Accessories Authority

Listen to how Lisa Pongrass has created THE ultimate luxury handcrafted leather bags and created her own business platform in these new retail times.  Listen to how the brand is creating a new wave of selling both retailers and consumers.

We got to speak with Bella Neyman and JB Jones the originators of NYC Jewelry Week! We talk about how they were inspired to create an event like Jewelry week. Funny stories of how they met with Jewelry Icons to kick it off and where they see year 3 going amidst this Corona virus environment now.  We recorded it via video call so bear with some small glitches, but we love talking to entrepreneurial spirits like these two wonderful ladies!

We got to go to Brittany Merrill Underwood's house in Dallas Texas and learn how Akola started (under a tree in Uganda) and how she and her team are changing lives of Women and their families. Moving to Uganda after graduating college, she realized this was where she was meant to make a difference in the world. One of our favorite recordings.

Stanley Korshak is an American luxury goods specialty department store in Dallas, Texas.   In this disruptive retail world, listen to Melissa Geiser and Cindy Pierce's secret sauce to continue to thrive in this market. Stanley Korshak is the largest independent department store in the United States, it is located in the Uptown neighborhood in The Crescent retail complex.

Listen to how The Queen of Raw - Stephanie Benedetto is saving our planet by reusing rags.  Sustainability is key.

Holly and I were in Dallas talking to Amir at Grand Time and it was fantastic. From his family's watch roots starting in India, to being around the business from a small child. We talk marketing, the life cycle of a watch and the challenges and lessons with creating a genuine brand like JBW and Breda watches.

We jump right in and start talking with Taylor Turner, the young entrepreneur and owner of made in america, Hazen and Co.  Incredible background of how she got started, what's critical to social media involvement, and why made in the US is so important. Oh, we also learn Holly doesn't know what Cheese Straws are.

We talk to Rachel and Elizabeth Mandelbaum about their family company Gold and Honey!  How they started out, what it's like working with family day in and day out and "animated voices" at work.   They tell us about social media ups and downs as well as their struggles with finding good influencers in the jewelry market.

We had a great conversation with Ron Thurston from Intermix. He's spot on with where the industry is today as well as what is needed to draw that customer.  When to hold them and when to fold them, sometimes you have to let go of customers who only look for discounts and have no loyalty. We discuss it all! Oh and Echo the cat makes her first appearance in our 20th episode!

We talked to the lovely and amazing Melissa Joy Manning. She talks about her start, inspiration, and how having a 3yr old really keeps her grounded.  She shares how to take a no as an opportunity when starting out and how she manages to keep her Ethos always at the forefront of her designs.