of Kopari and where we are now, hands down. Knowing that the products and all of our success is real, and recognizing people’s awareness of the brand, combined with the overall growth of Kopari has been my biggest source of pride this past year. Additionally, I am extremely proud of where I am personally, today, compared to where I was when we started Kopari. I think that rings true for the team too!
Is there anything about your leadership style that differs from your male colleagues?
We’re all so different and I don’t think it’s a gender thing. I like to jump into things, make mistakes and figure things out through trial-and-error. As a leader, I know what I like and what I want, but I’m also very easy-going and laid-back.
Is there anything you were super intimidated by that you jumped in to learn? And what kind of difference has that made?
I was really intimidated by everything; the whole business. Starting a company is like drinking through a firehose all the time. From building a team and brand, to managing the marketing, social and public relations piece, it’s all super new to me and I just jumped right in to learn everything. I’m continue to learn something new every day.
"Starting a company is like drinking through a firehose all the time."
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When you are having a crazy day, what is your go-to for winding down?
I love to do power yoga. It’s enough of a workout that I can’t really think about anything else while I’m doing it, and yet it’s still relaxing and calming.