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BOSS Series Interview: Adriana Botti of Little Words Project on How to Grow Your Business + 15% off

Interview with Adriana Botti of Little Words Project. Use code LARA15 for 15% off any purchases on littlewordsproject.com

For most of us starting a business is scary, especially if you’re self funding. You have a great idea for a product, but bringing it to life is intimidating at best, especially if you have limited capital (say under $20k) and have the goal of expanding it into a real business. Adriana Botti started with even less that that, had no outside investment and succeeded to hit a $1 million in sales #goals year 4 of your business of starting Little Words Project. If you’re not familiar, Little Words Project is that super cute beaded bracelet brand that has positive messages on them. They are beyond uplifting and spread kindness and joy everywhere they are worn. You can also register them and wear and share them with your friends who need a little encouragement and track the journey of your bracelet from wrist to wrist. We sat down with the superstar to talk business, growth, pricing and advice!

  1. What verticals do you offer and what has been the most lucrative in growing your business?

We do everything from Facebook/Instagram sales to corporate gifting to college campus events and sponsorships for partner events. We have found that the most lucrative of them all is the collegiate ones because not only do they all buy upfront but continue to spread the word making it a really great marketing opportunity for us moving forward! 

2.Pricing. Many of us struggle with pricing. Should it be based on a perceived value or based on your Cost of Goods (COG)?

Here’s the thing- you want to do your best to price your product at a price that will serve your needs (make you a profit and keep you open for business) while at the same time matching perceived value- that’s how you know you’ve found the sweet spot price point. Every industry and company is different, but for us,

BOSS Series Interview: Stacy Igel of Boy Meets Girl

stacy igel of boy meets girlInterview of Stacy Igel of Boy Meets Girl. Photo Credit: @SophieElgort

I always try to recall how long I’ve known Stacy but between admiring her work and our run ins at events the line is blurred and all I can answer that with is… a while. She’s a true inspiration and someone who has more job titles than me, and somehow does it all and manages to always have a smile and not a hair out of place. I’m so proud to call her my friend and she’s the only person I know that uses Post-It’s the way I do, in bulk. To say I admire her is an understatement and so excited to have her for this weeks boss series. So here we go…

Tell us about yourself?

I am the Founder & Creative Director of BOY MEETS GIRL®, a young contemporary streetwear brand founded in 2001.  We have also been coined as “the original give-back athleisure brand.” I am a proud mom of son @dylanreidigel. In my sleep I write a lifestyle blog, Behind the Seams™ with Stacy Igel and also co-created and co-host the #MOMSGOTTHIS podcast which was recently featured in Forbes “Podcasts Created by Women You Need to Be Listening To Right Now!” And is up for the 2018 People’s Choice Podcast Awards. Charity and giving back has always been a big focus in everything I do. I have been a chair several years for the Young Survival Coalition ILP Gala:  https://fashionweekdaily.com/stacy-igel-young-survival-coalition and I am a brand ambassador for the NSCC’s BullyBust campaign. I am also a frequent lecturer & panelist on subjects such as social media, branding & entrepreneurship.

You do it all! How do you time manage? Are there any apps/tools you use to make your life easier?

Every day I am learning. I use my Outlook calendar, I use my BOY MEETS GIRL® notebooks for meeting notes, and I recently bought a BLOOM daily planner that I am mixing into all the above to keep me organized. I use my memopad a lot, as well as EverNote and Google Docs. I also can’t forget about Post-Its! They’re all over my desk.

What advice do you have for new entrepreneurs?

Be prepared to work like you’ve never worked before.

Being a talented designer is not enough. You need to learn how to be an effective marketer, networker, salesperson, service provider, writer, stylist, merchandiser and

BOSS SERIES: Talking Entrepreneurship with Maria Hatzistefanis AKA Mrs. Rodial of Rodial Skincare

Celebrating Maria Hatzistefanis on the launch of her new book, How to be an Overnight Success

I’m an old school Rodial fan, so much so that I checked the blog and saw I’ve been talking about the brand since 2013 thanks to one of my favorite retailers, SpaceNK, who always curates the best products, especially out of the UK where both brands originated! I had the pleasure of meeting their founder, Maria Hatzistefanis aka @mrsrodial when they launched makeup in the US in 2015! The throwback photo of us is worth the click for that blog post. Over the past few years, I’ve watched this brand explode and Maria take her Boss status next level. She’s the definition of a beauty boss, and earlier this year launched a book, How to be an Overnight Success.

We sat down with the bombshell at the Whitby hotel for the launch of their latest Diamond Concealers (they are creamy and magical with a thick wand ready to cover it all up) and Suede Lips intense matte lip colour (9 shades that manage to be creamy and matte at the same time), two new Dragon’s Blood products, the Cleansing Micellar Water with Hyaluronic Acid and Essence Mist and to talk all things being an entrepreneur.

Tell me about your new book

Maria: We launched it in the US in the beginning of the year, How to be an Overnight Success and the message of the book is you can be a success, it just won’t be overnight. It took me 18 years to be where I am today. And the book is all about inspiring and motivating people, entrepreneurs and freelancers to keep doing what they are doing and work hard and to not get disappointed if things don’t happen immediately. It takes time and it’s a positive message to keep going and keep on being the best you can be!

Bloomingdale’s celebrates Hugo Boss with Artists, Jeff Koons, Mia Moretti & Caitlin Moe

Check out my Jeff Koons original!

Last night, was a big day for Hugo Boss (and me)! As some of you saw the invite (I posted earlier this week), Sunham Home Fashions was celebrating the launch of the new BOSS Home bedding collection at Bloomingdale’s. Hosted on the 7th floor, guests had the opportunity to shop the collection and enjoy a musical performances by Mia Moretti & Caitlin Moe. I’ve seen those girls do their violin/DJ set probably 15 times in the past year and it never gets old! BOSS Home will be exclusive to Bloomingdale’s for the next 3 months, so go check them out!

I stopped by with Lorna from The Fabulous Report and we met up with the super fun Fashion Indie team to check out the collection; then headed down to the 3rd floor, where Hugo Boss continued the party with the launch of the new BOSS Black women’s shop. If upstairs was all about the jams, downstairs was all about art, with a special appearance by renowned artist, Jeff Koons! Apparently Koons is a big fan of the brand and to mark the new opening, he designed a limited edition shopping bag for Hugo Boss. And guess what? Jeff Koons drew me an original drawing (in front of me) on the bag! It was kind of the best ever!

Jeff Koons drawing me a pic!

I’m freaking out that I have a Jeff Koon’s original, complete with my name on it and his autograph! This bag is totally getting framed. Side note: Samantha, Editor-In-Chic of FashionIndie had this awesome Samsung Galaxy Note phone and was able to pimp out photo with comments after she took the shot (as seen above with her fancy penmanship)! Wish my iPhone could do that.

{HOME Collection}

{Mia Moretti & Caitlin Moe Performing}

{BOSS Black women’s shop (Bloomingdale’s 3rd floor)}

Epic evening.