Flaire Lighting

Flaire Lighting is a luxury brand redefining the world of portable, battery operated lighting. The story began with our founders, husband and wife team Andrew and Claire, who saw an opportunity while searching for a battery-powered lamp for their charming 1920s home, which had limited outlets. Frustrated by the lack of unique, functional options, Claire immediately began sketching ideas for a new design. Her vision was simple: add a little FLAIR to every space, while creating the most durable and high quality lamp on the market at a price point one could justify for the quality. With experience as an interior designer in the hospitality industry, Claire has a deep understanding of the need for lighting that was both beautiful and practical. Having designed lighting for luxury hotels and restaurants, she knew that her lamp had to stand out by being stylish, functional, and exceptional. Moving away from the frustrating touchpad technology found in most battery lamps, she introduced the signature acrylic knob, combining on/off and dimming functionality in one elegant, intuitive design. After months of development and refinement, they  proudly launched their first style: THE ELIZA. Shop at https://flairelighting.com/

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

You're listening to the Preppy Podcast, and I'm your host, Patricia May Olson. I'll be interviewing the brands, businesses, and influencers who are keeping the modern preppy lifestyle alive. Each Tuesday, I'll bring you a new episode, but if you're craving more preppy, then shop the merch and listen to past episodes at thepreppy podcast.com and be sure to follow at the Preppy Podcast and me, Patricia underscore May underscore Olsen on Instagram. Which, if you know me, you know I love decorating my home. I love decor and pretty little details. Uh, and these cordless lamps have been very popular recently. So I really enjoyed our conversation on talking about that trend, like where these cordless lamps came from, um, and the rise in popularity, but really learning more about how she came up with this concept. Um, she has a background in interior design and then developed these lamps with such great detail. Just the feel of them, the weight of them is so nice. They have these beautiful acrylic balls on them, a gorgeous scalloped um shade, as well as my favorite feature is to turn them on and off. This very satisfying knob that you turn um and clicks into place, and you can fade it or turn it brighter. Um, just so much detail, and I think lighting has so many technical aspects, it's not just creating a garment. Um, there's like electronics, obviously, that are involved. So I really enjoyed asking her how it came from idea to actually this product, uh, which involves so much detail. But I know you guys are gonna love this episode, so I hope you enjoy the listen. But before we get into that, just a reminder that we launched Club Preppy last month and it has been so much fun. Basically, it's a monthly membership. You can go on the preppypodcast.com and sign up. With the membership, we do at least one virtual a month event per month. Um, right now, honestly, we've been doing two. Plus, you get an amazing little treat in the mail. Um, think of it as like exclusive branded merch. Last month, everyone got an amazing tote bag. Uh, this month I've been working on a really fun um product that I'm not gonna share here until it's out. Um, but it was just so fun. Just think like the preppy handbook um as sort of the inspiration. And you also get exclusive discounts uh to some of the brands that I have on this podcast or some of my favorite brands that I love to shop. And it's just a great community. You're part of a group chat where um people share their own preppy finds or just encourage and support each other. It's just so fun and a great way to be part of the community, especially between our camp preppies, uh, which stay tuned for more on that. I will be announcing dates very, very shortly. Um, I'm just finalizing the details for our camps for the rest of this year. All right, well, let's get into this week's episode. All right, so why don't you first let everyone know who you are, where you live, and what you do.

SPEAKER_00 3:37

Hi everyone. Okay, so my name is Claire Balch. I live in Atlanta, Georgia, and I started my lighting company about almost two years ago. Um, and it's called Flare Lighting. So here we are on this podcast now.

SPEAKER_02 3:55

Yes. Well, and I am so excited to get to chat with you today and learn all about how flare came to be in your background um and everything leading up to it because I can't remember how I initially stumbled across to you. I think it was Instagram, and I saw your lights, and I was like, these are gorgeous. I need to know more. Um, so we're gonna chat about all the things today. Awesome. Thank you. Of course. So let's start at the beginning. Tell me a little bit about you as a kid. Were you entrepreneurial? Were you creative? Were you like one of those kids that were constantly redecorating your bedroom and into design? Like what was your childhood like?

SPEAKER_00 4:32

Oh my gosh. Well, you kind of hit the nail on the head. So I was definitely a creative kid. My favorite show was HGTV. I literally loved interior design. Um, I loved art. I always was an artist first and foremost. So I um took art all through high school, college, everything. Um, and I also was entrepreneurial. So when I was younger, I used if there was a business opportunity, I've probably done it from babysitting to I used to make jewelry. I had an Etsy shop making jewelry, and I would sell at um like farmers markets, um, wherever I could. And I sold my artwork there. Um when I was in college, I had various side hustles. And then even um after college, I guess it was 2020 when I got laid off from my job during COVID, and I started an art business then, and I sold artwork. Um, so I've always done something and I've always loved it. My dad also has his own business, so I grew up watching him, and he was always so inspiring to me. And so, yeah, when I became when I had the idea for Flair, I just knew it was something I had to do it.

SPEAKER_02 5:58

So uh, so then it sounds like you were very involved with art and still today are quite the artists. So when you went to college, did you study art or where did you go and what did you end up studying?

SPEAKER_00 6:11

Yes. So when I went to college, I went actually, it's funny, I started out as a nursing major, so far opposite um from where I ended up, but I did that for a semester, and then I just really wasn't liking that. So I called my parents and I was at the University of Alabama, roll tide, and I said, I really don't want to do this. You know, should I switch to art major or should I switch? I wanted to do something more creative. And um I decided to do to switch to interior design, which was amazing. So I graduated with a degree, a bachelor's degree, focusing in on interior design, and that actually led me to was what led me to Atlanta, where I started my career in the commercial design world. So, yes, so I actually have designed different hotels, restaurants, um, things like that for the past, I guess it was like eight years. So I was very experienced in the hospitality world of interior design. Interesting.

SPEAKER_02 7:21

And I feel like that molds like it goes with art though, too, because it's very aesthetic and um very, you know, colors, what colors work together, um, you know, lines and and designs in that sense, and then makes total sense with uh flair. So tell me a little bit about then your career journey in the world of design.

SPEAKER_00 7:43

Yeah, so um part of that career, what part of being involved in that means designing spaces that require a lot of lighting levels. So we study, you know, the different levels of lighting and create that moody atmosphere in a space. You know, when you're going into a certain restaurant that you want to be romantic and moody, you're gonna have really low lighting levels. Versus if you have, you know, a bowl shop or like a sandwich shop, you're gonna have really bright levels. Um, so I for a long time worked with lighting designers. Um, we developed and designed lighting in-house. Um, and we, you know, I grew to really enjoy that aspect, but I never saw myself really focusing in on lighting directly. So that kind of happened, I guess, organically, just because um I had this idea, and actually I was seeing these portable lamps coming up everywhere in people's homes. We had been using them in restaurant design for years. So we put them on the little tables, and I started seeing people seeing people get them for their homes and use them outside. Um, I, you know, for parties, whatnot. And I really saw those and I thought, these are not cute, they're not what I would buy. And I had even talked to people who owned them, and they were like, oh, they just, you know, they die on me and you know, they break or whatever. And so that's when I had the idea when I was actually searching for the a product that I wanted to create something that was more beautiful, more durable, higher quality for the residential market. So we had been doing portable lighting in the commercial world for a while. Um, interesting. But it's just now kind of moving into the residential world, which is interesting. And so I just didn't see anything that I liked out there, and I wanted to create something different and really unique. And so that's kind of how my interior design background inspired this journey for flair. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 10:02

I love that. You know what? It's so funny. I never really thought about how it's been in the restaurant industry, these portable lights for so long. I wonder, do you know, like kind of what made the switch, like what switch? I'm not even trying to make a joke there. Um, what made the switch from people wanting them in their homes? Like, what do you think started that trend initially?

SPEAKER_00 10:26

Yeah, I think people started to see them, and there's definitely a huge need for them because you know, people are always wanting light where there's no outlet, and cords have always been an issue. Um, whether you're setting a lamp on a console table behind your sofa in the middle of the room, or you need it on an end table. We see a lot of nurseries where you just want it floating next to your rocking chair. So um, but I do think it originally was coming in for like outdoor dining. So a lot of people wanted them for their outdoor dining tables to accent, you know, at night if they're eating outside or whatever. Um, I think that's might have been where the crossover started, and then people started using them in all places. Um, and there's, you know, there's yeah, and there's definitely different ways to do the portable lamps. Um, there's different companies that do different things. Some people give you a rechargeable bulb, some people have like a rechargeable pad on the bottom that you sit it on. So there was when I when we started Flare, I first started researching and seeing how what's the best way that this functions for a residential application. I didn't really like the pads that you have to sit it on to charge. And I didn't like the rechargeable bulbs because you have to have two of them, you have to remember to charge them, things like that. And that's when we decided we wanted to do just like the standard USB-C port that's in the base of our lamp, um, okay, which comes with its own challenges. So we we had to work to develop that. We actually developed it, took about a year of product development just to get our lamp where we needed it. So when I say we've, you know, I've I started Flare two years ago, one whole year of that was probably developing the product.

SPEAKER_02 12:35

Yeah. Okay, that makes total sense. And you know what, hearing you talk about um, you know, people, a residential's homes wanting these portable lights makes sense. It kind of almost sounds like maybe it started then during COVID with outdoor dining, because people were trying to meet and they needed light though when it would get dark. So I'm thinking that maybe is even, and then people wanted to bring it into their house, like you're talking about. So tell me about then that manufacturing journey. Like how it took a year, you said. Was it just kind of taking up to Google using your contacts that you had from working in design? Um, like what did that journey look like? Because I can imagine, you know, I interview a lot of people who have clothing on here or jewelry, but I think something like a light, there's so much um like tech that goes into it and electricity, obviously, that that probably adds a whole nother level. It's not just aesthetics, right?

SPEAKER_00 13:32

Absolutely. So I first and foremost went to my contacts that I already had for these lighting manufacturers. So oftentimes when we would be designing a lighting fixture, you utilize the resources that you have within these factories. So they'll have their engineers on deck that they work with you. They are experts in lighting. The tricky part was not everyone is an expert in portable lighting and like the batteries that are in the lamps. So even though we went to I went to all my contacts, a lot of them said no, like we're not gonna venture into this area. We don't want to do this. Um, we're not gonna do portable lighting, it's just too hard. So, and with the sketch that I so basically I had my idea, I had my vision of what I wanted it to function like, how I wanted it to work. I had a sketch and I had as much information that I could put in into the product. When I took it to the engineers, a lot of them said, You can't do that, you have to have this, you have to have this, it has to be this size. So there was a lot of hurdles in getting just my design where I wanted it to be. Some of that um technical things were like you have to have a transformer that takes the power from the cord, steps it down in order to power your batteries. Um but your light, your cord has to have a lot of power to get the batteries to turn on. So we had to engineer that. Um, the biggest challenge was I wanted this acrylic knob at the top of the lamp, and I wanted it to be a full rotary dimmer. So much like the little acrylic finials you see on lamps, I wanted it actually to twist and function as the dimmer. And um, so there's a dimming component, and then also the fact that the on-off is located above the light source creates a turky like direction of power because the power is coming in at the base, and then it has to go the to the top where the knob is, and then it lights your LEB panels within, and then of course you have your batteries so that are being recharged. So there's a lot happening in the lamp that we had to really work with engineers to get right and to get to function uh properly, and also we wanted to come out and be the longest lasting on the market that we could possibly be and do. So we wanted to, I think there's there is three batteries in the lamp that um hold the power. So we are cramming a lot into the shade and the head of the lamp, a lot of technical things. It's all housed like up here, where there's different um different portable lamps. They do different, like I talked about some have a rechargeable bulb or things like that. Yeah, so there's ways to do it, but this I thought would be the most functional for the end user. So that's really where we worked with the engineers. We did multiple prototypes and lived with them in our own home and made sure it was super functional. Um and oh my gosh.

SPEAKER_02 17:08

I mean, I feel like I'm in a science class. I'm learning so much. And um, it's so fascinating. But it all makes sense when you're talking about it, about you know, where the power is coming from, where the light sources, like they're just things you don't think of as a consumer, but it's all what makes this so aesthetically pleasing to look at as well. Like I love the turning dimming feature at the top, it's beautiful and it functions so well. Um, so it took you an hour then kind, or an hour, a year to develop this um from idea to getting it ready to go out on market. Um, then how did you narrow down on like beyond the functionality of it, but the aesthetics? Like I see a little scalloped lampshade on it. It has this beautiful acrylic ball base. Um, what were sort of the thought process and more of the aesthetics behind it?

SPEAKER_00 18:03

Yeah, so when I first sketched the lamp, I actually sketched probably four styles of a product. And this was the first sketch that I had done. And a lot determined which one I was gonna go with. So part of that was engineering. Some of the lamps I sketched were will never be possible to even create in this manner. So we narrowed it down that way. And then also I really wanted um, I loved the acrylic component at the bottom. I think it reflects the surroundings of wherever it is beautifully. So even if it's, you know, wherever it is, if it's on a tablescape with tons of flowers or candles, even, it's bouncing all of this gorgeous light around. You're seeing pattern and color through it, and it really helps it to work within any space and any style. And then as far as the shade and the um scallop, I wanted to just bring in a little bit of flair, a little bit of fun into the lamp. And that's partly where the name came from is um flair. Like we really want it to have something fun and exciting to it and be a statement piece, but also still be timeless and classic. So we've really a lot of the feedback we get is it works in a very traditional environment. It can work with fine china. We sell it in a lot of high-end um fine china stores and things like that, or it can, you know, work on your mahjong table, it can work in a nursery. There's so many outlets where it can work, and it truly looks beautiful with so many styles, um, which is what I wanted to wear first.

SPEAKER_02 19:55

Yeah, definitely, and I know it comes in a few different colors as well. So, how'd you pick what colors to do?

SPEAKER_00 20:02

Yeah, so we started out with what I think is like the most universal color. We actually only launched with one color, and it was our Celadon, which is a bluish green, very soft, and it's a little bit of a neutral in that it works with so many of people's homes and interiors. I just love green. Um, and so we launched with that. Once we had success with our first launch, we knew we wanted to go and do five colors. And I actually took swatches to local stores um of the colors I was thinking. So the pink, the blues, we I knew we wanted to do a cream, and those were the first, yeah, the pink, the blue, and the cream and the green were the first colors I wanted to do. And we took swatches literally into some of these stores, matched them with different fine china, like we wanted it to match with Jinori and Heron pieces, and like we wanted it to fit in in the market we were trying to sell it in. So we weren't gonna come out with a color that just was really far off. Um, and so once we got those colors finalized, we decided we wanted to add the chocolate brown. And that was really like we had to take a leap with that one because I guess with the factory too, and if you understand merchandising and product product um development, all of the colors that we were going to make, they had large minimum order quantities. So we couldn't just come in and test a color. Each color had to be, you know, we had to think, okay, this is really gonna sell, this is gonna work, because we're putting a lot of money up front to get the product.

unknown 21:59

Um

SPEAKER_00 22:00

So the next color was chocolate brown, and we were coming into fall, and I was like, I really think chocolate brown is gonna be big, and a lot of people, like even my husband, who's also my business partner in this, he was hesitant, and I had to convince a lot of people for the chocolate brown, and it turns out it was our biggest seller, especially last fall. So um the colors were so important to me to get right, and all of them have been like huge hits. I knew we wanted to do the pink and the blue, especially. I love pink, it to me is a neutral. Um I do too, clearly. But they are huge, um they sell really well for nurseries, and I knew we wanted to do the pink and the blue for that. So um that was one of the reasons we picked those. And then, of course, blue is like another color that I just love.

SPEAKER_02 22:58

And yes, um, yeah. So I love the story behind the colors, and I think that's so smart that you sort of did your market research of, like you said, where the stores and what you wanted your product to be paired with is so smart. And I don't think enough people think about that or do that. So that's a great tip right there that you just shared. Um, so then in terms of launching, I know you said you first launched with just the one color, um, that greenish blue, Celadon. Um, what did launch look like for you? Like creating a website, obviously, creating social media, maybe like building out social media. Like, how did you go from product to putting it out in the world?

SPEAKER_00 23:41

Yeah, so while we were developing the product for that year, I still didn't have a name and I didn't have branding or anything that designed or developed or a website. So as we were getting the product correct, I knew in my head I had this vision of what I wanted it to look like and be, but I couldn't put my finger on it yet. Um, and it's so hard to visualize something that like doesn't exist yet. And now I'm like, oh yeah, it's this is it. Um but we I I did work with a couple different like logo developers and things, um, which all turned out horribly. So it was so funny. Yeah, I ended up once the name came to me, which I'll go really quick into the name, it's a combination of the word flare, like a flare of light, and then something that has flair or pizzazz or excitement. So yes, style, yes. Those two words combined as fla I R E, and that's where flare lighting came from. Um, and so eventually after working with a few logo designers, I just sat down and I was like, I have to do this myself. Um I designed the logo and um created it, got the colors, and then set up our first website on Wix. We were first on Wix and I designed the website and built it myself. Um, so we launched on that. So it was a lot of work. Um and then at for our second launch, when we actually launched all of the colors, we did end up switching to Shopify, and we did have a website designer come in and help me with that. So that was like one of the first people I hired to help me.

SPEAKER_02 25:37

Well, I love the name. I think that's so smart. Um, it makes total sense when you explain it. Um now I'm curious then, you know, how it sounds like you've been selling wholesale to a lot of boutiques then. Um was that always part of the plan? Like, did you have the margins built for wholesale? And then have you gone to any of the markets, you know, whether it's high point or you know, America's Mart at Atlanta to show, or have you just kind of done that organically?

SPEAKER_00 26:07

Yeah, so when we started, we did not, we were actually thinking we would do more direct to consumer. And what we realized was with our product, people really need to touch, feel it, see it in person to see the quality and see um just like you almost have to do it, like turn the knob and feel how nice it is. And so we actually went first to two stores, one in Atlanta and one in Charlotte with our product, and talked to them, brought it in and asked if they would want to sell it, thinking they would never like agree to sell our product. Yeah. Um, and both of them absolutely loved it and immediately wanted to sell it. As far as margins and wholesale, we were honestly so unfamiliar with that world. Um, so we had to do a lot of research and upfront, but we did have the margins built in for that.

SPEAKER_02 27:08

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 27:09

Um, but we had no idea about minimum order quantities or lead times or terms. So that was a huge learning curve. But um, after we got in those first two stores and they both sold out and wanted to make a reorder, we thought, okay, I think wholesale is gonna be a great avenue for us, but we'll keep our direct to consumer open um on our website. So flash forward, we actually met with a showroom that is in the America's Mart. They make lamps shades, and they make shades for a lot of the portable lamps that are on the market that are um you've probably seen them, like it's the Pauldina, or you can get them on Amazon, like the simple lamp. So she and I partnered and she designed and developed some shades that specifically fit our lamp.

SPEAKER_02 28:12

Oh, cool.

SPEAKER_00 28:13

And she offered for us to be to show in her showroom at America Smart. And so we got to be in a permanent showroom and showcase our lamps there, which was incredible and the best opportunity. Um, and so that's where we got a lot of new wholesale stores, and we got to experience that. And so that was this past January. So we're still um we're still so new, and we're gonna do more shows and do all of that, but it was huge for us to see like, okay, these stores actually want to sell the lamb, and um, we have customers and we have stores, you know, already making reorders from their first order that sold out. So it's exciting to see all of the growth that's happened in the last year.

SPEAKER_02 29:05

So yes, yeah. So then um, kind of going off of that, are do you have like a trade program then too? Do you work with a lot of interior designers? I'd assume.

SPEAKER_00 29:16

Yeah, so we do a trade program. They just have to reach out um via email or through our website, and we'll do a trade discount for them. And um yeah, and I I'm excited. We also have a couple event planners who are using our lamp, so that's another avenue that we didn't think of at first, but they like weddings, I'm sure. Yeah, weddings. And so um, we did go to our first wedding where the lamps were used on the bars and things, and that was so exciting to see and like see how they styled it um in person. So, but we'll have more coming up this next year once some of these rental companies start having their events with them. So that's that was so exciting.

SPEAKER_02 30:06

Yeah, I didn't even think about that, but that makes total sense once you say it. Yeah, yeah. Uh, I'm curious, what is the worst part or the least favorite part of yours about owning this business, about running this business? And then on the flip side, like what's the best part? What's your favorite part?

SPEAKER_00 30:23

The worst part is definitely shipping and logistics. Yeah. So with our product, it takes probably, I think our lead time with our factory is about three months to produce the product, so it's really a longer production time, and then we are sending everything over by um freight, like over the seas, and that has given us so many challenges you cannot even imagine. So with between LCL and customs and to all of that, I don't I hate dealing with that.

SPEAKER_02 31:08

It sounds like a nightmare.

SPEAKER_00 31:10

Yeah, and it's there are large boxes, it's heavy, so it's expensive, and um it's always slower than you think it is. Like there's always an issue. It's like there's never it's never smooth. Um, so we've dealt with a lot there. We've even had to air freight like 50 lamps that we just had to get them here in time, and which is so expensive, yeah. So it's been a nightmare with shipping, but um, we've hopefully got that all under control, and then we're also like with our wholesale stores and things, we are being very lenient on timing. Like we are telling them way longer, and then hopefully they'll get it sooner. But yeah, it's just we don't want to overpromise when the when there's so much out of our control with shipping, so that's the least favorite. Um my most favorite is definitely just seeing the and hearing the feedback from customers and clients is so exciting and rewarding. Like we have people share the nicest reviews, the nicest things. I actually had someone send me, um, there was like a Facebook group, I think it's called it's something with mahjong, but someone posted the lamp on their mahjong table. And this woman who commented probably wrote a paragraph about our lamps and how amazing they were. And she was talking about, oh, they're a little bit more pricey than other lamps, but you are gonna get the best quality and they're so worth it, and saying how she uses it every day. And I was like, oh my gosh, that's the nicest, that's exactly what we wanted. So it's amazing to hear that, and um, hear from even wholesalers or like the retail stores how what customers are saying, and um people have DM'd us on Instagram, and hearing all the positive feedback is like it still shocks me because I'm like, I I saw this and this is what I wanted, but now it's actually like coming to fruition and happening, and my customers are happy and excited. So that they're the most important thing.

SPEAKER_02 33:33

Yes, it keeps you going and motivates you, right? Yeah, absolutely. So speaking of customers, then who would be a dream customer for you? If you could pick anyone, like you know, a famous interior designer, a celebrity, um, a royal, an influencer, like who would be a dream to have one of your large?

SPEAKER_00 33:53

So I have two. So one of them, one would be um a store, like an online store. Yeah, and it's um over the moon. Yes. They, I love all the things they sell, and I want to be on their bridal registry list. So that's one that would be like a wholesale customer that I would love to land. And then um for just like a person or a celebrity, um, I'd have to say Taylor Swift because she's my favorite.

SPEAKER_02 34:30

No, that would be great. I mean, I could see her using it to read her books. I know she's a big reader. I feel like she probably plays Mahjong too, like especially being friends with Blake Lively, or who knows if they're still friends. Um, I could see her using it, or I think people say that she needle points maybe or does some kind of embroidery and stitching.

SPEAKER_00 34:50

So she's that's exactly what it's for. Like, I love that you said that because truly, like, I use it. I want to sit down, write my thank you cards, I turn my lamp on. Like I want to sit, read my book. And the best part is you can like really customize the light level, and it just it's so perfect to have. Like, I actually cannot live without it, and I'm not just saying that because I'm a owner, but just in our home, like we bring it around into all the rooms constantly. We're like, where's the flare? We need to get though. I am always needing it for something.

SPEAKER_02 35:29

So well, it was funny when you were talking and you brought up that people really need to see it in person. Like, even just being on this video call with you and you using it, and like that's it's like a satisfying click when you're turning it on and off. And I'm like, I bet that feels amazing to use, actually.

SPEAKER_00 35:48

And truly, that is our most important um feature. Oh yeah. If someone's watching, but we've had um during the product development and even our first launch batch of lamps, some of the knobs came like super tight and it just wasn't functioning properly. Um, and it would some of them made like a squeaky noise or something, and we could not like we were like, we will not sell any of those because that's the most important part of our brand. Um, is the knob and the functionality of that. So we had to go back to our factory and say, like, any that's the biggest when you're doing quality control, that's the main feature. So um we pride, you know, we put a lot of pride into that and making it really perfect.

SPEAKER_02 36:44

Definitely. No, I feel like I need one behind here, it would be pretty. Oh my gosh! It was um, so since this is the preppy podcast, you know, I'm gonna ask you what does preppy mean to you? How would you describe preppy?

SPEAKER_00 36:58

I describe preppy as being like utterly timeless, so never going out of style, um, and but also a little bit fun and colorful. So timeless with a twist.

SPEAKER_02 37:13

Yes. And I feel like your lamps do just that. They're timeless, they're colorful, they're classic. Um, so I think that's a great preppy product here. What are some of your other favorite brands or businesses that you like to pair with your lights? Um, or kind of want to give a shout out to. Are there like three, two or three maybe?

SPEAKER_00 37:35

Okay, yes. So let me think. So one of my favorite brands is Pastel Proper. They are a group of two women who own the brand, and they create these beautiful um books that you can display and also trays for your coffee table, and they make the perfect spot to put your lamp on it, or um, create a little vignette with the tray, the lamp, and the book. And um, so I love them. I'm trying to think. There's so many other brands that I love. I love Tarte by Taylor, she does acrylic. Um actually have her match. Yeah, I love um, she obviously loves acrylic, and I love acrylic. So we both have that kind of decor feature. Um and I love pairing the lamp with like an acrylic frame or acrylic matchbox. Um what else? I mean, those are two great answers. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. There's I have like so many brands that I admire. And when I've like when I first started thinking about what this brand would be, I actually went on and like looked at all my favorite brands and saw what are they doing, what are their colors, like and what are you know what's unique about them that I can look at and what works? Um, who are their following? Like I wanted to be right there with them. So, and there's so many amazing women out there who inspire me, and like I'm just like, wow, these if these people do it, then I could do it. So that's how I really took the leap to do it.

SPEAKER_02 39:29

I love that. That's you know, part of the reason I do this podcast is I love hearing other entrepreneurs' stories and it just motivates motivates me as an entrepreneur too, and I know others. So um I think that's smart looking at the people that you admire. I'm curious, do you still do art or like has you kind of flair taken over, or do you just like for fun do your art on the side or anything?

SPEAKER_00 39:51

For now, flair has definitely taken over. I also am a new mom. I have nine, no, 10-month-old now, and she takes all my time. My mom always jokes, she's like, You have two babies, your real baby and flair baby. Um because they both take a lot of time and a lot of work and a lot of energy. So I will come back to art when I'm ready. Um right now, all my creativity goes into the business and working on now, social media is like the most full-time thing. So um working on that always. And um, I have ideas for art that I want to do, but they just have to be put aside for now.

SPEAKER_02 40:43

Yeah, that makes total sense. Um, any sneak peeks you can tell listeners, like I obviously you mentioned that we'll see flair at a lot more events coming up, likely, um, stores around the country, but anything else you want to plug or share a little sneak peek of?

SPEAKER_00 41:00

Yes. Um in, or I guess at the January market, we did launch for wholesale only um fabric pleated and woven shades that you can slide over the top of your lamp, and you can completely change the look of it in your house. So you could, you know, have it a chocolate brown shade with little florals on your chocolate brown lamp, and it just completely softens the look and creates a new look. Um, we had we have like a seagrass shade that is like a natural woven, and you can slide it onto the cream, and it's almost like this beachy textured look. Um and so it completely changes the look of the lamp. So we worked on those probably for the past six months with um Mason Mason Design, who creates the beautiful shades and developing them. And those are launching in mid-March. So yes, follow along, gotta follow our Instagram to stay tuned and see um how those are launching to the public, but you'll be able to purchase those. And they were super successful at um markets. So we're excited to bring them to the public.

SPEAKER_02 42:22

Oh my gosh, amazing! I can't wait to see those. Now, final question is where can people find you? Where can they shop your products? Let them know your website URL, your social media handles, and anywhere else they can find you.

SPEAKER_00 42:35

Yeah, so on our website, it's www.flair flare lighting.com. Um, that you can purchase directly through us. We also do have a feature on our website that you can do find us and it'll show some of the stores we're located in. So you can find a store near you. And um our Instagram is also at flare lighting, so super simple. And um recently, too, we'll be on Mason Mason on their website so that you can purchase their shades with our lamp there as well. Um, so those are that's where we're at.

SPEAKER_02 43:21

Excellent. Oh my gosh. Well, Claire, I really enjoyed learning more about you and your business today. Um, so thank you so much for being on the Preppy Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 43:30

Thank you so much, Patricia. It was so fun.

SPEAKER_02 43:35

Thank you so much for listening to the Preppy Podcast. I hope this put a little prep in your step for the day. Please subscribe, rate, and review on wherever you listen to your podcast. And follow along with at the Preppy Podcast on social media.