Preppy Podcast

York Design Co

• Patricia Mae Olson

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Modern heirloom needlepoint Hand-stitched cuffs, keychains, accessories with small batch drops in support of pediatric cancer research. Shop at https://www.yorkdesignco.com

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SPEAKER_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. Welcome back to the Preppy Podcast. Thank you all so much for listening. Today I have a fun episode with the founder of York Design Co. I have known her for many years and we reminisce on this at the beginning of the episode. But beyond obviously having a lovely conversation with Laura, loving her brand and these amazing already finished needlepoint products. So they have cuffs, they have clutches, they have tote bags, just great products if you don't feel like stitching on your own. But I love the reason and that they're giving back as well with the brand. So I'll let Laura tell the story behind and how they got there and the purpose of the business. But before we get into this week's episode, a few reminders. The one is that I am giving away two tickets to Camp Preppy, Colorado. Um, if you subscribe to the Preppy Podcast YouTube channel, just search the Preppy Podcast or Patricia May Olson. Um, we're really trying to grow that, and it's a great way to watch the episode. So all you have to do is subscribe and then DM me and let me know that you subscribe so that I can check that and you'll automatically be entered to win a ticket to Campreppy, Colorado. Um, the only thing is though, the winner obviously has to pay for their way to get there, and then their hotel room in our room block. Um, but it's going to be a fabulous time. And there are still tickets if you want to purchase a ticket for Campreppi, Colorado, and then Campreppy Kenny Bunkport in October. Um, I believe we just have like one ticket left, so feel free to grab that last one. And as always, you can join us at Club Preppy if you go to the preppypodcast.com where we do monthly virtual events. This month, for example, we have a um little course where we're learning how to make bracelets from the Fancy Society, as well as we are going to be learning how to make a crude dip. Um, so lots of fun things, and I hope you guys will join us. So all that information you can find at thepreppypodcast.com. Okay, so why don't you first let everyone know who you are, where you live, and what you do?

SPEAKER_01

Okay, um, I'm Laura Stone, and I'm the founder and owner of York Design Company, and I live right outside of the Washington, D.C. area in the suburbs.

SPEAKER_00

Excellent. And so Laura and I we met years ago, like uh probably over 10 years ago. Um, I don't even know how. I was dating a guy that lived in DC at the time, so I was in DC a lot.

SPEAKER_01

And I don't remember if it was like Brittany who introduced us or if we just met on social media or how I think it was Brittany and at first, and then we met on social media and we were traveling in the same like preppy blog circles and following the same people. And we did a couple of collaborations together, I remember, like at the onset of Instagram. So yeah, it's been a really long time because I started York Designs in um 2012.

SPEAKER_00

So okay, yes. Oh my gosh, that like such a blast from the past. It was like at the very beginning, yes, yes, so cool. Okay, so let's start that. You as a child, what was your childhood like? Were you someone creative, entrepreneurial, into fashion and style? Like tell me a little bit about growing up.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, so um my whole family is from New England. So um, my mom's side of the family is all from Connecticut, my dad's side of the family is all from Boston, so New England roots. And then when I was in um elementary school, we moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, which is like a totally different landscape situation set up. Um, so I would say I was super creative. I've always loved art, I've always loved like fashion and design, but my like background came from such different, like all different places. So um, yeah. Uh I have a sister, so it was just the four of us, my mom, dad, my sister, and me that grew up um in Cincinnati. And I will say that my mom dressed us like really preppy growing up, but she was like a prep school girl, and so she was dressing us in like Lily before Lily was a thing, and like plaid and madris, and um what is it where you have the like smocked dresses. Okay, yeah. And um, you know, like when we were in Cincinnati, nobody knew what that kind of stuff was. So, like my sister and I were kind of fish out of water, so then we like forged our own style, I would say. Yeah, um, because like it was the era of like showing your midriff and Britney Spears and whatever. So I would have like a popped collar and like a grow-grained ribbon belt, and like my stomach would be showing with crimmed hair. So it was just like a meld of style. So I would say I've like taken that with me, and um, I think that's very reflective of York Design Company as well.

SPEAKER_00

Yes, I love that. I remember those like times, the era with the crimmed hair, the ribbon belts, all of it. So when it came time for college, then where and what did you end up studying? Was it something that had to do with business or entrepreneurship or fashion, or did you do something completely different?

SPEAKER_01

Okay, so I started at Miami University in Ohio, which was like the 13th grade, um, because everybody in my high school went to like three different schools.

SPEAKER_02

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

So I did my first year there, and then I decided that I wanted to go further away, so I went to the University of Richmond and I studied communication, marketing, and rhetoric, and I minored in political science because I've always loved political theater. So um, yeah, I originally thought I was gonna go into like TV, um, television production, marketing, stuff like that, and I melded the two worlds with politics and TV.

SPEAKER_00

So cool. I love that. Um, and that's funny, like that you uh you said like 13th year um for college, and so you transferred then for a little bit of change of scene.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, I didn't know a soul, so I totally just went to a whole new world and tried something totally different, and it was like the best experience of my life. Some of my best friends are my Richmond friends and um will be forever.

SPEAKER_00

So and you stayed on the East Coast then, right after, right?

SPEAKER_01

Yep, yep. So then after Richmond, um, it was only like an hour and a half, it's 90 miles to DC. So I was just interviewing, you know, day trips my senior year, and that's how I ended up in DC.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, so then tell me a little bit about your first career, um, where that landed you, what you did with it, and then that leading into York Design Company, because that's around that time, then, right, that you launched. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01

So I ended up at the Department of Justice, and I was doing um PR and communications for the Department of Justice in the criminal tax division. Wow. So it was cool and it was fun, but it was also there were days where it was so dry. And I have always been a needle pointer. So, like there would be times on the metro or when I was watching TV, and my boyfriend and now husband at the time would be watching baseball. So I was constantly needlepointing. And I kind of was having these ideas, like while I was working during these like dry spells where it was just talking about criminal tax evasion, where I would come up with new designs. And I started making my own designs. Um, and in college I made some bracelets for some friends, and then the word of mouth got around, so I was like making them. Okay. It wasn't really a business, but it was kind of like a little side thing that I just like to do.

SPEAKER_00

Well, how did you learn needlepoint to begin with? Like, when did you learn? Like, from was it from your mom or someone you've done?

SPEAKER_01

From my mom, because she's been in her family forever. And um, she taught me, and so I would kind of dabble in it throughout childhood. Like, I wasn't crazy about it, but I just did it.

SPEAKER_00

And then in college I really, I really got into it, which I feel like is so ahead of the time because now needlepoint is everywhere, everyone is needlepointing, like after COVID. And back then, like I probably didn't even know what needlepoint was technically. This looks beautiful, like I love the design, but like I probably wasn't grasping the concept of like it started with a canvas and then like canvas is painted on, and then it's you know, stitched and all of that. So you were like so ahead of it.

SPEAKER_01

Well, it's funny because my friends would make fun of me and they'd be like, What are you what is this thing? And I'm like, you know, it was like a little bit embarrassing. I mean, the product, like the actual thing that came out was cool, but when I was like sitting there stitching, they're like, Okay, grandma, but now everybody's into grandma hobby, so yeah. Yeah. Um, but then at night I started going to grad school and I got my master's in PR at Georgetown.

SPEAKER_02

Okay.

SPEAKER_01

And one of our capstone thesis projects was to come up with a brand. And so that's how I parlayed York Design Company into a business.

SPEAKER_00

Okay. I think that's so cool. And it's so funny because I feel like we have so much in common. Like, if I wasn't doing PR for brands and, you know, lifestyle businesses, then I totally would go into politics instead. And like I dabble in that a little bit right out of college. Um, but I do I just find it like fascinating, and um just like I think fashion is fascinating and you get to meet cool people, and I think the same with politics and like absolutely and yes. Yeah. So okay, you have this project um with grad school to come up with a business, and that kind of pushes it in to be a business, right? Um, so what were some of those first steps? Like in terms of did you create a website then? Like, how did you scale from you know just creating a few products for friends as gifts to actually having product to sell to um customers and people that you didn't know?

SPEAKER_01

So I put a website up and I started on WordPress. I think WordPress was like the hot ticket at the time. So I did that, and I took all of my bracelets, instead of finishing them myself, I took them all to a cobbler in DC. And he would like back it with the leather and put the insert in the middle, and he was making them into these cuffs. In fact, I have my if you want to see my original, yes. Um, these are my two, like I just I always have these with me just because but you can see it's like super thick and like black leather in it because it's just like whatever he had. But this was one of my first.

SPEAKER_02

Wow.

SPEAKER_01

And then we kind of just like iterated it. Um, and then I started searching like late at night on Alibaba to try and find somebody that could stitch quickly and make these products. And I've I worked with a few different factories and I finally found one that I really loved, and I've been working with them since 2012.

SPEAKER_00

So to this day, yeah. Oh my gosh, I feel like even I don't even know if I would have known what Alibaba was back then. So the fact that you knew that and could use it to your advantage, find the right partner, um, and and take this business then to the next level.

SPEAKER_01

I will say it was a lot of trial and error. So there were a couple of times where I did send money and never heard from people again. Oh no. Yeah, I mean, it does happen. So you have to just like you have to be smart, you have to trust the process. And luckily, the people that I really loved and the people that I felt comfortable with and had like a good vibe with ended up being the ones that we're still working with. So my gosh. That's what I'm saying. Yeah, and they've been amazing with just like anything that I dream up, like new products or trying new things and samples and stuff like that. They do whatever they can, they jump through hoops of fire, they're wonderful to work with. So they they try to make my dreams come to reality.

SPEAKER_00

So great that you've been able to stay with them this long, then I feel like that's unheard of, especially after COVID times and all of that. So tell me then. I know you have um the cuffs, you have clutches now too, you have keychains. Um, what how did you decide what product assortment to make and to add and grow with?

SPEAKER_01

That's a good question. I think it's just kind of like, you know, I loved the bracelets first because they were A, a quick stitch, and B something that I wanted to wear. So then I just kept thinking about what I would want or what I would need. So the keychain was kind of the next thing. And then um the clutch was after that because I wanted to start wearing them out with, you know, adding it to my outfits.

SPEAKER_00

So yeah. Okay, that makes total sense. Um, and what about like getting the word out? Because once you you have this business, then um you find new manufacturer, you have your product narrowed down, then how did you spread the word?

SPEAKER_01

Definitely friends and family. So word of mouth was one way. And then the other way was it was like the very start of Instagram, and Instagram was a totally different beast than it is now, and so getting your product out there and having eyes on it and being one of the first, I would say, needlepoint, um, was easier because A, people had never seen it before, so it would stop the scroll, and B, like the algorithms weren't as crazy, so you could actually showcase what you were doing. And I grew really fast, um, I would say on Instagram.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, and I like we talked about that's kind of how we met, I think through who I had met on Instagram and then we had connected on Instagram. Um, so it is so true. I feel like I've had so many great friendships on Instagram um and met people that otherwise like I probably wouldn't have met you just walking on the streets of DC. And so, and I think correct me if I'm wrong, I feel like some influencers like Carly probably posted you back then, and then there was that magazine. Um, like Oh my gosh, yeah, and I'm it and I feel like that might be part of how we met and in that group with Brittany. Sweet lemon, sweet lemon, yes, yes, exactly.

SPEAKER_01

Oh my gosh, yes, wow, that I forgot about that. Yeah, so um, well, being in PR, I pitched myself all day, every day. And um, so yeah, I guess that's another way I I spread the word. I just, you know, emailed whoever wanted to open my email, and you know, a hundred times you email somebody, and one time somebody gets back to you. But yeah, sometimes that's all you need.

SPEAKER_00

Exactly. That's what I always say. Like you always have to throw everything against the wall, see what sticks. Um, you'll get a lot of no's, but that one yes is worth it, and you never know where that one yes leaves, like who they refer you to, um, and so on. So that's so funny. Wow, that sweet lemon magazine is a big throwback. I feel like a lot of my listeners probably know what we're talking about too, because it was very preppy. Um and it was really good too. I I mean, yeah it was good, and it was all run by like young wood, like we were all just graduated college and all of us were writing for it. Um, and you know, the the woman who founded it was young too. So what a time. Yeah, I know, right? Um so tell me a little bit about then, you know, growing the business because obviously now it's been 10 years, over 10 years since you've had it. Um, so what were sort of some of the big milestones or things that changed in the business then in those 10 years?

SPEAKER_01

Okay, that's a good question. So peaks and valleys for sure. Um I would say, so back way back at the beginning, that we're you know what we were just talking about, um, I was in the junior league of Washington, D.C. And we do like this big book fair on the national mall every year. And one of the things that I did was I wore a few cuffs like stacked, and one of the guest speakers at that year was Hoda Copi, and she was signing a book. And I went up to her tent and I was like, obviously, I'm a huge fan, like I don't want to be annoying, but I really want to give this to you. And she was as gracious as could be, exactly what you see on TV. Like her personality was like, Oh my gosh, I love this. You know, she was so nice about it, she wore it for me throughout the entire rest of the book for her, let me take pictures, the whole thing. And then I got to be on like the steals and deals segment on the Today show, not me personally, but the the cuffs, yeah, when she was doing it with Kathy Lee. So that was a big um, that was a big milestone for me. Yes. Um, and then I was also on the Bethany Frankel show when she had her talk show um helping women in business. Okay, and how did that come about? Was that just that came about because my my cousin was a producer and she had connections, and so she helped me um write the application for the segment. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, I love that. It was great. So cool. I do remember seeing both of those, and I think you know, something a lesson that listeners can take from that, and something that I do as a PR person as well, is sometimes you can connect with people by just attending an event and showing up and giving them something instead of having to track down like mailing addresses or um uh you know try to connect with their people. If you just show up and like hand someone a gift, sometimes that leads somewhere. Um, and that's happened to me before, it's happened to you. So I think that's that's a a good sneaky way through through a door. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

I think sometimes you have to just show up and act like you belong, even if you don't, and just kind of figure it out as you go. That's what I think those are like my favorite experiences are times when I've done that and just one thing has led to another. Like you just have to kind of go for it sometimes.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. So tell me a little bit more about some more like peaks and valleys. Um, what were like some of the challenges that you had to overcome?

SPEAKER_01

Okay, so um COVID was a very interesting time for everybody in business. Um, obviously, there was a huge needlepoint shortage of like canvases and threads and all that kind of stuff. So that was that was tricky, but it was manageable. Um and I was doing the business throughout. And then in 2021, so still COVID, but like I don't know, it was like half half one foot in COVID, half one foot out. We were still masking, but people were going out and whatever. Yeah. Um, my daughter was diagnosed with cancer. Oh my gosh. And so that was the summer of 2021, and she was three at the time. And I literally, Patricia, when I tell you, I shut my laptop and I didn't open it back up again. Like I walked away from my job in the government, I walked away from York Designs, I walked away from my friends, I walked away from everything. I was just like, I'm gonna put all of my energy into making sure she gets better. That's yes, that's the only thing that matters to me. Yeah. And I did that, and so um that was a that was a huge challenge. I mean, not in business, but in life. That was a huge challenge. Yeah, I can't imagine. Um and so, but it did affect my business, obviously. So um, you know, I was pregnant at the time and I had my older daughter who was five, and um, I l really just wanted to throw a blanket over my head and say, you know, wake me up when this is all over and she's fine. Um, but I had my daughter and a soon-to-be son. So I had to just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and I completely lost my like artistic passion and my creativity and you know, just desire to do anything fun. I was just like head down trying to make sure she was good. But I did promise myself that when we got to the other side of this, um, and she did get better, then I would restart York Design Company and donate proceeds to the cause and to help other families like us um find solutions and cures for these kids because it is something that no parent and certainly no child should ever have to ever go through.

SPEAKER_00

Oh my gosh, I know. And I just first of all, I'm so sorry. I'm so happy that you know she's better now and that you were able to share this story and do good, you know, from it, right? I remember when um, like I said, I've known you for a while and followed you, and you posted a video uh maybe a month or two, like a little bit ago, kind of explaining um your journey as an entrepreneur, this story, the passion and the cause behind it and giving back. And I was just so inspired by that. I think A, it's so vulnerable, and B, turning, you know, lemons into lemonade and and doing good with it now is just so inspiring. So I I thank you for doing that um and sharing with everyone. And I was talking offline to you right before this, saying how we had your cuffs at Camp Preppy, um, and the ladies love them. They were fighting over different styles depending on, you know, what schools they attend or some of the cute preppy motifs. And then I I shared that that portion of the business that, you know, you you give back and the cause behind it. And they love that. I mean, they felt so moved by that. They're like, can we make a donation like from Us Can Preppy Ladies together? And so I think that's so important, and it it changes the business, right? If there's if there's a cause and a reason for what you're doing, it's not just a a fashion business or a bracelet business or a needlepoint business. It's much more than that now, right? It's much more than that.

SPEAKER_01

And I will say this I spent a lot of time in the middle of the night when I couldn't sleep because there was so much uncertainty, and you know, are these treatments gonna work and what's gonna happen and whatever? And I was just always scrolling and always researching and always looking for a story of hope for somebody that had um the same cancer that she did. It's called Wilm's tumor, it's pediatric um kidney cancer. Okay, and I could it was so hard to find anything, and most of the things that you find are stories that might not end successfully, and I wanted to find. A bunch of stories that did end successfully, so that I could like envision that and kind of manifest it and pray for it and um and visualize, you know, the finish line. And I and it was really, really hard. So I want to be that for somebody else. Like there is there is light at the end of the tunnel, and that can be hope. And especially if we keep donating to this cause where you know we we're almost at a cure, we can almost get to a cure. So um the the rates are really high, and we want to make it 100%.

SPEAKER_00

So I love that. I love that you can be that hope for someone when they need it. And I think in today's world with social media, there's so many things that come up on your algorithm that's so depressing, and you get in like this doom scroll sort of situation. Um, so I think being able to be that light for other people and um you know, not just shopping to shop, but shop and feel good about what you're purchasing is so simple. Yeah, win-win. Exactly. So tell me a little about your design process then, like how you come up with the patterns, the motifs, the colors. Like, where do you get inspiration from?

SPEAKER_01

Um, I love color. So I will always go louder rather than quieter. I love pink. Um and that inspires me the most. I would say colors and um color inspiration just from kind of wherever I'm seeing uh beautiful landscapes or flowers or you know, fashion. Um fashion is a big, a big uh indicator for me. And I would say my motifs are mainly about you know hobbies that I like to do. So I play golf, I play tennis, um, I have my chinsuaseri stuff because this is like how I decorate my house. And I have my sailboats because this is summer stuff. Um beach related, like just things that I like, and then whatever sells and people respond to is what I keep replicating in some way, whether it's the exact same or I make iterations of the same things. Um, that's kind of what inspires my designs. So it starts with me and then it's like whatever people respond to.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, that makes total sense. I the golf cart one, that's my favorite one. That's the one I have. I just think it's so cute and so preppy. I wear that one like every day.

unknown

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02

Almost every day.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah. It matches a lot of stuff. So uh so tell me, you know, obviously having Hoda wear your products and and being on Bethany, those are huge um moments for the brand. But if you could pick anyone else to, you know, wear one of your cuffs, use one of your keychains or your purses, who would it be? Who would be like your dream? Oh my gosh, that's a really good question.

SPEAKER_01

Um if I could have anyone wear, who would it be? God, I don't know. Let me think on that.

SPEAKER_00

I feel like so. A lot of people always say Rhys Witherspoon to me. And when I see Rhys Witherspoon like needlepoint, I think she probably needlepoints. Um, I think she would be a great one. But it would be a great one. Is it dead or alive? It could be anyone, yeah. It could be dead or alive.

SPEAKER_01

Audrey Hepburn. Yes. Um, you know who would really, I think move the needle for me would be Martha Stewart. Um gosh, I just oh, duh. Taylor Swift. I'd want Taylor Swift to wear one of my cups.

SPEAKER_00

Of course. Okay, there it is. Taylor Swift. There it is. That's a perfect one. And she loves her grandma hobbies. Um, she'd be great. And she loves a friendship bracelet stack, so it would go perfectly with a stack. So yes. Oh my gosh, perfect. Um, so since this is the Preppy podcast, I always ask everyone what does Preppy mean to you? So, how would you describe Preppy?

SPEAKER_01

Okay, I would describe Preppy as classic but comfortable. Um, because I think you know, confidence and comfort is something that always shows through in good style.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

Um, but like I told you before, my version of Preppy is different from like prep school preppy, like classic preppy, um, because I melded like cheesy forever 21 going out tops with my topsiders and um, you know, I huge earrings with my popped collars and Puka Shell necklaces and whatever. So I think it's um a combination of, like I said, classic style, but something that you're comfortable with. So putting your own spin on it. Yeah, put your own spin on it. I think that's um that's important because if you, I mean, don't get me wrong, prep school preppy is classic and beautiful, but if that's not your jam and that's not your vibe, nobody pulls it off. You have to like live the lifestyle, you know, you gotta walk the walk and talk the talk. So I think you gotta put your own spin on it if you can.

SPEAKER_00

A thousand percent. Uh so you know, obviously you have this amazing business and a fabulous career too in communications and PR. So, what's a resource that you can share with listeners, whether it's a great book, um, a newsletter you subscribe to, a group you're part of, like what's something that you'd recommend to people to check out?

SPEAKER_01

Okay. Um so my sister gave me this book at Christmas, and um it's about Henry Bendel, who had Bendels in Fifth Avenue, but they recently closed. But it was about how he built his empire from like a small hat store in Greenwich Village to this beautiful huge flagship store on Fifth Avenue, and I love that store, and I've always loved that store. Um, so that was a great read. It's called Henry Bendel and the World He Fashioned by Um Tim Alice. Okay. That's a great read. It's just like fun, and there's lots of like fashion sketches in there and um fun things to look at. So that's one. And then I am a huge um subscriber of The Product Boss with Jacqueline Snyder. I don't know if you've heard of her, but she helps product-based businesses um reach their potential, and she does coaching and she does workshops, and so I subscribe to all of her newsletters and I listen to her podcast, and um I think she's a great resource. So those would be the two like big ones.

SPEAKER_00

Okay, I'm definitely adding that book to we have a little business um book club that meets once a month, and so we're always looking for business books to read. And that one sounds right up my alley. I feel like the other ladies in it too would love it.

SPEAKER_01

So yeah, it's a great resource for entrepreneurship. So it's it's a fun, it's a fun one.

SPEAKER_00

Definitely. What are some brands um that you love to pair with your your designs? Like, are there any small businesses that you really like and think they're doing you know great things and also pair nicely with yours?

SPEAKER_01

Small businesses, other small businesses. Well, I will say that I am a huge needle pointer in general. And so all of the small needlepoint businesses that have popped up, whether it be the little needlepoint shops or the big needlepoint companies that have just popped up, um you know, I'm a huge proponent proponent of those, and I always have it in my lap and I'm always stitching stuff. So those go great with, you know, whatever I'm wearing. Yeah. Um, but other small businesses, gosh, I have to really think about that. Um I have to think about like I'd really have to think about that.

unknown

Okay.

SPEAKER_00

There's a lot of great needlepoint water.

SPEAKER_01

I mean there's so many good small businesses that I'm just like, who would you pick? Who would I pick? I mean, okay, so they're not small businesses, but my like I always wear my bracelets to go with my cuffs and stuff. Um small businesses. I gotta think about that.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, yeah, we can come back to that. Um, so speaking of needlepoint, I love asking people about needlepoint and what has been your favorite project that you've ever done, needlepoint-wise, like besides the stuff that you're making and selling with your design company. But is there something you you've done and it has special meaning or a special memory with it?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, so right now, actually, currently, oh, I wish I had it, but I don't have it in this room. Um, I'm actually working on a Henry Bendell store that I'm gonna make into a stand-up for my show. So that's a great one. And probably um one of my favorite places to vacation is Hilton Head Island. Um, and I got this amazing ornament from Needle Point Junction down there, and it's the it's all the motifs on the island. And I hang it on my Christmas tree, and it's beautiful, and it just reminds me of the beach.

SPEAKER_00

And I love that. I can't wait to see this Henry Bendle one once it's finished.

SPEAKER_01

Well, it's it's very big. It's like yeah, and it's a stand-up. So then I might get brave and venture into some other shop. I know they do Tiffany's, they do Louis Vuitton, they do all kinds of like Fifth Avenue stores that you can do like a stand-up village of almost like the Le Petite Trunk Christmas village.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, very fun. I mean, that store I feel like growing up was just everything. Like they first of all, they would do trunk shows and bring in all these other up-and-coming designers, but then even just their own branded products were so good, like all the brown and white stripes, right?

SPEAKER_01

All the brown and white stripes, yes. I love it. And like you walked in and you were just like, oh, yeah. Smelled good, it looked good, the lighting was pretty, it was like so great. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, no, for sure. What piece of advice would you give someone listening who um has a business or maybe aspires to start something? Like, what's one thing that you would share with them? Piece of advice or inspiration?

SPEAKER_01

I think I would say um just go for it. Like, if you have an idea and you have something in your head, you should do it. Um you know, done is better than perfect. So if you wait around, it's never gonna happen. Like you can you can perfect a social media post, you can perfect a product, you can perfect uh an email that you want to send to your customers. It's gonna take forever because it's never gonna be perfect. So just go for it. Send the email that you want to send, post what you want to post, and if it's way far out there and you're worried about it, have somebody gut check you and yell you to stay in your lane. I love that. Yeah, sound is better than perfect for sure.

SPEAKER_00

Um, so now you have this business, you're a mom of kids. Any tip for balancing, which I know that word doesn't really exist, but like any tip for trying to balance or staying organized?

SPEAKER_01

No. No. Um, so here's what I do. I my kids come first, I'm the mom first. I do everything for them, and I love every second of it because I know it's gonna go by fast, and I I think I have a little bit of a different perspective than I did before. Um, so I cherish every moment. So, like every milk spill, every time somebody doesn't listen to put their shoes on, every time relate to practice, every time three people need to be in three different practices at once, like as frustrating and crazy and chaotic as that is, like it's it's beautiful and it's wonderful and I love it. Um so what I do is I squeeze in York designs in between all that chaos, um, which makes even more chaos, but that's okay. Um so you know, I do things like my son's in preschool three mornings a week. So while he's in preschool, I'm working on orders, I'm doing emails, I'm doing packaging and shipping. And then when he comes home and he eats lunch, I'm on my email and I'm responding to emails and doing that. And then when the girls get home from school and they're off to sports practices, I'm sitting there stitching at sports practices, you know, um, working on new designs and messing with colors and working on projects. So it's kind of like it's it's crazy, it's chaotic, but it's a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_00

But yes, I love fitting it in where you can. I'm the same way. Like I always say my best office is on an airplane. Like I can get so much work done on an airplane in between trips um or a train. Like I work, I work well, like in a little bit of chaos or a lot on my plate. And it is just it's all about like fitting in those like five minutes or like an hour here and there to make it all work and make sense. For sure.

SPEAKER_01

And if I'm not doing five things at once, I'm not doing anything. Exactly, exactly.

SPEAKER_02

So it's just the way I operate.

SPEAKER_01

And I'm such a squirrel that, like, you know, I'm so distracted by so many different things. Yeah. Um, but I feel like under pressure and with that chaos, I get so much more accomplished. Like if there's one thing on my to-do list, it won't, it'll sit there till Friday. But if there's 20 million things on my to-do list, they all get done by Friday. So I don't know, it's just the way I operate. I mean, there are systems in place. I shouldn't say that there aren't, but um yeah, you just kind of have to squeeze it in where you can in this season of life, anyway.

SPEAKER_00

Yes, a thousand percent. Uh, any sneak peeks, anything you're working on that you can share?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, so we are going to be dropping slimmer cuffs. Oh, yeah. So our signature cuffs are an inch and a half. Okay. Um, but these are just an inch because they're easier to stack and like pair with other things. Yes, I love that. Yeah, so we'll be doing those. And then um towards the end of the summer, early fall, we do monograms. Fine. So I can't see that. So we do pre-orders for those. Um, so that'll be a sneak peek, and that'll be available on all of our products. So cuffs, keychains, clutches, golf bags, um, all that stuff. So you can personalize.

SPEAKER_00

Amazing. And so the thinner cuffs, are they going to be in all of your existing prints and patterns, or are they new, different ones?

SPEAKER_01

They're gonna be new and different because um I'm hoping to. Well, we have a few partners that we're thinking about um working with, and we're gonna try and hopefully do some um intermittent drops with different designers. So, like you'll see new designs from collaborations with our products. So I'm hoping that they can um be on the thinner cups as well.

SPEAKER_00

Amazing. Well, I am so excited and absolutely love chatting with you today, Laura, and going down memory lane and learning more about your business. Uh, let everyone know where they can find you your website, social media, all of that, so they can shop, support you, follow along.

SPEAKER_01

All right, so we are at Yorkdesignco.com and social media we're Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. And I'm primarily on Instagram, like that's where I'm spending most of my time on social media. Um, and it's at Yorkdesign Co. Perfect. Amazing. Well, thank you so much, Laura. Thank you so much. It was awesome talking with you.

SPEAKER_00

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.