Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Najem.
Suzanne, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I began my career as a graphic designer in the corporate world. My artistic passions soon led me to leave the cubicle and focus my creativity to directly empower women through fashion. I started designing and selling hair accessories. My success quickly evolved my online store into a full collection of women’s accessories and clothing.
Through many years of getting to know my loyal and ever-growing customers, I realized that my customers could benefit from my broader vision for entire, curated looks for all types of events. My desire to make women look and feel their best inspired me to take niche accessories and build a presence where any woman can go to find a ready-to-go outfit to put on and go without the stress of going from store to store.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It was not a smooth road by any means. If I had a dollar for every time I wanted to give up and “throw in the towel”! I made every mistake in the book before I got my footing. I think figuring out exactly where to put your money is the key to being successful. You can’t start a business and throw money around thinking your business is just going to kick off as soon as it launches. Wait. Patience. It takes time. After you make every single mistake. Stop making them! And then get back up, and keep going.
My biggest advice for women who are just starting their journey? Don’t get pregnant. Haha! Seriously, I was about 2 months pregnant when I began Pippa & Pearl and it would probably have been a lot smoother and less stressful had I not been. But, I don’t regret it. Looking back, it made me stronger and more persistent. So, to answer your question again… my biggest advice for other women starting their journey, don’t let ANYTHING hold you back. Not even having a baby!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Pippa And Pearl – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
For a while, I was known as the “hat lady”. Which I did not like. I wanted to be known for more than that. I knew I had so much more to offer women than customizing their pretty hats and fascinators. I began on Etsy, where I made girls headbands, top hats and then began customizing fascinators. I grew a pretty loyal fan base and women all around would come to me for fashion advice. I would get pictures of their outfits/dresses on the daily. I eventually started putting up whole curated outfits to give customers ideas on what to wear with their head pieces. Women everywhere began asking me where to get the whole outfit. So, I knew I was on to something.
I began sourcing clothing vendors and selecting unique pieces that would coordinate with the hats and fascinators. I love going above and beyond for my customers. When they come to me with any sort of fashion dilemma, I am there 100% to help them sort it out. I feel like I’ve become a fashion consultant along the way! I am most proud of how many great charities we’ve been able to work with! I don’t even have to seek them out anymore. We often get asked to donate hats and fascinators to be auctioned off for special causes and often when we have the opportunity to do pop-up shops we always donate a proceed of sales. It’s a great feeling to give back to our community. We hope to be able to do more of it as we continue to grow! Empowering women and philanthropy is a big part of what our company is about.
Who have you been inspired by?
My biggest inspiration is my mother, of course. I didn’t really truly appreciate my mother the way I should have until I become a mother myself. There just isn’t any real way to understand all they sacrifice until you are in their shoes! Also, my sister, she is a super mom. She seems to always have herself and her 3 kids together and I just admire what an amazing mom, wife, sister, and daughter she is. She truly is a beautiful soul.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pippaandpearl.com
- Phone: 832-280-7500
- Email: info@pippaandpearl.com
- Instagram: @pippaandpearl
- Facebook: PippaAndPearl
- Twitter: @PippaAndPearl
Image Credit:
Neil Jou (Neil Jou Productions), Jared Pierson (Full Frame FX)
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