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female founder feature: sweats + the city
dale borchiver + elizabeth endres
who better to kick off #summerbodseason than our two favorite fit chicks. best known from their highly curated and cheekily named instagram handle @sweatsandthecity, founders dale + elizabeth decided to leave careers in fashion + finance to pursue a sweatier path. they're making it easy to navigate the sometimes overwhelming scene that is nyc fitness, serving up honest class reviews, serious outfit + lifestyle inspo & most importantly.....snack time Q+A! speaking of, grab a snack and read our Q+A with them below!
neither of you are native new yorkers. what brought you here and what did life look like before satc?
dale: i originally came here for school, and later to work in fashion.
elizabeth: i moved to nyc for a job in finance at bloomberg. we were both dying to get to nyc before moving here!
we've all been there...midnight brainstorm sessions, waking up in the middle of the night with crazy ideas, thinking about and conceptualizing your new business 24/7...talk to us about that 'aha!' moment where you decided to start satc and how you originally envisioned the concept.
the concept of satc was in the works for a long time without us necessarily knowing it! we found ourselves coming home at the end of most days and discussing the new studios & workouts we tried that day. we were searching for a platform that would give us the kind of 'insider scoop' studio details we were chatting about and couldn't find anything. so, we decided to take matters into our own hands. we sat on the concept for about 8 months, putting together review lists (mostly for friends), before we decided to go live with it officially. it was really when we decided on a name that we we're like "ok, this is really happening".
our signature question! - what's the inspiration behind the name?
as we're sure you could probably tell, the name is a play on the show sex & the city. and as two 20-something year olds in nyc, we really felt it made perfect sense.
how long did you keep satc as a side hustle before transitioning to full time? what was that transition like and do you have any advice for other "side hustlers" looking to take the leap and monetize a hobby or a side hustle?
it took us about a year and a half doing until finally deciding to go full time with satc. when we reached the point where our full-time jobs were holding us back from opportunities, we knew it was time. it took a lot of preparation from a financial planning standpoint, and was definitely scary, but we've never looked back! our advice is to 1) keep your eye on the prize - we set a date we thought was feasible and we stuck to it and 2) plan well - look at your monthly income (growth & averages) & also your expenses, and plan accordingly!
we know a little something about getting into business with your best friend! it's funny because a lot of people warned us against it, but with our personalities it works perfectly and it's clearly working for you! talk to us about how you navigate mixing business + friendship and any advice you have for two friends thinking of getting into business together?
because we know each other so well, it's a big plus that we always feel comfortable being open and honest, especially if we disagree on something. but, in working with your best friend, it's also important to not take things personally and to look at the big picture. a big part of our job is being social and attending events, so it's great to be able to do that together!
how do you balance all the different roles of running a business between the two of you?
at first, before we had established our unique roles, it was kind of chaotic! it's honestly trial and error - once we were able to figure out what we should both be doing, as well as jobs that we each loved and wanted to manage on our own, things flowed really nicely. we keep a very thorough (and color coordinated, obvi) spreadsheet where our roles are clearly outlined. the jobs we add, remove & expand are ever changing, but it's so important to have these listed out!
talk to us about the workouts! do you guys work out every single day? if you had to pick a favorite from all your class reviews, what would it be?
we definitely give our bodies rest days! recovery is super important. we aim to workout 4-5 days a week, but really depends on the week, our travel & schedules. our favorites are ever-changing, but right now we are obsessed with the sculpt class at dancebody. it's the perfect combo of dancing & toning.
let's state the obvious….you're both fit af. talk to us about the types of workouts you do and what you see the most results from? what makes a class really stand out to you vs. just an okay experience?
that's so nice of you - thank you!! we find a mix of light cardio and sculpting is the most effective for both of our bodies, but it truly varies for everyone. we went through a period a few years ago where we were doing a lot of really strenuous workouts, and not seeing the results we wanted (or feeling the way we wanted to, tbh), and that's really what lead us to this. we are all about variety, though, and aren't afraid to throw something intensive into the mix occasionally!
a great studio experience really begins from the moment you book online til the moment you leave the studio. we appreciate when a studio goes the extra mile, which looks like: great amenities, welcoming staff, and a nice clean environment (& bonus points for having mints, haha). you want to leave the workout feeling great, not just physically, but mentally too. when it comes to instructors, an instructor that is not only super knowledgeable, but supportive, welcoming and encouraging is key. oh, and a killer playlist helps, too!
in a world where everyone is trying to be an "influencer" and the rest of us can get exhausted by content, two things stand out to us about your brand. first, we both regularly watch all of your content and can't say the same about many others. second, we've also seen your media kit so we know you deliver unusually high engagement and strong revenue generation for yourself + other brands you collaborate with.
from your perspective, what makes you stand out to your audience? what specific actions have you taken to make it this way?
when we started satc, our goal was to be a relatable & trustworthy source when it came to fitness, wellness & health. there can be a lot of noise in the fitness space and most people don't have the time and/or money to test out the insane amount of products and services available to them. we have made it our mission to showcase what we love (and don't!) with all the raw, real details so our community can make informed decisions. and our hope is that people follow us & engage with us because of that!
what started with class reviews has already evolved into so much more. what else can we expect from satc in the future? where do you see the brand in 1 year / 5 years? any pipe dreams for satc?
we've already started to dabble in products collaborations with existing brands (check out our sweaty stuff bag here!), and we'd love to continue that. we've also been working hard to build out our website, particularly a project to create an interactive studio review map - launching soon! a long-term goal of ours has been to be 'the infatuation' of class reviews, so this new online offering should get us closer to that. stay tuned for more collaborations, city exploration, etc.!
talk to us about your partnerships. what types of companies do you work with and why? how do you balance making a living with ensuring each brand gets dedicated, high quality content (which means time + energy on your part!)
we're very selective when it comes to the brands we align with. it's so important to us that these companies share the same values as we do, and we have to believe in the product. for example, we often receive pitches for "quick fix" type detoxes and diets, which goes entirely against our brand ... these are a definite 'no' from us. we also limit how many we work with, especially when it comes to certain categories (especially beauty!), in order to maintain our authenticity. our rates are reflective of all of this, as well as the time and energy we put into creating campaigns.
you've worked with huge companies (victoria's secret, bloomies, etc.) and start-ups, which are two totally different animals. do you approach them differently?
our approach to all brands is the same, but their approaches can definitely vary, and it doesn't necessarily have to do with their size. this was something that surprised us! some brands are highly involved in the content creation process, and some offer a lot of flexibility … we love when brands trust our creative direction, because no one knows our community better than we do! regardless, we always make sure that no matter which brand we're working with, we're presenting their product/service in our own voice, in a way that resonates with our community.
as a brand, it can be tough to know what to expect with an influencer partnership! give us some partnership advice - what we should look for, how do you set your prices and demonstrate how a brand can trust the expected outcome?
it's important that both parties are very clear on the deliverables and that both parties see value in the partnership. we never promise specific results (you can't know for sure how your community will react). we try our best to ensure that our prices reflect the effort we're putting into our content creation, the demand at the time, as well as the value that content is bringing to a brand - whether that's general awareness or conversions. we are big on numbers, too! we provide brand statistics & case studies prior to working with us so they can get a feel for what we bring to the table.
you're both working out and on social media a lot. when you're not 'on', what are you doing?
sweats has pretty much become our lives! even if we're not active on social media, we're doing a ton of work behind the scenes. but, when we're not working, we're both pretty social and love to recharge with self-care: reiki, meditation, reading, facials, going out to dinner with friends.
with that said, your lives are very public through your platform. how do you deal with the negativity and unsolicited opinions? any advice for how to block out the haters (besides dark sunglasses obvi)
we've gotten better at dealing with negativity with time, and it's probably a combination of desensitization and growth. that's not to say that a harsh message doesn't ever upset us, but it's a lot easier to let it go. we also have each other, and that helps a lot! when you put yourself out there, negativity unfortunately comes with the territory. we always like to remember this -- what other people think of you is none of your business.
favorite workout (boutique): 'the sculpt society' with megan roup, 'hot pilates' (in la), 'sculpt' at dancebody
favorite workout (not boutique): barre3
brand you'd love to work with: w hotels
go-to beauty product: skii essence
female founder you admire: oprah
one meal for the rest of your life, what is it? avocado toast with two eggs, over hard :)
nyc neighborhood: west village & soho
if you were doing something other than satc, what would it be? this is a hard one! i did really like working in advertising - so possible something in that area.
me-time / social media break activity / thing that keeps you sane: meditation therapy - i go weekly, it's the best!
favorite workout (boutique): bunda (la) or any dance-cardio-sculpt mix ("body" by amanda kloots, isaac boots "torchd", "sculpt society" by megan roup, "sculpt" dancebody).
favorite workout (not boutique): barre, core power yoga
brand you'd love to work with: equinox
go-to beauty product: laura mercier tinted moisturizer
female founder you admire: sara blakely
one meal for the rest of your life, what is it? yogurt bowl, with granola, berries and almond butter!
nyc neighborhood: noho
if you were doing something other than satc, what would it be? most likely still be in fashion!
me-time / social media break activity / thing that keeps you sane: walking with my headphones in, listening to a podcast or one of our sweats playlists!
dale and elizabeth, thank you for keeping it real on the [sometimes crazy, sometimes expensive, sometimes culty, sometimes hard for the coordination-challenged, but always fun + healthy for us] scene that is NYC fitness! and for reminding us that while it's usually a good idea to work out, it's also okay to skip it and binge watch netflix on your couch and having yourself a SNACKTIME.
*all product images, press images, and headshot images are property of sweats and the city
**this is not a sponsored post. all obsessions are 100% real
june gift guide: the SATC 'summer essentials' gift box
summer months are perfect for getting sweaty [if you take the subway, you're already sweaty anyways so might as well keep it going, right?! here are the summer essentials you need from our favorite sweat-perts.
riley versa - sweaty stuff bag
satc partnered with riley versa to create the perfect pouch! a luxurious navy velvet pouch with "sweaty stuff" embroidered across the front. perfect to slip all your post gym or beach essentials in and guess what?! they just restocked in a new style!
this image is the property of riley versa
esarora - ice roller
historically we've been fans of jade rollers, but after the SATC ladies told us about this ice roller we were quick to convert. it doubles the coolness of a jade roller and covers more ground. highly suggest for sunburns and sushi sodium hangovers.
this image is the property of amazon
supergoop - matte sunscreen
daily spf is the most underrated anti-aging trick in the book and the satc babes have beautiful skin. supergoop is non-greasy and blends perfectly into your skin. catherine uses their every single day moisturizer with 40 SPF… yup, every single day.
this image is the property of supergoop
if you peep our instagram you'll also realize we are huge fans of this product as well. the slip sleep eye mask is a sure-safe way to reduce wrinkles while you sleep (any other face down sleepers reading this?).
this image is the property of slip silk
now get off your butt and get to that workout class.
female founder feature: rebecca minkoff
founder of rebecca minkoff + the female founder collective
it's officially may, and that means a few things: first and foremost, the opportunity to post the 'it's gonna be may' meme. don't pretend you're above it. secondly, it means thanking your mom for not putting you up for adoption during your angsty teenage years. but really, we often wonder how moms do it all. to our moms, our psuedo-moms, and all the new mamas and mamas-to-be in our lives, we love you.
speaking of moms who do it all...we're excited to introduce this month's female founder feature rebecca minkoff, founder of rebecca minkoff + the female founder collective....and mama of 3.
rebecca was 21 years old when she started her namesake brand + the rest, as they say, is herstory.
tell us the story of how you started your namesake brand. it's one of our favorites!
i started the company in 2001 when i was 21 years old. i had just launched a five-piece collection with this "i love new york" t-shirt that i had kind of cut up and bedazzled, because that was on trend then, believe it or not! i had sent it to an actress [and friend], jenna elfman, on september 9. she wore it on jay leno [just after 9/11]. and [she] said my name. that impacted me in a big way. everything shut down when 9/11 happened. so the only thing that really kept it going was that i was donating all the proceeds to the red cross. that kept the orders coming in.
some years later, jenna called me again and asked if i wanted to do a bag for an upcoming film. i was happy to help, thinking, 'why not? i'll try a bag,' and that was the moment that led to the 'morning after bag'. i had made one for jenna and one for myself and even though it didn't make it into the film, i planned to add it into the clothing line: as an accessory piece, nonetheless. i had no intention of designing handbags, but when daily candy wrote about it shortly thereafter, it took off. at that moment, ii transitioned to exclusively handbags, only offering the 'morning after bag' in different colorways. i kept the focus on the details (i.e. theme and story around each bag), using beautiful leathers and trims. at that time, the showroom i was with told me i had to offer more than one bag and that is where it all began.
the 'i love ny' shirt signified the beginning of me taking that step towards being a designer with my own line. i had always loved working with patterns, constructing and draping garments, but this was the first moment i could actually start working towards creating pieces under my name. once the daily candy wrote about [the mab] it was the perfect storm. more orders than i could have ever imagined started coming in and that's when i decided to really put my full focus on bags.
who were your first 3 key hires? what impact did they have on your growth?
sales, finance and production; everything was around staffing up with things that would take me off design or pr so we hired strong people in those backgrounds with extensive experience. we doubled for 3 years in a row and kept having year over year growth.
as new founders, we talk a lot about "what keeps us up at night" relative to our brand. how has "what keeps you up at night" changed from when you first started to now? do the early challenges ever get better?!
challenges never get better. they actually get harder and the issues more challenging and complicated. you just get used to thinking about and approaching them. what keeps me up now is how we're going to become a global brand without relying on traditional media the way that huge luxury brands do. they have money and buying power and can dominate a new market far quicker. how do we as david, beat goliath.
you started your business with your brother uri. what's it like working with family and how do you divide the roles? more broadly, what advice do you have for new or soon to be founders when looking for a business partner?
he's ceo, i am creative director. we have and respect our lanes but also try and support and help each other within our areas if we can. we fight. we make up. we see a career coach.
when you're with someone more hours in the day than your spouse, you have to make sure you know it's okay not to agree, how to get through it and do what's best for the business.
the first few times we met you in person, we realized you're your own best brand ambassador. you're always in head to toe rm. talk to us about why that's important.
it's simple: why would my customer want my goods if i didn't? i am the customer, so i live and breathe rm and show others how to as well.
who is the rebecca minkoff customer? how are you able to identify and interact with her?
she is a multi-faceted woman. she is complicated. she is busy. she wants rm to make her day easier but also more meaningful. she knows she belongs to a tribe where other women have her back.
what differs your brand from the others?
we have evolved our value proposition outside of a product. our customer comes to us because she knows we support and care about women, that we put our money where our mouth is and that beyond a product there is good being given back to our communities.
we were shocked to find out you have 3 kids (and 1 under a year!) first off, how do you do it?! do you follow any specific guidelines to balance the two roles?
yes. i've used the last 7 years of having kids to test my boundaries, so i know what is too much for me. i now structure my schedule around this as much as possible. each person should do that for their own values, not for instagram.
we heard you speak at theskimm live podcast event, where you mentioned that your #1 interview question for nannies is "how fast can you run off the playground carrying three kids" (lol). what tips do you have for new moms & working moms who may be hesitant to leave their children under the care of someone else?
make sure you hire someone who has the same values as you, who is there to help take a load off of you and help the household. that is responsible and more importantly, has the purpose of nurturing and raising children. sadly, this nanny is going to spend more time with your kids than you during a work week so you want to know they have the children's interests at heart. trust your gut.
everyone who's ever had more than a 5 minute conversation with us knows how much we love ffc. where do you see ffc in 5 years and how has it changed from today?
in 5 years, i hope to have conquered some of the bigger milestones such as the seal being used and known by consumers to change their shopping behaviors. i want a global community that is the go-to for female founded businesses for a directory. i want women who have joined to be vocal about how coming together made their companies soar and that we went from 80 cents on the dollar to 90 to 100....
as the founder of ffc, you see badass, successful women every day. what do you think are the top 3 things that make a brand successful?
telling a story on social
customer service is king.
using a network to shortcut the problems others have already experienced.
the question the people have been waiting for….talk to us about elisabeth! you both have done an incredible amount of work in such a short time as a 2-woman team of #workwives. how do you balance the responsibilities of executing the now vs. strategizing the future?
elisabeth is a godsend. she is an incredible leader. we've divided and conquered; her passion for the community and its growth has allowed me to be able to do larger partnerships and activations that make ffc more well known, which in turn helps more of our members as we highlight them and help their products become known and therefore sold. we really are a true team with no set lanes, so she really helps with it all! i couldn't do this without her!
favorite piece in the rm collection: kate circle bag
female founder who inspires you: jessica alba
favorite me-time activity: sleep
favorite nyc restaurant: in the dez
go-to brands (other than rm): nike, rachel comey
personal mantra / favorite quote: no is just the beginning of yes (in all areas except dating)
introvert or extrovert: extrovert mostly
fun fact about you that most people don't know: i'm scared of zombies
we always talk about the "transformative yes" moments that have and will change the trajectory of our business. becoming part of the female founder collective was and will continue to be one of those. rebecca, we cannot thank you enough for being the inspiring soul you are - we adore you!
*all product images, press images, and headshot images are property of rebecca minkoff
**this is not a sponsored post. all obsessions are 100% real
behind the scenes with the woman, the myth, the legend: elisabeth leonard
elisabeth is the special projects manager for rebecca minkoff [a role she balances with that of #workwife] and the other half of the female founder collective! there's a lot that happens behind the scenes of ffc, so we're taking you #bts with the one who makes it all happen. but first, in true team blankbox fashion, a story...
we first applied to the female founder collective when it was completely new...and so were we. we emailed elisabeth saying we weren't sure if we qualified to join as we had just launched, but to let us know what we had to do to be part of it. this was word for word her response: "don't sell yourself short! you are FOUNDERS and there is power in that. big or small, a founder is a founder; and that's something you should be proud of. we're all in this together, we need to support each other in order to make a change! that being said, we'd love to have you be a part of the collective!"
this is one of those moments we won't ever forget. the first time someone included us at the table, and the last time we ever assumed we weren't part of it. we love you, elisabeth! without further ado...
start from the beginning...from birth. only kidding. how did you meet rebecca and start working on the rebecca minkoff team?
i actually started as a temp receptionist at the company! it was only meant to be a three-month situation, but that changed quickly! rebecca and i had an immediate connection, and from the first day i met her, i knew she was someone i wanted to learn from and work with.
one of the very first things rebecca told me was that "no is just the beginning of yes". since that day, it's always stuck with me. after my first few months as the receptionist, i took on the role of being ea to the ceo, cfo, president and rm. being the receptionist taught me a lot of things that i've carried with me to where i am today.
i took all of my earlier roles as an opportunity to learn as much as i could. when you're starting out, you can't be afraid to ask questions. do all the jobs—no matter how "small" they might seem; that is where you will learn incredible lessons that will serve you well later in your career.
how would you describe her leadership style? from your perspective, what else do you think makes the brand so successful?
one of the greatest things about rebecca is she leads with compassion and empowerment. she isn't possessive of accomplishments. when you're on a team, everyone is in it together. rebecca always celebrates wins as a team, never as one person. rebecca is also a great listener. there's a difference between leadership and being a boss. leaders show you what to do and bosses tell you what to do. and rebecca is always showing, teaching and helping others to learn more.
one of the most important lessons rebecca has ever taught me is "no is just the beginning of yes". don't give up. don't be afraid to ask questions. keep striving for what you're passionate about!
what's your favorite personal mantra and how has it helped shape your life?
don't stop until you're proud!-- if you knew today was your last day, would you be happy with what you're doing? if the answer is no, then change it. do what makes you happy. and live each day without denying your happiness. so, dream big, go after your dreams, do the things you want to do and be the person you want to be.
get out there and show the world what you're made of. there is no right or wrong way to exist. being human is messy. find glory in your own beautiful mess + be proud of who you are.
let's talk female founder collective! how did the idea come about and what's your role within the team?
the idea for the ffc came out of a meeting that rebecca was in where she was trying to work with only female founded companies and realized there was no way to find them easily. she then came across a study by berlin cameron that said the 82% of women are more likely to support female founded companies if they only knew how. that proved to rebecca that a symbol or a seal for consumers to recognize would be key for us to find ways to support and give our money to female founders.
i focus a lot on community + brand partnerships as well as the growth of the community, but i love to help with anything and everything i can! i'm so lucky that i get to work alongside one of the most badass female entrepreneurs i know who also doubles as my work wife, rebecca minkoff!
as the co-leader of ffc, you see badass, successful women every day. what do you think makes a brand successful and can you share some "best practices" you've seen from ffc brands?
success can be defined in so many ways. i think it's important to remain humble and hardworking, be confident and believe in what you're doing. if you don't, who else will? you can never get comfortable in your own knowledge; it's important to learn every day. and there is always more work to be done!
one of the greatest practices that i have watched our members display is the power of collaboration. the amount of support these women provide for one another is truly admirable.
rebecca shared where she sees ffc in 5 years - tell us where you see it going + how it's changed from today?
i agree with rebecca. we really hope to have conquered bigger milestones, such as the seal being used and known by consumers to change consumer shopping behavior. the ffc seal lets everyone know that a woman is in charge! i hope that the collective will continue to grow, not only in the us, but globally, and that this community encourages not only women, but everyone, to buy and support women owned businesses.
i hope we see a big consumer adoption and acceptance of the ffc symbol that changes their buying decisions.
how do you balance having roles at rebecca minkoff and at ffc? how do these roles differ?
"the most urgent decisions are rarely the most important ones." – dwight d. eisenhower
a few months ago, i read an article about eisenhower's urgent/important matrix. the basic premise is pretty simple: some tasks are urgent, and others are not. when you organize those, you make better use of your time.
while it may not always feel like it, i've learned that there is a big difference between urgent and important. this way of thinking helped me learned how to separate the things that absolutely need to get done from the things that i really want to get done. this concept has played a huge role in how i balance my two roles.
my role at ffc is more of a managerial role while at rm, i am part of a larger team. i have the best of both worlds!
what's the most valuable lesson you've learned from a female founder you've met through ffc? any advice you'd give to women thinking to start their own business?
the women of ffc in general have shown me firsthand the power of collaboration over competition; advice: take every opportunity and make the best of it. you never know where it may lead!
favorite piece in the rm collection: bree belt bag
female founder who inspires you: jen gotch
favorite me-time activity: binge watching greys anatomy with a nice glass of wine and tons of candles!
favorite nyc restaurant: rubirosa (best damn pizza!)
go-to brands (other than rm): alala, terez, nike, lively, eberjey
introvert or extrovert: extrovert, most of the time!
fun fact about you that most people don't know: i currently live and work remotely from santiago, chile!
may gift guide: the 'mother's day' gift box
as if we needed another mama to be grateful for....the founders of these products aren't just raising kids. they're also building the brands we know + love, and making our mother's day gifting a little easier along the way. if your mom is anything like ours, she hasn't sat down since 1999. these founded-by-mamas gifts will upgrade her on the go!
meant - the whole shower kit
the product description is "marie kondo your entire shower and morning routine with time-saving, short-cutting, ass-kicking products" need we say more? this line is founded by a mom who really knows what she's doing when it comes to gifting for busy mamas + their sacred shower alone time.
this image is the property of meant
rebecca minkoff - aceline mules in black
we're all about elevated basics that stay comfortable while we run around the city getting sh*t done. if your mom is anything like ours, she hasn't sat down since 1999. might as well give her a stylish shoe that can be worn day to night, to work or to play. can we found in gabi's mom's closet... and hers, because #treatyourself.
this image is the property of rebecca minkoff
stephanie gottlieb - mini initial bracelet
they say diamonds are a girl's best friend but we think gold jewelry is pretty high up there too. we love SG because its a mix of timeless pieces + quality you know will last. also highly suggested as a push gift. shop her mother's day sale...your mom deserves it for dealing with you.
this image is the property of stephanie gottlieb
there are a lot of things to say about stasher bags, but we'll lead with this: they keep your avocado green. we repeat, keep your avocado green. also perfect for packing portions, whether it's a pack carrots + smoothie ingredients kind of day or a 'how many cookies can I stuff in one bag' kind of day.
this image is the property of stasher bag
drake said it best: i only love my bed + my momma, i'm sorry.
female founder spotlight: jackie courtney, founder & ceo nearly newlywed
it's officially the start of wedding season, and you know what that means!!! crying ugly tears while your best friend walks down the aisle, bridesmaid proposals [with blankbox, duh] and spending at least a month's worth of rent on flowers. most of all, it means gaining a new appreciation for the people in the wedding industry who live to make it easier. jackie courtney, founder + ceo of nearly newlywed, is that person. from shark tank to having her company nicknamed 'the amazon of weddings', jackie's story is extra sparkly... and so is her style.
for our readers who aren't familiar with your business... what is nearly newlywed + why are you different from the rest of the bridal industry?
first & foremost because we were founded on the premise that resale should be embraced and destigmatized; not that it is for everyone, but if someone wants to pass their dress along or wear something worn one time by someone else (by the way like almost all movie premiere and oscars gowns) then it is their choice and it should still be an amazing experience. second nearly newlywed is a digital company, so we endeavor to create products and tools around digital discovery, service and commerce. as we have evolved to be a larger destination and marketplace, we both want to help customers transact and have access online as well as help physical retailers have an online presence and to ultimately help smooth out some of the pain points that exist for wedding stores and designers that are very unique to the process.
so, basically, women can buy and resell their dress, jewelry, accessories, everything for their wedding and designers/stores can sell and market on our platform as long as they adhere to our quality, transparency and sustainability standards.
you pitched your initial business idea on shark tank in 2012. we have so many questions - why did you decide to go on?
oh geez, shark tank, taking me back. well, i never intended to do something like that to be honest, the opportunity presented itself to us and we had literally just launched the business with 50 wedding dresses in my bedroom. at the time we took it as something the universe was presenting and decided to go for it (also free trip to la! haha). it was all kind of crazy and happened very fast, we taped our episode two months after we launched, so we were a super baby business at the time.
you declined the offer from the sharks, why? how do you feel about it looking back? what're the sharks like irl?
it wasn't a good offer! so no regrets there. the feedback was helpful and some of it i really disagreed with, so honestly it spurred me to fight on without the high profile capital (and we raised a substantial angel round at a good valuation 6 months later).
i am very glad we did it though, and thankful for the opportunity. it allowed us to put the idea and brand on a platform of millions of people and that accelerated our growth in a way i couldn't have dreamed. i was also very lucky to have thousands of women reach out to me in support and to help me really push forward a grassroots marketing effort to spread the word. the sustainability approach to creating more value and choice in the wedding space and trying to remove stigmas that are often placed on it, especially on women, around the dress and what that is supposed to look and feel like, i think resonated with a lot of women across generations and many we would never have reached, certainly not so quickly, without the shark tank platform.
the sharks were pretty great. mark cuban was my favorite, i felt like we were really having an authentic exchange about business mechanics and ideas. i mean, it's a tv show, it's tv, but it's all taped live in one session so there are authentic exchanges. in general i liked mark and barbara the best. i suppose if i am being honest, didn't live for herjkovic.
editor's note: follow up question. was mr. wonderful actually wonderful?!
fast-forward to now, you've grown to more than 1 million brides per year (!!!). first off, congratulations! secondly, aside from blood, sweat, tears & sleepless nights, what do you attribute this growth to?
you hear it time and again, but creating a base of customers that believe in your mission and empowering them to be brand advocates is key. especially in bridal, in which the consumer turns over and isn't a lifetime one, having people that believe in your mission is priceless. lots of grit. plenty of tears. time, lots of time and waiting and inching the rock forward. some luck too i think. but yea, most of the real progress is the boring stuff, the sweat and such, the day in and day out. shark tank and a few key new york times features didn't hurt either. and women like you ladies! supporting and sharing!
let's rewind a little bit...you have a design & management degree from parsons the new school and worked for numerous luxury brands before launching nearly newlywed. what was the hardest part about starting something on your own?
i often say the hardest part of starting was, starting. like, i didn't see myself as an entrepreneur or set out on that path in a traditional sense, so i had a lot of insecurities, imposter syndromes and just, straight up fear about telling people and self identifying as a business founder. i remember someone asking me that i wasn't super close with after i had left my job about what i was working on, and i got very anxious, skittish, and she thought i was being guarded about my 'idea' as if i would be afraid she would steal it. which certainly i wasn't and if, as most say if, anything is true in business it is that the 'idea' and the mythology of the idea is rarely where a successful business comes from. it is a part of it, but it's execution and timing more than anything. and grit. anyway, telling her and owning that i was going to try to start a business, just saying it out loud, that was the hardest. and leaving a really sexy job in fashion was hard too. that was a very large part of my identity and understanding who i was without that, without the big company and big names to lean up against, was very difficult to push past. i mean, my boss said to me 'you know most women would kill for this job' when i resigned, and i mean, she was sort of right, so walking away to start something so unknown was very difficult, because i really didn't know what i was doing.
and then, not quitting when things were flat and hard and just, felt sort of like cross-country skiing in quick sand, that's the other hard part. because shiny things sustain you, milestones anchor you…. but gritting your teeth and getting up and trying day after day, that's where & how success blooms, in my opinion. man, can i reference the word grit anymore? grit grit grit grit grit, i still need more of it, so i suppose i can't really say it enough. grit! ;)
did you have an "aha!" moment that made you start nearly newlywed?
oh and no aha! moment, ha, really just that i felt the bridal industry was innovating very slowly, much slower than luxury fashion which i had thought prior to getting engaged was behind all other industries (which it was) but then i realized bridal was even further behind, so i figured innovation had to happen at some point and i saw some real problems around value and transparency and sustainability – so i decided why not and went for it.
talk to us about storefront! what was your thought process behind creating this and how can other founders apply that thinking to their own brands?
i saw that the wedding market was ready for more commerce and discovery online. the customers had been for awhile, i was one of them, but the industry took a longer time to evolve, so i was really waiting for the moment in which i thought there was enough need and appetite on the b2b side to coincide with the already existing demand of the customers (brides).
there is a lot of chatter about disruption in spaces, and i don't necessarily see nearly newlywed and our role in weddings as that. it is, in a way, disruptive, but ultimately there are incredible designers and stores in the wedding space and outside of it that want to sell and market to wedding customers. some are very anti-change and sustainability but many, many are open and want to innovate and adapt. i don't want to disrupt the industry, i want to support and offer the customer what she wants – choice, value, amazing products and i want to help those in the industry that are open to market to the changing landscape and customer, to help fit the pieces together, offer them a digital voice and expertise and hopefully, create prosperity and value for everyone in the process.
you see one million brides a year - i repeat, one million. what is your strategy to make sure you stay engaged with an audience of this size?
i think scale is a tough thing. not scaling fast enough makes you feel like a snail and scaling fast is hard to keep up with. we did a good job of taking it slow, a million is big but seven years is also longoooo. but that is still a challenge. it is very hard for me that i can't help every customer, talk to every designer, write every message to someone that messages us on social. i try, because that is part of our dna, but it's a challenge. the biggest thing we do is keep things in house. we don't outsource customer service, social, any of it. so everyone is part of the nearly newlywed team and brand full-time, [they] believe in it and are just as much a part of building it as i am. so even though, they aren't me or maybe weren't here from day 1, they are a part of the nearly newlywed team now and i think you can feel that when you interact with our brand and experience.
best advice to brides or funny bridezilla story?
if you find a dress you love, especially if you buy it, stop looking at dresses. amazingly and also frustratingly the world is full of incredible, amazing, gorgeous things and gowns. the architect of the idea that there is one dress and one look for every bride was a marketer, trying to close a sale. you will see something else that piques your interest and it will only upset your satisfaction with your current dress. that really goes for most things. look, be selective, and by all means, wear two dresses! three! five! but once you decide move away from inspiration boards and browsing to something else so you don't unnecessarily wage war on yourself with fomo which you just don't need.
you're a business owner and a mom...how f*ck do you do it?
ask me tomorrow? haha. honestly, women are incredible. all of them. every single one. we make time and space for things and fight battles that inspire me all the time. motherhood is just another facet to that and it has made me much more measured about my time and forced me to get better at saying no. and i suppose also more bold. not sure if it is because i am constantly tired? or because i want to set an example to my son and think, well shit, if i am not going to be the person i want and set out to be now, then when will i? that definitely helps curb the moments when i want to throw myself out a window.
i am also very thankful for some of the female founders and networks i have been a part of and many of which are for mothers or are mothers. heymamaco in particular is a great resource and connector for women that are mothers and in business.
now for our signature question... inspiration behind the name?
ah. well, we wanted a play on the idea of new vs used. newlywed was a term i always loved and thought it transcended just the wedding day idea because it speaks to the idea of fresh, fun, happy love. that honeymooning period (which we need to extend and keep reigniting rather than demarcate to the first year, but i digress) but the idea of a newlywed or someone on that path felt fun and light and lovely. and someone that was nearly there was on that journey to lifetime commitment and love. and then the play on nearly new was there, as we started with only used dresses that were 'nearly new' and we marketed to 'nearlyweds' and 'newlyweds' – also so many urls were taken, so we were like, ok it's a mouthful but we like it.
in other words, jackie is just your average new yorker who turned down the most famous investors in the world, has disrupted the bridal industry to grow to over 1 million brides per year, and simultaneously raised another baby....all while maintaining killer style, confidence + the sparkliest personality you will ever meet. jackie, thank you for being you!
*all product images, press images, and headshot images are property of jackie courtney + nearly newlywed.
**this is not a sponsored post. all obsessions are 100% real
something oops: bridal mistakes to avoid from the experts
being the bride
brittany lo
founder, beautini
"most brides think going last will make their look stay the most fresh, but the bride should really be one of the first clients. if things run behind, then the last people getting serviced are rushed. the bride should have her hair set in the morning and have services when it's calm before vendors arrive and then touch ups at the end."
jennifer brisman
founder, vow
"plan the wedding you can afford now, not the one you hope to be able to afford in 2 years. make hard decisions early on and it will pay off in the long run; few things are worse than investing time, money, resources + relationships into planning the big day, only to be left with years of much needed repair to your bank account + relationship."
kayla binford
blankbox bride, m. 2018
"don't number your guest tables; label them instead with things like countries you've visited, types of dogs, or sports teams. that way people won't feel like they're at the last table."
another pro tip: "don't let your dog anywhere near your wedding cake or he will eat the top tier. true story!"
april gift guide: the 'pop of color' gift box
whether you're celebrating easter or a far more devout holiday like national pretzel day (or if you're catherine, winston churchill day), gift baskets are out + gift boxes are in! speaking of in, the arrival of spring means color is making a comeback for everything but gabi's wardrobe, so we're giving you the pop of color life essentials to #fillintheblankbox that you didn't know you needed...until now.
'the luncher' by modern picnic
if bringing lunch to work more often isn't a 2019 goal of yours...did you even new years resolution, bro? if you're like us, you've been wanting to do this since your first day in the real world, but this vegan leather, insulated lunchbox that doubles as a chic bag actually makes us want to.
this image is the property of modern picnic
'the self-cleaning water bottle' by larq
are you a 27 year old young professional who nicknames her water bottle? okay good, us too! "larquie" cleans itself with a built in uv-c light system that kills bacteria with the push of a button. best part? add someone's name (or your own) with their personalization option!
this image is the property of larq
'the candy dish' by robyn blair
guilt free candy? we are here for that. pick your favorite treat, and robyn will turn it into the sweetest candy dish [pun 100% intended]. this art-meets-function piece is the perfect coffee table centerpiece or just something to stare at longingly as you forcibly swallow your kale.
this image is the property of byrobynblair
cracking open a new book is great, but have you ever cracked open a box of your favorite flavor + colorful sprinkles? if not, april 26th is national pretzel day...and we all know someone who celebrates every single made up national food holiday.
this image is the property of fatty sundays
the pop of color life essentials for blankbox ss19 #fillintheblankbox
female founder spotlight: cate luzio, founder & CEO of luminary
step aside, chrismukkah, everyone's favorite celebration is here: international women's month! we're so excited to celebrate all the inspirational, impactful women in our lives and couldn't think of a better way to do this than sitting down with a woman who created a place for other women to connect, create, and collaborate: cate luzio, founder & CEO of luminary.
fun fact: in under a year, cate went from leaving an executive-level banking position and decades long career in finance to creating, funding, curating, and opening the doors of the first female-focused collaboration hub; think less traditional co-working and more perfectly curated apartment filled with people you want to meet. palace is honestly a better word; if you've ever been in the space, you probably want to move in and may think we do in fact live there. they have wine on tap, why would we leave? check out the space here!
can you share the "aha!" moment that made you realize you wanted to pivot your career from finance into the 'next thing'? did you know at that time a workspace for women was what you wanted to do or did that come later?
I didn't have an "a-ha" moment when I decided to leave banking, but I did have a "what now" reflection point after a pivotal meeting with my [male] mentor. he encouraged me to try something else and then explained "what's the worst that can happen? you can always go back to banking." I couldn't get his comments out of my mind, and then I made the decision to give myself a chance to pivot.
the idea to create luminary was born two months later in march 2018. I realized that women needed a space in NYC to go to invest in their professional development (without sacrificing self-care), build community, and get work done. I created a business plan and it was full steam ahead to make it a reality; we opened our doors just eight months later in november 2018.
editor's note: gabi + catherine moved in shortly after with the 'side hustle' membership. cate cannot get rid of them.
was anything holding you back from creating this? how did you work through that process?
nothing held me back. I truly feel luminary fills a gap for professional women "in the middle" - those who are pivoting and entrepreneurs looking to advance, so I just went for it.
in my opinion, preparation and execution are critical. I spent most of my career building, fixing and rebuilding businesses. writing a business plan was my first step; once that was done, I held focus groups and discussions with different women who reinforced that a place like luminary was needed. building out a 15,000 square foot space in less than eight months meant a huge hustle and having the best team around me.
your tagline for luminary is 'come sit at our table'; can you talk to us about why this is important to luminary's mission and to you personally?
we've all felt intimidated at some point in our lives. whether it was walking into the cafeteria on the first day of school, looking for someone to sit with, to your first day of college orientation or your first job, those feelings of self-doubt trickle in. whether you're an extrovert or introvert, we've all had these feelings and I wanted to create a place that was welcoming, open and engaging. our "come sit at our table" mantra is important because we are inclusive not exclusive. we are a community of women across all ages, backgrounds, levels, and industries. our goal is to inspire and be inspired and build a diverse community.
you've built a great team at luminary; can you share some 'how to hire right' secrets?
building the right team around is you is so important. I look for people that want to work hard, that have passion for what they are "selling" and believe in our mission. this isn't just a job or a company, it's a family that's part of a bigger community. we rely on one another and succeed when we work together. I have always said you're only as good as your team. we win together, but we lose together too.
how would your team describe your leadership style?
my team would definitely say that I am direct and demanding, setting the bar high for myself and others; but I'm compassionate, open, energetic and mission-driven. I wouldn't say my hiring style has changed from banking to luminary, but I had to hire a team with completely different skill sets and backgrounds. when I look at the team we've built, I know we have something special.
you're a seasoned finance professional, but first time self-funded CEO; can you share a few things that expectedly, or unexpectedly, challenged you with this career change and how you navigated them?
self-funded or not, being a first-time entrepreneur is a roller coaster. the highs are super high, and the lows are super low; it's hard to navigate the challenges most of the time to be honest. as a self-funder, I focus on execution and acceleration of results to cash flow positive, so I need to be laser-focused on revenue and expenses. I think whether you self-fund, you raise or you leverage various loan options, it's still a ton of pressure, but that's also what makes the success matter that much more.
what has challenged me the most is that roller coaster and the lack of infrastructure that I relied on more than I realized working for a big bank. on the positive side, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of women, especially entrepreneurs, that have reached out to see how they can help. it's really inspiring but I still feel there needs to be a support group for female-founders. maybe I'll create one at luminary! want to join?
can you talk to us about your decision to self-fund vs. raise money? were there different funding avenues you explored or did you always know you wanted to self-fund?
frankly, I never really explored other options. I knew that if I wanted to open luminary in less than a year, I wouldn't be able to fundraise. It's a long process and as we are all aware, women get less than 2% of venture capital funding. I've been working with and supporting initiatives focused on gender equality for many years and I wanted to walk the walk and put my money where my mouth was. not everyone can self-fund, but I had saved a good amount from my banking days and wanted to invest in this company. I continue to look at funding options and leave the door open as the business grows.
what do you consider your best pinch-me moment?
the day we had our launch party, our furniture arrived at 8:30am (161 pieces of furniture, 3 weeks late from Asia and elevator out of commission). the entire team and then some pulled together, and we kicked off our launch party at 6pm. I couldn't believe we did it, but then again, I knew we would. that day I received flowers from someone special and the note said, "never a doubt." I think that was my pinch-me moment that we had done it – in less than 8 months.
is there a female founder you view as a mentor?
there have been so many, but I will say the co-founders of The Second Shift, Gina Hadley and Jenny Galluzzo. they have been incredible - the advice, support, introductions to other female founders and just "get it done" attitude. I also recently met Michelle Cordeiro Grant at LIVELY and we just clicked; the idea generation, brainstorming on how to collaborate and reciprocity around introductions has been fantastic. honestly, we have several female-founders that are luminary members and they all inspire me!
editor's note: check out our february issue if you missed our february spotlight on michelle cordeiro grant! and yes, thank you for asking, our pinch me moment is when worlds collide and founders we adore meet and click with each other - and invite us to sit at their table.
we ask every founder we meet this question, because it's always a good story! how did you come up with the name for luminary?
after dozens and dozens of names on poster board, I checked my LinkedIn and had a message from a former colleague whom I didn't know. he said that he hoped I was well and even though we had never met, he saw me as a luminary for so many. I actually googled it because I knew it meant light but when I read the definition: "a person who inspires others, a guiding light, a role model, an influencer, a leader, a legend, a heroine", I knew. I wanted to build a community of luminaries.
cate, thank you for being a luminary for us (and so many others) + for giving us a home away from home. we can't wait to see what the future holds for luminary [i.e. the roof deck coming in april] and for all females who get more sh*t done because of you.
*all product images, press images, and headshot images are property of cate luzio + luminary.
**this is not a sponsored post. all obsessions are 100% real
#bts with blankbox: a glimpse into the last six months
blankbox is officially six months old (!!!!!!) it's crazy to think that exactly six months and ten days ago, we decided to stop talking about blankbox to each other, anyone who would listen, and ourselves in the mirror and just DO IT. *patiently awaiting nike sponsor*
we get asked all the time "how is blankbox going?!" and according to our instagram insights people actually like to hear from us... so here goes. we've decided to honor this glorious anniversary by recapping the good and the not so good of our first six months in business. it's important to know that behind the instagram highlight reel, revenue goals and exciting things we share with all of you, there is an equal amount of blood (if you've ever wrestled with an industrial tape dispenser, you know), sweat (have you ever carried 5 boxes at once to the post office….times 5 trips?) and tears (usually fueled by sleep deprivation). but seeing you guys use and love blankbox makes every second worth it.
the good.
first things first, we actually did the damn thing. the first week of launching a business is basically a drug-less high. we took the week off from our day jobs and split our time between packing boxes + sprinting back and forth to the post office, and responding to the outpouring of texts, calls, emails, and carrier pigeons from people we love.
we joined the female founder collective, brainchild of rebecca minkoff & elisabeth leonard, which has introduced us to so many female founders-turned-friends + impactful contacts. special shout out to our amazing photographer diana davis (@dianadaviscreative), who manages to take the only pictures of us we can both agree on, and cate luzio, the inspirational founder of luminary, which also happens to be our new home away from home (side hustle membership for the win).
we launched the fill as part of our brand's mission to fill people's brains with meaningful content the same way our customers fill their boxes with meaningful gifts. we've been victims of the inbox overload and wanted to give people real stories, fun and inspiring features, and on brand product recommendations of things we actually use and love. naturally, we decided to bump the launch up a month...two days before sending it out....#entrepreneurlife.
we were featured on somethingnavy as part of brand director tara foley's wedding day seen here, and played a part in many other weddings for bridesmaid proposals, wedding welcomes, gifts to the parents, and more. second best feeling to the first week of launch is seeing blankboxes as part of our customers' special days and meaningful moments - it's surreal. we're not crying, you are.
we participated in the formerly's money talk series, a newly launched and female-founded personal finance platform, where we shared what it's like to launch a business and how we 'try' to keep our personal spending habits in check while bootstrapping blankbox. read here!
we were interviewed by swaay media, talking about bringing this new concept to market, starting a business with your best friend, and our advice to new(er) founders! we've recently started focusing on press coverage to grow our business: the highs of this are hearing the reaction to the blankbox concept (and designs!), talking to influential people who actually care about what we have to say (what?!), and waiting excitedly for the articles to come out (stay tuned for more where that came from!) the lows of this….see the not so good. but before you read on, check out the piece here!
we've learned skills we hadn't touched with a ten-foot pole in our finance careers: product development, production and quality control, social media, website building, digital marketing, and what customer acquisition channels work and don't work for us. we've also learned that everyone we talk to knows something we don't, and that a lot of these things we mention above can be learned simply by asking people around us.
if this was instagram, we'd just end there. but this is REAL LIFE, PEOPLE!
the not so good.
we pop'd up in three locations over the holidays: our thought was by popping up alongside gift-able companies, people would naturally gravitate towards chic, convenient packaging. while sales were less than inspiring - we're learned an incredibly valuable lesson... people who attend pop-ups want to touch and feel your product, so displaying your boxes like they're the newest exhibit at the MET is a not-so-good idea. our tower of boxes seemed to deter customers from picking up a blankbox and learning more about the product.
we realized can't afford a PR team or like, 1/10th of a PR team, which was pretty discouraging since this is an area of entrepreneurship we need the most help with. cue hours of cold emailing pitches to dozens of editors & publications, with a response rate lower than the legal alcohol limit.
we had our first post-office mishap where a customer never received her box (eeeek!) we knew it would happen at some point, but we still felt personally victimized by the USPS.
there's no leaving work at the door: with your own startup, there are no days off or clocking out at 5pm. the perks of this are that the business is basically your child and you don't necessarily want to leave it at the door; the cons, you will have dreams about boxes. a lot of them. on a more serious note, it can be exhausting to continuously create the mental space for it and continuously feel the pressure of 'I can always be doing more'. cue a lot of pep talks to ourselves and scheduling time to step back and have "me" time with the same importance we would assign anything else on our calendar.
march gift guide: the 'celebrate the women in your life' gift box
as if we needed another reason to celebrate women, march is women's history month and home to international women's day! naturally, we'll all be needing thoughtful gift ideas for the women in our lives - mothers, sisters, best friends, girlfriends, mentors, inspirations, you name it - okay, okay also ourselves. you've convinced us.
whoever the lucky recipients may be, here's a guide to curating the perfect gift to celebrate international women's day + all the women in your life. like our february gift guide, each of these products is created by a female founder so you can support women by supporting your women. as always, self-gifting encouraged.
'in the company of women' by grace bonney
catherine's sister gifted her this book for christmas and it's since become one of her favorite 'coffee table books with content you can actually read'. from media titans to tattoo artists, grace bonney's collection of interviews with 100 creative women will leave you inspired.
this image is the property of amazon
cuyana - black silk scoop tank
fun fact: cuyana's nyc store launch was the first event we attended after launching blankbox. karla + shilpa (the founders) were manning the cash register, so we bought a piece to introduce ourselves. little did we know we'd be resisting the urge to wear this simple but elegant staple....every day.
this image is the property of cuyana
AUrate new york - gold huggies
a touch of class, a touch of sass...and basically a hug for your earlobes. the gold is the highest quality; these are a recent purchase, but in over a year of stacking their rings, not one has a scratch or blemish. simple, stylish, and a hint of elegance will elevate even the old 'im pretending i just worked out' look.
this image is the property of AUrate
drunk elephant has completely changed my skin. to say i'm obsessed would be an understatement; if they gave $$$ for referrals we'd be jetsetting to bora bora and cruising around on our yacht. the line is pretty pricey (but so worth it), so the littles is the perfect way to try the products + get #drunkinlove.
this image is the property of drunk elephant
strong women. may we know them, may we be them, may we gift to them.
female founder spotlight: michelle cordeiro grant, founder & CEO of lively
can you think of a better spotlight for valentine's month than the female founder who reinvented the lingerie industry? we can't! we sat down with michelle cordeiro grant, founder & CEO of lively and creator of the 'leisuree' movement.
fun fact: michelle was the first person we ever gifted a blankbox to! she runs a multi-million dollar business, but in the female founder collective spirit, has still found time to be an incredible resource, mentor, and inspiration.
what inspired you to start lively? how has the brand evolved from the original idea?
It was while I was at Victoria's Secret that I realized that the $13 billion lingerie category in the U.S. alone was dominated by this one brand, with one POV. I was inspired to create a completely new experience for this category, one that was inspired by real life. The concept of LIVELY began around what I always thought was missing from the lingerie category: a brand that delivered on what it means to be sexy today—smart, healthy, active and confident. Today, LIVELY sets out to deliver on high style and ultimate comfort in one place so that women can live their lives 14 hours a day and not have to compromise. Looking back, it's amazing to see that every experience truly shaped the ethos and purpose of LIVELY and where I landed.
you don't have a co-founder. can you talk about how you managed all the responsibilities of starting and growing a company early on? what are the most important things to dedicate your time to as a new entrepreneur?
In the beginning when I was my own CEO and only employee with no company name, I started the journey by developing a vision board. Then I spent most of my time networking and making a list of things I was unfamiliar with like digital marketing, customer service and so on. The reason I did this was so that I could use the network that I took the time to build to support me in those key areas.
you pioneered the phrase "leisurée" - how is this important to your brand values? What do you feel are the strongest differentiators about your brand relative to its competitors?
With our mission in mind and our experience in hand, we knew we wanted to do things differently. We started by wiping the slate clean and taking our time pulling together elements of high style, function, femininity and comfort that we personally loved. We began by buying yoga pants and cutting the waistbands off and stapling them to bralettes because this is what we wanted to wear all day. The end product was so authentic in concept and design that we realized we created a whole new product category—one that blurs the lines of active, lingerie and swim called Leisurée.
what has been your most impactful learning moment for lively so far?
One of the most impactful learning moments for us has been really taking the time to listen to our customers, incorporate them in every facet of our brand and deliver them products that they ask for. An example of this is when we launched our Busty Bralettes, which sold out in less than 24 hours with over 3,000 people on our waitlist. Our DD and DDD girls asked us to make a bralette for them and not only did we deliver, but we involved them in the marketing and sharing of this launch.
how would your team describe your leadership style, and how has that impacted the growth of
your brand? any specific words you live by?
You're only good as your team. One of my first bosses gave me this advice that I'll never forget. I truly believe it's not what we can accomplish as individuals, but what we can do together. It's the entire team behind LIVELY that's striving off each other's strengths, talents, and passions that make this company a success. I strive to create an environment where my team is able to be curious, explore their passions and tackle new projects. It's the most rewarding feeling in the world when our projects come to life, especially knowing that we all accomplished these moments together.
talk to us about your decision to raise money. at what point did you know it was the right decision, and what are some of the questions & concerns we can expect from potential investors?
When I launched LIVELY in 2016, I was able to fund the brand with an angel round pre-launch to help bring LIVELY to life. I strategically took a different approach in that I purposefully took capital from our manufacturer versus going to a traditional VC or financial partners. The reason why I took this approach was that I wanted to build LIVELY on community and experience first therefore needed to have a solid quality product that could stand strong on its own and go beyond our customers' expectations. At the early stages, understand that investors are investing in the entrepreneur. They want to know and understand the your vision, they want to see the proof of concept or product and where it will fit in the market.
what does being a female founder mean to you? Is there a female founder in particular you look up to?
As a female founder, my goal when starting LIVELY has always been to give back to the female community both through LIVELY's mission and my own personal efforts. It's extremely important to me to be able to help women build confidence, lead and change their dreams into goals. LIVELY is all about inclusivity and with our ambassador program, which we now have +65,000 ambassadors around the country, we have been able to create a community of smart and strong women who share stories and do the things they love with one another. A female founder that I look up to is Diane von Furstenberg because she has been able to defy gender stereotypes and establish herself in the fashion industry without having to sacrifice her role as a mother. Her fearless attitude and understanding of what today's women need and want to have inspired me and my journey as a female entrepreneur in this industry.
we ask every founder we meet this question, because it's usually a fun story! how did you come up with the name lively?
I created a persona of who I thought the customer should be—her name was Liv. In my mind, Liv was adventurous, free-spirited, friendly and outgoing. She was the kind of girl who you'd want to be friends with and who would always have your back. As I thought about different words that shared and described Liv's personality, the word LIVELY came to mind. By definition, LIVELY means "full of life and energy, active and outgoing," which describes the persona I had been envisioning!
so...need we say more? a huge thank you to michelle for a great conversation, and for being an inspirational female founder changing the conversation in the lingerie industry! all product photos are shoppable but be warned ... your bra & undies drawer will never be the same.
*all product images, press images, and headshot images are property of michelle grant.
**this is not a sponsored post. all obsessions are 100% real.
valentine's day gift guide: the 'wine is my valentine' gift box
if you're like us, you've had many different types of valentine nights: candlelit dinners at tables dressed in white linens, cracking open a cookbook and cooking in pajamas with a long term partner, and last but certainly not least, stretching out on the couch alone in fuzzy socks binge watching romcoms clutching a bottle of wine for dear life (turns out large cheese pizzas were not just for kevin mcallister, right?)
how ever you're spending valentine's day this year, remember to participate in the tradition of completely forgetting a holiday's history and commercializing the sh*t out of it! in other words, valentine's day gifts are always necessary, whether it's for you, your lover, or your galentine. p.s. our gift guide is extra sweet because all gifts included are from female founded brands(!) p.p.s - self-gifting encouraged.
shhhowercap - the whim
what's better than valentine's day flowers? this floral, not-so-ordinary shower cap that lets you soak in the bath without frizzing your 'day two' hair.
otherland candle - rattan
sandalwood, amber and moss, oh my! these expertly designed candles will light up any room (oh, the old candle pun). its 55-hour burn time should last you through a long bath + some of ryan reynolds' greatest hits.
palermo body - soothing milk bath
like a bath bomb, but better. soak in a silky milk bath and moisturize dry skin with healing extracts made from oatmeal, honeysuckle and chamomile.
the perfect cross between going braless and not scaring the pizza delivery man: a bralette that you'll actually want to lounge in. no need for lace lingerie here.
last step: grab a good bottle of red and settle in. when wine is your valentine, you know it's gonna be a good night.


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Join the ninja aboard Wu's flying ship!
Construct Wu's huge ninja training base, Destiny's Bounty. This highly detailed THE LEGO® NINJAGO® MOVIE™ model consists of 3 modular levels and features a double-headed dragon figurehead, decorated sails, wind-up-and-release anchors, dojo area for ninja training, a bathroom and Wu's bedroom in the hull. This amazing model also includes hidden weapons including the ultimate weapon— the laser-style pointer, plus 7 minifigures with assorted weapons to bolster the exciting role-play possibilities.
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Welcome back to Sterling Homes site, this time I show some galleries about stylish bathrooms pictures. Some days ago, we try to collected galleries to give you inspiration, we hope you can inspired with these beautiful galleries. Hopefully useful. Perhaps the following data that we have add as well you need.
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Opt for a handle that runs all along the length of the door and gives an awe-inspiring sparkle that shall be very much according to the remainder of your kitchen. That may add something 'further' to the door thereby uplifting the overall look of your kitchen. Should you see that the look you are trying to present to your kitchen asks for installation of some additional tumbled marble or ceramic backsplash, you could opt for that. Those tattered, outdated dusty editions of books it's possible you'll by no means read once more might be donated or tossed. Aside from this, another issue that you may come throughout whereas looking the most effective interior design web sites, is a intelligent use of shade for kitchens. The most intriguing challenge that haunts an inside designer while organising the design of a fashionable kitchen is area management. Now, allow us to turn our consideration to your kitchen doorways.
Use these quick, simple and frugal decorating ideas to give that bookcase the design consideration it deserves. A secure way of choosing colors for kitchen interior design ideas is to go for a palette of neutral colors. It will really allow you to to mix the color of the cabinet with the remainder of the fittings in your kitchen. You'll discover numerous area-saving furnishings that are particularly deigned protecting in mind these fashionable apartments and in kitchens too, things are no different. Unlike the yester years, not a lot of the fashionable families stay in bungalows or family mansions which have all the space on the planet to utilize. Most importantly have enjoyable and get inventive with this residence interior design thought and soon your tropical oasis will await you! Paint your office furnishings white and add a tropical design for a fun and festive look. To make your bookcase a central attraction, paint the back of the e book case different colours in a uniform sample, or add wall paper so as to add dimension.
To make the room appear larger, paint the bookcase the same color as the wall. Use wicker baskets painted in bright colors equivalent to turquoise, orange or yellow, or paint shelves or partitions in tropical shades. You can even check with the colors of the stones on the floor or the wall tiles to design the cabinet and different furniture (if any) in your kitchen. And naturally the handle knob - this must be modern and contemporary that can be apt together with your kitchen. For that, you can take the assistance of the house interior design pictures that you will see online. This will certainly give your kitchen the much needed cohesion so that cabinets won't stand out as the "odd ones" any longer. Bamboo kitchen tables and bar stools are fairly fashionable. Fake palm timber are fun and festive and supply a small amount of additional lighting.
Generally, folks search for plain doors, especially for kitchens that are small. Painting your bookcase is a superb manner to provide it a contemporary new look, create a focal level, or even make a small room seem larger! Make it a design accent in any room. However, you may make a distinction again by being modern in your interior design ideas. The most recent development in house interior design is the usage of themes. A well-liked pattern in bathroom designs is the usage of glass bowl sinks. Yow will discover all the things from toothbrush holders to wall paper in a wide range of island designs. Cut out photos of objects you want and tape them to a chunk of paper or foam board. Use quite a lot of lush tropical plants and an aquarium or water fountain. It's a calming theme to be used in a bedroom and can simply be adapted for children or a nursery.
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News & Featured Projects
Kimberley visit gets tick of approval from businesses and Government agencies
The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation engaged with key stakeholders in the Kimberley region about Government policy around local procurement, training and engagement.
Local Jobs Bill one step closer after the inaugural consultation meeting with the energy sector
The first Energy Industry Consultation group was created from the LNG Jobs Taskforce.
Work starts on Reid Highway extension
The Reid Highway extension will reduce congestion in Perth's north-east.
Construction industry briefed on METRONET progress
More than 200 people from across the construction industry attended a briefing on current and future METRONET rail projects.
Meet Your Local Content Adviser:Gavin Ellis-Great Southern Content Adviser
We find out more about our Local Content Adviser- Gavin Ellis from the Great Southern.
Priority Start Policy - Maximising opportunities for WA apprentices and trainees
The McGowan Government has delivered on their election commitment to provide more employment and training opportunities for apprentices and trainees in Western Australia, with the launch of the new Priority Start policy.
State Government delivering on jobs and apprenticeships
Since the introduction of the WA Jobs Act in October 2018, almost 2,700 local WA jobs and 134 local apprenticeships have been created.
Minister For Jobs' first report to Parliament released
The first Minister for Jobs' Annual Report was tabled in Parliament by the Premier on 28 November 2018.
Suppliers' Guide is now available to download
The Guide provides information to help prospective suppliers of State Government contracts to understand and comply with the requirements of Western Australian Industry Participation Strategy (WAIPS) within the procurement cycle.
New Standard AS/NZS 5131 Round
The Australian Steel Institute is offering financial assistance of 75% of certification costs for the new Steelwork Fabrication and Erection Standard for Australia.


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Photographic collections are available for your inside or outside events. Choose your support according to the place and type of events.
Photographies on tight tarpaulins :
Photographs are printed on tarpaulins. Two rigid rulers located above and below the photograph guarantee a discreet hanging to the walls, cables or bars and the horizontal position of the artwork.
Besides the modern material, a white border around the photograph gives an aesthetic and modern style.
The name of the artwork is on this white border. It is also possible to print on both sides for an exhibition hung to cables.
These photographs can be rolled up easily in tubes so that their transport will be easier too.
HD Photographs on DVD :
Photographs are made for high definition on flat-faced screen and projectors. They are on endless display and are visible during 10 seconds each. The movie is written on different formats so that it could be read by DVD players, televisions, flat-faced screens and computers.
Photographs on display shelfs or stalls :
Photographs are printed on large self-carried panels that size more or less 2m-high. This system is easier as you don't need any hanging system to fix your artworks. These panels stand on the ground and can easily delimit your stall. When dismantled, they are not bulky and are easy to transport to your vehicule. Presentation or information texts can be added to your photograph. The graphic composition of the photographs and texts is guaranteed by the artist's care.
Photographs on laminated wood panels :
The photography is fixed on a 3mm base and is protected from dirt and wear and tear thanks to an anti-UV film. Different formats are available : 30x45, 40x60, or 50x75. An anti-reflections film gives a direct light on the picture.
The panel borders are beveled and teinted or framed. As no glass is used, there are no reclections and no risk of injuries. Booklets with some descriptions can be fixed under the photographies. The integrated anchorage of the photography is discreet and the element is well-hung to the wall.
Several themes are available .
For all events or photographic exhibitions, contact the artists. They will create together the exhibition according to the theme you chose.


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Quick Facts
- Current Prices:$270,000
- Closed Prices:$169,800 to $264,900
- Median Sale Price:$219,445
- Average $ per sq ft:$109
- Association Fee Ranges:$99 to $148/quarter
- Type:Single Family Home
- Age:2006 to 2007
- Sq. Ft.:1,678 to 3,531Sq. Ft.
- Bedrooms:3 to 6Bedrooms
- Bathrooms:2 to 4Bathrooms
Neighborhood Amenities
This community has numerous amenities available for residents to enjoy.
Homes for Sale
This neighborhood is perfect for those seeking single-family homes. The community's homes were mostly developed around 2006, but newer construction homes were built as recently as 2007. In general, homes in Ashley Pines are about $130,000 – $260,000 and sit on quarter-acre lots with four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The most common types of parking are 2-car garage and garage.
Disclaimer: School attendance zone boundaries are supplied by Maponics and are subject to change. Check with the applicable school district prior to making a decision based on these boundaries.


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by Ctuck 18 hours, 48 minutes ago
🙋♀ Hello there everyone. My name is Carolyn. In the year of 2005 I started on the family genealogy on my fathers side. Of course I had a turn of events which led to it, but I refuse to bore you with the details. On a warm 🌞 sunny day...
0 comments
by darianzam 2 days, 5 hours ago
Bereavement card with portrait, for the funeral of Frederick Charles Large, born Shoreditch on December 2, 1847, to William and Elizabeth Large, and died at Hutchinson Street, Nelson, New Zealand in 1925. He married Ann Elizabeth Mercer...
0 comments
by SlavinResearcher 6 days, 16 hours ago
I am looking for Slavins in Australia who are connected my Great Grandfather Francis Slavin. Francis' father was Edward Slavin and mother either Maria Callaghan or Bridgett Cahill. Francis stated on his marriage certificate to Elizabeth (Betsy)...
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by joeslevin 6 days, 19 hours ago
My Grandfather was Peter Slevin born in 1863 in Portarlington. He married Sarah Ryan, born in Co Carlow in 1871, in 1996 in Donnybrook church Dublin. My Great Grandfather was James Slevin who was dead by 1896. Peter had a brother called Thomas who...
0 comments
by darianzam 1 week ago
Yet again a large collection of photos from one family was being sold off last week on Trade Me. This one is from the Richards and Watkinsons, who intermarried, and along the way there are Taylors, Firths and Plucks involved. There are a number of...
0 comments
by cdc 1 week, 1 day ago
John Smith married Mary Ann Olive 1850 Geelong Victoria. Resided 1876 Picton NSW. Son Arthur Albert Smith was born 1876 Picton
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by janilye 1 week, 3 days ago
The office of special constable was created to enhance police strength at times of unrest and when the Police Force was in its infancy. In August 1789, Governor Arthur Phillip established a night-watch which came under civil control. It...
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by Manito 2 weeks, 2 days ago
He arrived at Santa Fe NM over the Santa Fe Trail in the middle to late 1820's In remained in Santa Fe hispanized his name became a citizen and married a Spanish woman Marcelina Roybal in 1832.
0 answers
I am looking for two things. First, I'm looking for the names of my great great grandfather, William Isaac "Bill" Streat (1889-1974) I know he was born somewhere in Indiana. He's the father of my great grandfather Bernard A. Street Sr (1925-presen
by poboyshrimp 2 weeks, 3 days ago
I am also looking for my grandfather, Sam Short's marriage records from the 70s, 80s, and 90s/00s in Jefferson, Missouri he married a Karen Sue Barber (1945-present) in the year of 68?69!?/70!? he married Sherry Bell (Street) (1953-present) in...
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Family of Joseph Cozby. My husbands grandfather who passed in July 3 1948 in Hamlin Texas have his parents and several generations back but would like any info on any of them names: John Joseph Cozby b. 10-29-1873 married addie alliance Childers 9-20-1903
by Kimcozby 2 weeks, 4 days ago
John Joseph Cozby cozby's parents david Baxter Cozby and Mary Louise warren. David Baxter patents - abner Cozby born 1812 in ashville buncombe North Carolina died 1864 in Wolfe mill hunt Texas and Mary brown born 1812 I. Cherokee county Georgia...
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by itellya 3 weeks, 1 day ago
I have written about Dr Weld before but I have no idea where and nobody would be able to find the information with a google search so I have decided to write a journal especially about him and his family. One of his descendants visited the Dromana...
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by Mynightowl13 3 weeks, 2 days ago
Hi, I am helping with a search of the Northe Family. I am an inlaw and I have found a Hugh Fredrick Northe, married to Eily Frances Northe (nee Lewis) from New Zealand, but both lived and died in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. I have a...
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by whymanblair 3 weeks, 2 days ago
I have information on everyone on my family trees but I've hit a wall with a great great grandmother. There is little to no information anywhere on her. Here's what I know so far; Born Ella May Graham, married Frederick Blair at Tingha, NSW in...
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Researching George Hunter, married Bridget Baker (1852-1876) from Northland NZ, Did he re-marry after Bridget died? Where was he from?
by julie75 3 weeks, 4 days ago
0 answers
by ngairedith 3 weeks, 4 days ago
Captains All LONG SEA SERVICE Trade with New Zealand FATHER, SON and GRANDSON * Captain William Renaut .. father of: * Captain Charles Henry Renaut (1838-1914) ... + Anne Jane Riches .. parents of: * Captain Charles Malcolm Renaut...
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looking for burial date and place of my grandfather - Victor Tennier-born 1868 port daniel - took place either in Gaspe, Que. or Toronto\Hamilton, Ont.
by shissie 3 weeks, 4 days ago
0 answers
by blowy 3 weeks, 6 days ago
0 answers
by ngairedith 4 weeks, 1 day ago
written for DrewMc who wrote on 2019-05-25 .. Pearl Challis was my great Aunt and lived in Lumsden, NZ. Her father William Aitken, we think remarried after his first wife died, in 1910. Her maiden name was Aitken, she was often called Pearlie....
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by Flacobell 1 month, 1 week ago
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Volume »
Writer, artist
Belgian comic artist. Creator of Gaston and Marsupilami.
Belgian writer, artist. Creator of the Smurfs.
Graphic novelist.
Tome (real name: Philippe Vandevelde) is a Belgian comic strip script writer mostly known for his work on the series Spirou and Fantasio, Le Petit Spirou and Soda.
Creator of Lucky Luke.
Janry (real name: Jean-Richard Geurts) is a Belgian comics artist mostly known for his work on the Spirou and Fantasio and Le Petit Spirou series.
He has worked as a penciller, inker and cover artist in "Soda". He collaborated with Janry in "Le petit Spirou".
Belgian writer and artist. Creator of Boule et Bill.
French Writer and artist, he was born in 1952.
Born in France and grew up in Argentina, Rene Goscinny is best know for creating Asterix and Lucky Luke.
American cartoonist famous for creating Dick Tracy. He wrote and drew Dick Tracy comic strips from 1931 to 1977.
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Artemis International
Shaun Micallef is wondering if The End really is nigh and how to physically and spiritually prepare for the Apocalypse. Heading to America he undergoes biblical combat training with Doomsday Preppers and explores the world of TV evangelism with Born Again Christian fundamentalists. On a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, he stands where Jesus is prophesied to return, before finally retreating to the Greek Island of Patmos where the Book of Revelation was scribed.
Find out more: artemisfilms.com/productions/shaun-micallefs-stairway-to-heaven