1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:01,920 Speaker 1: This is Kelly Henderson and you are listening to the 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:05,680 Speaker 1: Velvet Edge podcast. My guest this week is fashion designer 3 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:08,840 Speaker 1: Rebecca Minkoff. I am so excited to bring her onto 4 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:13,160 Speaker 1: the Velvet Edge podcast. Rebecca Minkoff is a huge, wildly 5 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: successful global brand and now an industry leader in accessible 6 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: luxury handbags, accessories, footwear and apparel. Rebecca Minkov's playful and subtle, 7 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: edgy designs can be spotted around the world on young 8 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:31,880 Speaker 1: women and celebrities alike. Rebecca Minkoff herself has also started 9 00:00:31,920 --> 00:00:34,920 Speaker 1: a podcast called Superwomen that dives behind the scenes of 10 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:38,320 Speaker 1: amazing and successful women's lives and also their business and 11 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:41,839 Speaker 1: struggles or accomplishments within that business. I wanted to do 12 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: my own Superwoman podcast today with Rebecca, and so she 13 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: told me how she got her start, her first big break, 14 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 1: the hardest and best parts of owning your own business, 15 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: and more. Here's our conversation. Okay, So I have been 16 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 1: listening to your Superwoman podcast and loving it. By the way, 17 00:00:59,400 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: it's amazing. Um, I want to just talk to you 18 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 1: a lot more about that. I want to talk about 19 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 1: that actual podcast in more detail. But the podcast actually 20 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: ask women the question what are the secrets behind some 21 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: of the most successful women in the world, And then 22 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: the interviews dive into the behind the scenes of these 23 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 1: amazing women's lives and the businesses and the struggles, which 24 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: is the part I love before the accomplishments. So I 25 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: just kind of want to do a little superwoman talk 26 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: with you, if that's okay. But I mean, unless you're 27 00:01:27,400 --> 00:01:29,760 Speaker 1: living under a rock, you know that Rebecca Minkoff is 28 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 1: a huge, wildly successful global brand from everything you have, 29 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:39,000 Speaker 1: everything from apparel to handbags, footwear to jewelry too, tech accessories. 30 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: So I want some backstory. When did you know you 31 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: wanted to be a designer? I really didn't necessarily fully 32 00:01:46,680 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 1: know until, um, I had to make the decision. I'd say, 33 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: before when I was a senior in high school, what 34 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:54,080 Speaker 1: am I going to do with the rest of my life? 35 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: I mean, I'd love a love and passion for sewing 36 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 1: design and doing it since I was eight. Uh, But 37 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: but I truly had a moment where, you know, I 38 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: saw all my friends going off to college and that 39 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:09,640 Speaker 1: didn't seem right for me personally, and so what was 40 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: my journey going to be? And when I had an 41 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: opportunity to intern for a designer in New York. I 42 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: was like, well, I'm going to take this opportunity and 43 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: see if this is what I want to do, and 44 00:02:18,480 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 1: very quickly figured out it was what I wanted to do, 45 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 1: and uh, you know, moved to New York at eighteen 46 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,080 Speaker 1: and never left. How intimidating was it to move to 47 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: New York at eighteen? I just can't even process what 48 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:32,120 Speaker 1: that would feel like. Oh my gosh, it was. Not 49 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:34,520 Speaker 1: only wasn't intimidating, but when you grow up in a 50 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:38,639 Speaker 1: warm climate. I grew up in southern California and then uh, Florida. 51 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: You know. I remember very clearly my mom and I 52 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 1: went to go get me some cold weather clothes at 53 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 1: the local department store, and I thought I was gonna 54 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: be okay, but quickly found out that that was definitely 55 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: not not what was going to keep me warm. Um. 56 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: And then I was working for an office I refer 57 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: to them as old people. They were probably in their thirties. 58 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:04,880 Speaker 1: But um, you know, because a lot of a lot 59 00:03:04,919 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: of my peers were in college and had friends, and 60 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 1: so I had to sort of figure out New York 61 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 1: City and navigated on my own. Um, without having that 62 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: peer group. So I think that it was lonely for sure. Um, 63 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: but it forced me to just focus on work and 64 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: do what I could to soak up soak up the industry. Yeah. 65 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: Do you remember what you would call maybe your first 66 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: big break. Do you remember a moment that you sort 67 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:38,640 Speaker 1: of felt that shift? Yeah, so I had I've been 68 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: making and I've been working for this designer. At that 69 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: point in my life, it had been about three years 70 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: and I was making my own stuff on the side 71 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: and selling it to local boutiques. D I y was 72 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: really in then. Um. I don't think we'll ever enter 73 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: that period again. But um, it was cool to where 74 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: I caught up shirt and so I made I made 75 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 1: one that said I love New York and UM, and 76 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,320 Speaker 1: I was wearing it my sister in law wanted. When 77 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: she was wearing it, she was at dinner with a 78 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: well known actress at the time who was like, I 79 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:11,480 Speaker 1: want it, um, And I sent it to a pre 80 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 1: nine eleven and she wore post on eleven on Jay Leno. 81 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: So she said my name on national television, which had 82 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 1: a reach that doesn't exist today. Um. And I just 83 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,119 Speaker 1: started making those shirts. That's all I did. For about 84 00:04:23,160 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 1: eight months. That's awesome. So when you started the actual brand, 85 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:32,480 Speaker 1: was that I think, I'm What I'm trying to talk 86 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: about is, you know a lot of creatives and this 87 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 1: is something I've really struggled with. You have these big dreams, 88 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 1: right like, you think about all the things you want 89 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,520 Speaker 1: to do, and then it can get really overwhelming when 90 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 1: you start to do the legwork. So I love hearing 91 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: a big break story. But was it then after that 92 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: that a lot of the details and the legwork and 93 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:55,120 Speaker 1: the overwhelming aspects of starting a business. Did you ever 94 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 1: feel that or was that like an easy transition for 95 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: you as a creative? Oh? No, you feel it every day. 96 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,719 Speaker 1: I don't think it ever goes away. Um, there's always 97 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,280 Speaker 1: something to be overwhelmed about. There's always you know, a 98 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 1: fire happening, and so I think that in the beginning 99 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: I felt overwhelmed with all the nitty gritty that comes 100 00:05:14,360 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: with inadvertently, you know, I'll never forget the phone call 101 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 1: probably uh in October, right after Night eleven where my 102 00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: boss was like, Okay, go off and do your own thing. 103 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:28,279 Speaker 1: You're fired. You know what you're doing. I'm here if 104 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,680 Speaker 1: you need anything. And I was like but do I 105 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 1: know what I'm doing? I'm not so sure. Um, so 106 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: I think that you don't know necessarily what you don't know, 107 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: but you learn by making mistakes. And I definitely made 108 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: a ton of mistakes. And do you still you said 109 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: you feel that every day? Do you still feel that 110 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 1: at this point in your business? Yeah? I mean great example, Um, 111 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 1: you know, we received word yesterday that all the goods 112 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: that we're supposed to be shipped out to all of 113 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,560 Speaker 1: our stores, uh the beginning of December will now be 114 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,279 Speaker 1: shipping in January. And no one's gonna want those goods, 115 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: right So when every dollar right now is precious, how 116 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: do you suddenly pivot and go Okay, I guess you know, 117 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 1: what do we do now? So I think that that 118 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: stuff happens every day, and sometimes it happens where you 119 00:06:18,360 --> 00:06:20,159 Speaker 1: have the best day and the worst news in the 120 00:06:20,200 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: same day, and it's you know, it's getting used to that. Yeah, 121 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:27,000 Speaker 1: So what did your life look like before the brand 122 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,560 Speaker 1: was a big hit? Like, did you what was the 123 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:33,040 Speaker 1: day to day journey? What I mean, I know it 124 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: just can't be as glamorous as it probably seems to people. 125 00:06:36,200 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: So I want to know about that. Yeah, um, I 126 00:06:40,279 --> 00:06:43,640 Speaker 1: would say it, you know, not to I don't want 127 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: this to come across as Debbie Downer, but it never 128 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 1: is as glamorous. I think the glamorous part is you know, 129 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:55,280 Speaker 1: uh this. Um. So the day to day before I 130 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: really felt like, uh, there was a big hit, which 131 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,919 Speaker 1: was the bag. Was a lot of going to the 132 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:05,039 Speaker 1: garment district, buying fabric, buying thread, buying leather, visiting my 133 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:08,279 Speaker 1: pattern makers, picking up cut samples, taking them to my 134 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: sample maker, um, shipping things out, invoicing people hoping they 135 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 1: paid me. Uh, contacting new stores, contacting press. Um. You know. 136 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:21,920 Speaker 1: It was definitely like a lot of walking around, a 137 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:25,840 Speaker 1: lot of begging and pleading and and rubbing pennies together 138 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: to make stuff work. And so you're doing all of 139 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 1: the things you just listed. Oh yeah, yeah, I was 140 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:34,240 Speaker 1: doing it was me And then I got smart and 141 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: I had an intern who they worked out of my 142 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: apartment and so that that was helpful. Um, But sometimes 143 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: the interns didn't want to do the grunt work, and 144 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 1: so I would do it and I would say, all right, 145 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:47,360 Speaker 1: you make the pr list that we're going to send 146 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: to and all go pick up all the whatever. So, 147 00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 1: which was fine. Yeah, you know, it has to get done. 148 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 1: I guess I've learned. I've learned too that it's it's 149 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: very difficult to find anyone who's going to care about 150 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: your business in the same capacity that you do. So 151 00:08:02,920 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: sometimes that can mean, you know, the glamorous parts like 152 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 1: we're talking about, you're the face of the brand, You're 153 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:10,360 Speaker 1: all the things that people would maybe aspire to be. 154 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 1: But then what you just said, you're also going to 155 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: pick up bags and and slepping around and doing all 156 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: of the work that it actually takes to run a business. Yeah, 157 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,800 Speaker 1: and I think it's good for the person whose business 158 00:08:23,840 --> 00:08:26,640 Speaker 1: it is to be an example of willing to do that, 159 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: but also does it I think you know, so, I 160 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 1: think I meet a lot of young people these days 161 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: that don't want to get their hands dirty, and I'm like, 162 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:36,599 Speaker 1: you know, the only way you build this brand and 163 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,040 Speaker 1: know the intimate details of how to run a business 164 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:42,200 Speaker 1: is by that. That's a really good tip. What would 165 00:08:42,240 --> 00:08:45,440 Speaker 1: you say to someone um who asked what is the 166 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:49,240 Speaker 1: greatest part of owning a successful brand? I think for 167 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:53,480 Speaker 1: me it's the people, you know, especially women that I 168 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 1: get to meet and work with. Uh, the founders I 169 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 1: have access to, you know, they're they're the pinch me moments, right, 170 00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:06,360 Speaker 1: not not this year, but the moments where you you 171 00:09:06,440 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 1: can't believe, you know, you're in can France, you know, 172 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,719 Speaker 1: on a boat doing an event that you did with 173 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: thirty other women. That's celebrating women, you know, and beautiful 174 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: you know. So there's those glamorous moments that you're like, man, 175 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:23,080 Speaker 1: all that work, all that slepting paid off and ended 176 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: and culminated in something like that. Yes, So when you 177 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,320 Speaker 1: can actually see the fruits of your labor, what would 178 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: you say are the hardest parts about just running the 179 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:38,200 Speaker 1: business in general overall? So I really think that there 180 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: is a boat with holes in it seven and you 181 00:09:41,080 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 1: are trying to patch those holes as you're trying to 182 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: get the water out, and so, you know, the business 183 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,400 Speaker 1: is a juggling act, and I think it's sort of 184 00:09:50,559 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: you constantly have to remind yourself that that's normal because 185 00:09:55,559 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: everything we've been told, everything we see in magazines or whatever, 186 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,360 Speaker 1: or you know, when you I call it if I 187 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:05,960 Speaker 1: can swear on this contest, this podcast, I call it 188 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: the Big Dick contest, where you know, I'm in a 189 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 1: room with founders and mostly men do this offense, but 190 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,719 Speaker 1: it's like how great and perfect everything is, And I'm like, 191 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:18,920 Speaker 1: but how is that possible that it's only great and 192 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 1: perfect for you? But like there is a ship show 193 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: going on from my company and every other woman I've 194 00:10:24,160 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker 1: ever talked to. So I think it's constantly reminding yourself 195 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:29,360 Speaker 1: this normal, this part of it. We're gonna figure it out, 196 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:31,640 Speaker 1: you know. Yeah, And that actually just made me think 197 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:33,640 Speaker 1: about this year. We've referenced a couple of times and 198 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: how hard this year has been. But it's felt to 199 00:10:35,480 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 1: me exactly like that, which is just the second you 200 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 1: put out one fire and you start to be like, who, 201 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:43,079 Speaker 1: maybe we're getting a little freedom, it seems like something 202 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 1: else happens. So that is that's great personally for me 203 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: to hear in regards to a business, because I think 204 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,040 Speaker 1: you feel like you're failing when you're constantly having to 205 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:58,480 Speaker 1: put out some sort of fire. Yeah, it can feel 206 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: very lonely and sometimes that I say, I do my 207 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: podcast just for myself sometimes because to hear these other 208 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: women have struggled or encountered failure. You know, you're like, oh, 209 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:11,079 Speaker 1: I'm not alone, right right? What do you think if 210 00:11:11,120 --> 00:11:14,319 Speaker 1: you had to pinpoint one lesson that would be just 211 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 1: the greatest lesson that you've learned. Could you do that? 212 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:22,680 Speaker 1: And what would it be? Um, I don't know that 213 00:11:22,760 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 1: there's just one, but I think persistence. There's an invitation 214 00:11:28,160 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 1: at every turn to give up, and you can, whether 215 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:35,880 Speaker 1: it's in business, whether it's in breastfeeding, whether it's in 216 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:40,120 Speaker 1: whatever raising your kids, there's an invitation to like, all right, 217 00:11:40,160 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: I'm thrown in the towel. And I think that your 218 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:46,520 Speaker 1: persistence and your commitment to whatever is you believe in 219 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 1: has to be strong enough to withstand all those invitations. Well, 220 00:11:50,720 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: the next question was what's the secret to maintaining and 221 00:11:53,240 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 1: keeping a business going for so many years? So would 222 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 1: you say it's the same thing you just said? Um, 223 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: I think no. I think my answer would differ slightly 224 00:12:02,240 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 1: in that you know, I'm here because not just the 225 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:08,839 Speaker 1: work I do, but my team are partners that have 226 00:12:09,000 --> 00:12:12,319 Speaker 1: believed in us. And I think that sometimes business with 227 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:15,880 Speaker 1: other partners or other outside entities can be very transactional. 228 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:20,720 Speaker 1: But I think we've built a really personal relationship with 229 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,320 Speaker 1: many of our partners that, Um, they go, I don't 230 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:27,400 Speaker 1: know why I'm continuing to do X, but I love 231 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: you so I'm going to do it. And so some 232 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:33,319 Speaker 1: sometimes the leaps of faith they're taking don't make sense 233 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:37,319 Speaker 1: on our Excel spreadsheet, but they believe in me as 234 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: a person or my brother as my co founder, and 235 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:43,840 Speaker 1: so they keep things alive, uh, due to that. So 236 00:12:44,080 --> 00:12:47,680 Speaker 1: build your personal relationships. Don't just have business to be transactional. 237 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 1: You mentioned the Big Dick contest, and so I've thought 238 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: about just you as a brand and just a woman, 239 00:12:58,200 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: and especially when you were first starting. I'm gonna iagine 240 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 1: this is even worse. But do you feel like there's 241 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 1: anything you've based in business that maybe you wouldn't have 242 00:13:06,240 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: dealt with if you were a man? So, you know, 243 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:14,240 Speaker 1: as someone who is so vehemently trying to make sure 244 00:13:14,320 --> 00:13:17,840 Speaker 1: that women have equality and women don't don't encounter these 245 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:21,720 Speaker 1: horrible situations, I have the odd feeling that I felt 246 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:24,839 Speaker 1: like I've never experienced what I hear so many women 247 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:29,079 Speaker 1: talk about. UM, the only thing that I can say 248 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:32,160 Speaker 1: is some of the positions I've been in, let's just 249 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:35,120 Speaker 1: say a fundraising meeting. My brother was there with me 250 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,199 Speaker 1: because that it was his job to own that relationship 251 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: and that and that part of the conversation, UM and 252 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:46,359 Speaker 1: it was my lane to to head up marketing, PR, design, etcetera. 253 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: So would I have been treated differently if I was 254 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:53,440 Speaker 1: alone trying to manage the business. I will never know 255 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: the answer to that, um, because he's always been there 256 00:13:57,840 --> 00:14:00,199 Speaker 1: and that's just been part. That's your job and I 257 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:03,360 Speaker 1: have my job. So I have trouble answering that question 258 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 1: because it hasn't come up for me. Yeah that makes sense. Um. 259 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:11,839 Speaker 1: If you have to give a woman, just one woman 260 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 1: looking to start her business, one piece of advice, like 261 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:16,720 Speaker 1: in any field, she wants to start her business, what 262 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,600 Speaker 1: would you say. I would say, you need to make 263 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: sure that you are going to say more than one thing. Okay, great, 264 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:27,640 Speaker 1: give us all the tis please. I think that you 265 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:33,240 Speaker 1: need to say persistence in starting your business. I think, um, 266 00:14:33,360 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: we are all used to this idea of I I 267 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: Amazon Prime, Did I got my uber? And your success 268 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:42,920 Speaker 1: in your career? You can do that with You have 269 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: to put in the hard work, as unglamorous as it 270 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,720 Speaker 1: can be at times. UM. I think that you have 271 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:53,920 Speaker 1: to push out more more than you will expect in 272 00:14:54,080 --> 00:14:56,320 Speaker 1: So what I mean by that is early on I said, okay, 273 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:58,240 Speaker 1: I need to send out a hundred emails to get 274 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:02,120 Speaker 1: one reply. Or when I used to pass out postcards 275 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,880 Speaker 1: and Union square, you know, telling people to go to 276 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,440 Speaker 1: the boutique to buy my stuff so that I could 277 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:10,840 Speaker 1: get paid for it. I was like, all right, every 278 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,360 Speaker 1: three postcards I hand out equals one blouse sold, right, 279 00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 1: And so so you can't just say, well, I call 280 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: it two people and they both said no, So I 281 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: guess I'm a failure. Um. You know, I think I'm 282 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,360 Speaker 1: always conscious about how much can I outflow and and 283 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: ask and increase my reach because mathematically something will come in. Um. 284 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,080 Speaker 1: And then I think that you have to find product 285 00:15:35,080 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: market fit. A lot of people start their businesses with 286 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:40,760 Speaker 1: a passion UM, and they're so blinded by it that 287 00:15:40,880 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: they might not even see that no one wants it, 288 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:44,680 Speaker 1: no one needs it. So make sure that you have 289 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: traction and a desire and take feedback to week is needed. Um. 290 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,200 Speaker 1: And then last, but not least, I think there is 291 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:56,360 Speaker 1: a misnomer with women starting companies today that they have 292 00:15:56,480 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: to go raise a bunch of money and I and 293 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: I keep saying it happened a good old fashioned business, 294 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:05,400 Speaker 1: Like if you look at how American small businesses, you know, 295 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: in the last let's say, like take out the last 296 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: twenty years prior to this, we started a business. Maybe 297 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: you've got a small loan, then you made sure you 298 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 1: had a product that sold. You know, we don't all 299 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:18,200 Speaker 1: need to be unicorns. We don't all need to be 300 00:16:18,240 --> 00:16:21,080 Speaker 1: a tech company. And I think there's this false expectation 301 00:16:21,160 --> 00:16:23,360 Speaker 1: from women that sets us up to fail, like we 302 00:16:23,400 --> 00:16:26,480 Speaker 1: have to go raise a bazillion dollars, we have to grow, 303 00:16:27,160 --> 00:16:29,440 Speaker 1: you know, twenty a year. And I think, you know, 304 00:16:29,520 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: look at your product. Is it meant to do that? 305 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: Or are you meant to have like a great profitable 306 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,800 Speaker 1: company that that pays for your lifestyle. Ah, that is 307 00:16:37,840 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 1: a great tip. That is so true. I didn't even 308 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,800 Speaker 1: realize that mindset, but that is this so true about 309 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:45,560 Speaker 1: the money you think going into it. I do think 310 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: in that tech mentality because I think that's a lot 311 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: of the stories you hear about nowadays as being the 312 00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 1: huge successful businesses. Yeah, that's all you see on the 313 00:16:55,520 --> 00:16:58,200 Speaker 1: covers and they're like, oh, I raised a billion dollars, 314 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:00,160 Speaker 1: Well how much of your company do you know? No 315 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 1: one talks about that, right billion? And she owns point five. 316 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: There is a huge, hugely successful women co founders who 317 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 1: have a company, they've raised so much money they own 318 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: like half a percent of their Wow. Yeah, when you 319 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,239 Speaker 1: put it like that, I'm like, no, let's start at 320 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: scratch from scratch, right, Why do you want to turn 321 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 1: your business over? UM? Well, we've talked a little bit 322 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:29,600 Speaker 1: about the pandemic happening, but obviously this is not anything 323 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:32,359 Speaker 1: that anyone could have planned for. None of us had 324 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,679 Speaker 1: any ideas. So how have you guys fully? I mean, 325 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: I'm assuming you've felt it in some capacity, but how 326 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 1: has it affected your business as such an established brand? 327 00:17:42,200 --> 00:17:45,919 Speaker 1: And are you seeing a swing back of people, you know, 328 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: buying the way they used to or is it still 329 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: sort of in that like uncertainty place. I mean, our 330 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:59,000 Speaker 1: entire world was slipped upside down on UM. So we 331 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:03,720 Speaker 1: lost almost fifty of our business overnight with you know, 332 00:18:04,359 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: our wholesale business is closing, UM not able to take 333 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: in goods, not knowing when they would reopen, so not 334 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 1: ordering new goods. So we really had to pivot. Essentially, 335 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: we had a week to figure out how we get 336 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: to stay in business with the bills that we have, 337 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:24,760 Speaker 1: with that we have UM. It was the uh most 338 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 1: devastating time as an entrepreneur. I think for myself and 339 00:18:27,640 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: my brother, we had to let go members of our team, 340 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,360 Speaker 1: We had to furlough people. We all took pay cuts, 341 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:35,560 Speaker 1: you know, my brother and I took more pay cuts 342 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:38,439 Speaker 1: than anybody, so that it wouldn't hit some of the 343 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:45,200 Speaker 1: some of the lower salaried staff. And we had to say, Okay, 344 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: all we have is our site. What are we gonna do? Um? 345 00:18:48,200 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: And so it really became about all of us focusing 346 00:18:51,359 --> 00:18:54,400 Speaker 1: in on our site. But the beautiful part that came 347 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: from that is, for the first time, that's all all 348 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,960 Speaker 1: twenty of us were doing, and it's all we were 349 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: thinking and breathing and focusing on. And so we got 350 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 1: to know our consumer better, her habits, what she loves, 351 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,040 Speaker 1: what she doesn't. You know, I became more prolific on 352 00:19:08,080 --> 00:19:10,960 Speaker 1: social media, whether it was you know, I was the 353 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: content creator, right, so I shoot all the content for 354 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:19,200 Speaker 1: social for our top of funnel ads, for paid advertisements, UM. 355 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,440 Speaker 1: And I think our relationship got more connected, not only 356 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: with our consumer, but as a team. You know, it 357 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 1: was ironic that we're all working from home and we've 358 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 1: never been more in lockstep and more coordinated, and ironically 359 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:35,120 Speaker 1: our culture uh, more positive. So, um, all those learnings 360 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:37,119 Speaker 1: we want to take with us out of the pandemic. 361 00:19:37,400 --> 00:19:41,280 Speaker 1: But um, you know we're alive. Weren't business And I 362 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:44,560 Speaker 1: don't know where these amazing women are going with my bags, 363 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: but I'm so grateful that they are buying them. That 364 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: they might just be walking into the bathroom. But those 365 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:52,600 Speaker 1: bags are kete enough to do that. You know she 366 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:57,040 Speaker 1: is keeping the lights on with her Janine sweatshirts and uh, 367 00:19:57,080 --> 00:20:01,240 Speaker 1: you know all the bags she's getting, So I'm grateful. Well, 368 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,200 Speaker 1: let's talk about the Superwoman podcast. Um, Like I said, 369 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:07,240 Speaker 1: I've been listening and it's so great because you find 370 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,119 Speaker 1: these women who we all know their names, they're you know, 371 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:12,640 Speaker 1: really established. I loved the one with Katie Couric, who 372 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:16,320 Speaker 1: I think is a friend of yours. Um, she's so amazing, right, 373 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:20,240 Speaker 1: that conversation was so good. Jenna Elfman has been on there, 374 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 1: Jesse Alexander, who's actually a buddy of mine here in Nashville. Um, 375 00:20:24,040 --> 00:20:26,480 Speaker 1: but you have these women who we know their names 376 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:29,479 Speaker 1: from the success they've had, but they just you have 377 00:20:29,560 --> 00:20:32,840 Speaker 1: an open conversation about what their journeys have looked like, 378 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 1: which is what gets missed. So many times? So what 379 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:40,960 Speaker 1: inspired you to start this podcast? I think what inspired 380 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 1: me was the fashion community can be incredibly insular and cliquish, 381 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,720 Speaker 1: and I was really tired of seeing the same people 382 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:50,639 Speaker 1: and talking about the same things UM and wanted to 383 00:20:50,680 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: expand my personal network. So I began to host these 384 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 1: dinners UM where I was just inviting other other females, 385 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:01,199 Speaker 1: whether they were founders or entrepreneurs UM. And then I 386 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:02,919 Speaker 1: was like, Wow, I'm really lucky that I get to 387 00:21:02,960 --> 00:21:04,719 Speaker 1: do this. How do I how do I bring my 388 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:07,480 Speaker 1: customer along in this journey? So started hosting events in 389 00:21:07,560 --> 00:21:11,440 Speaker 1: my stores where I would interview these women okay, and 390 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: then felt like, okay, well that only we only can 391 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: fit seventy in the store before the fire Marshal likes 392 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:20,120 Speaker 1: to come, uh, come in and shut us down. So 393 00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:23,199 Speaker 1: how could I make this bigger? So, you know, I 394 00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: thought about how I could do this on a podcast 395 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:30,680 Speaker 1: UM and started at the end of and just feel 396 00:21:30,680 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: blessed that not only do I learn something from every 397 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,560 Speaker 1: woman I interview, but you know, I have a really 398 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:40,320 Speaker 1: loyal listenership that gets something from it too. Yeah. Well, 399 00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 1: I was just about to ask you, because when I 400 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: do interviews I'm always walking away with some lesson, you know. 401 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:47,399 Speaker 1: I mean, I've been taking notes on your business tips 402 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:50,119 Speaker 1: throughout this whole thing because it's just so it's something 403 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: I need myself. So do you find that when you're 404 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:59,600 Speaker 1: having these conversations you are taking lessons away yourself? Oh? 405 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:05,040 Speaker 1: For um? I mean from Sally Project, you know, saying, 406 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:07,399 Speaker 1: you know, if women talked about money the way they 407 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:09,960 Speaker 1: talk about sex, you know, how much further along would 408 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: we be on our on our adventures, um, in terms 409 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 1: of where we'd be with managing our own money, investing 410 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:21,960 Speaker 1: our own money, UM, asking for more? Yeah, So what 411 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:24,880 Speaker 1: would you say? What do you think the Superwoman podcast 412 00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 1: is teaching you about yourself? What is it teaching me 413 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 1: about myself that you can that you can take take 414 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:36,680 Speaker 1: uh to take solace and in the journey of not 415 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 1: knowing and discovering. Um, I think that, you know, when 416 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:42,919 Speaker 1: I did my first ten episodes, and if you go 417 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 1: back to the beginning, I sound like I'm reading questions 418 00:22:45,960 --> 00:22:48,320 Speaker 1: from a piece of paper because I was so nervous 419 00:22:48,600 --> 00:22:51,159 Speaker 1: I got reading questions from a piece of paper. But 420 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: my interviews got far more interesting when I did very 421 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:56,399 Speaker 1: little research, except obviously to know who I was doing 422 00:22:56,440 --> 00:22:59,320 Speaker 1: and at their back story. But then my interviews are 423 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:02,479 Speaker 1: are naturally curious, So you know if that sums it up, 424 00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:05,399 Speaker 1: like be curious and and you can learn. You can 425 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:07,679 Speaker 1: learn something from anyone, doesn't matter if they're in your 426 00:23:07,720 --> 00:23:10,439 Speaker 1: industry or not. Yes, I agree with that. Well. The 427 00:23:10,480 --> 00:23:13,399 Speaker 1: podcast it's called super Women with Rebecca Minkoff. You can 428 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,439 Speaker 1: find it wherever you listen to podcast obviously. The clothing 429 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:20,120 Speaker 1: website is Rebecca minkof dot com. You guys can shop apparel, 430 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,160 Speaker 1: the handbags which are my personal favorites, and everything else 431 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:27,360 Speaker 1: Rebecca Minkoff. Where else can people find you? So they 432 00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: can find me on Instagram at Rebecca Minkoff. Um is 433 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:35,919 Speaker 1: where I'm most accessible. I am on TikTok kicking, kicking 434 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:40,320 Speaker 1: and screaming TikTok, but yes, trying my best. What are 435 00:23:40,320 --> 00:23:43,440 Speaker 1: you doing on TikTok? Give us some examples? Oh god, 436 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:47,119 Speaker 1: it's so embarrassing. Um, have you done any advance videos yet? 437 00:23:47,600 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: I will never do a dance video. Fair enough, okay, okay, um, 438 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:58,120 Speaker 1: but I feel like I'm trying. I know that there's 439 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:00,680 Speaker 1: a new generation out there and I found an old lady, 440 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:05,639 Speaker 1: but I'm trying to connect and entertain them. Well, now 441 00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:09,680 Speaker 1: I'm definitely going to have to look that up. Um, Rebecca, 442 00:24:09,760 --> 00:24:11,120 Speaker 1: thank you so much for being here. I know you're 443 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:13,520 Speaker 1: so busy with the holidays and everything going on with you, 444 00:24:13,600 --> 00:24:15,879 Speaker 1: so I appreciate you being here and sharing your story 445 00:24:15,920 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 1: with us. Thank you for having me, Thank you guys 446 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:19,920 Speaker 1: for listening.