EVENT | 92Y x Glamour Magazine: Start-Up Queens

I've been fortunate enough to immerse myself in the world of start-ups and surround myself with innovative individuals with the strongest entrepreneurial spirit around. From working at Ryerson's Digital Media Zone to attending Social Media Week earlier this year, and now working from a WeWork office space in NYC, I've really been enjoying learning about all these different companies and getting insight into what it takes to start something from the ground up.

While I was settling into my new-found summer home of New York during my first week here, I was able to check out 92Y and attend a panel discussion featuring some of today's start-up queens.

The event was moderated by Glamour Magazine's editor-in-chief Cindi Leive and featured amazing guests: Iman, Dylan Lauren, Coco Rocha, Piera Gelardi and Elizabeth Cutler.

Photo credit: Astrid Stawiarz/WireImage

IMAN:
She came from humble beginnings and found her way to becoming one of the most iconic supermodels of her generation. During her modelling career, as a darker-skinned woman she would find herself in situations where the makeup artists would not have the proper products for her skin tone. The solution? She created her own.

IMAN Cosmetics was born and is now a successful brand is used by women all over the world.

She wanted to be known as something more than just "model Iman" and she has definitely established her ability to work hard and take control. She took the opportunity to network with industry executives rather than put herself in situations that could damage her image. (You won't find her out at fashion parties every night, that's for sure!)

Her advice:

"Believe in your business. Know it inside and out."

"Don't be scared to ask for help from the right people."

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Let that beholder be you."

 COCO ROCHA

I am so proud that this supermodel is Canadian. She has broken into the fashion industry and risen straight to the top. With the help of social media and personal branding, Coco Rocha took her career into her own hands and stood up for what she believed in. She embraced new social networking platforms such as Tumblr and Twitter before they had become as large as they are today. As a result, Coco has made her presence known online and off and has become a huge role model for young women worldwide.

"I learned hard. I trusted everyone in the beginning."

"People are respected in any industry for standing up for what they believe in."

" Don't be negative Nancys. Be positive."

DYLAN LAUREN

This entrepreneur comes from a very business-savvy family (being the daughter of THE Ralph Lauren and all) but she found a niche that has allowed her to pursue her love of sweets. She was inspired as a child when she saw Willy Wonka and since then, she's created her own candy company: Dylan's Candy Bar.

I met Dylan back in 2010 when her line launched in Holt Renfrew in Vancouver. I got to chat with her about starting her own business and what her favourite treats are. Check it out here: http://www.christinadun.com/2010/05/gossip-girl-treats.html

"It was a growing passion, a no-brainer."

"We were selling a lifestyle merging fashion, art and pop culture with candy."

PIERA GELARDI

She co-founded Refinery29, a  website that has become one of the biggest online lifestyle destinations. Piera created the culture she wanted to work in. Taking on the challenge of creating a startup is a big decision.On quitting her day job: "It was intuition. I was just ready for the next challenge."

ELIZABETH CUTLER

She is a co-founder of SoulCycle, a spin studio that started on Manhattan's Upper West Side in 2006. Since then, 15 other locations have opened nationwide. 

She was told that "spinning was dead" but she knew she was onto something.

She emphasized the importance of being grateful for their supporters right from the beginning.


Some other moments from the panel worth mentioning:

Coco was gushing about how she has always looked up to Iman and sees her as her role model and Iman replied, "She says she looks up to me, but when I grow up I want to be Coco." —Cute!

Photo credit: Astrid Stawiarz/WireImage

Coco took a moment to call out all those high school bullies she had to deal with. "To all the jocks and cheerleaders, look where I am now!" - you go Coco.

She's so great.

Anyways, it was such a fantastic event and I definitely left inspired.

- Christina
Follow my adventures on Twitter: @christinaaa28

Gossip Girl Treats!

If you are an avid fan of the hit TV show Gossip Girl (like me), you will be aware of the candy store that is featured in New York City, called Dylan's Candy Bar. If you haven't heard of it, you'll definitely want to check it out, since it is now being sold here in Vancouver at Holt Renfrew! Last month, I was able to go to an in store meet and greet with the store's founder, Dylan Lauren (yes, that name is familiar, because she is the daughter of fashion designer Ralph Lauren!). She was kind enough to give me an interview in between autograph signings, and gave me insight into her life as a candy fashionista. I was fortunate enough to have visited her New York location on my trip to New York last summer, so it was fantastic to get to meet the face behind the famous candy bar.


1. So what sparked your interest in starting your own candy store?
DL: Always loved candy. I felt there was a need for a store that didn’t exist with candy that I had seen from around the world. And I just started traveling and seeing all this great stuff and thought it would be great to have a store that had all the stuff I loved and that other people loved.

2. How many locations do you have?
DL: We have 5 locations in America: Houston, Orlando, Roosevelt Field, East Hampton and New York. And then we have a lot of outposts like Holt Renfrew and W Hotels...

3. How involved are you in each of these locations?
DL: Very involved. I travel a lot. I design all the products with my team. I really get very hands on so it’s really important to me, because my name’s on the door, to make sure the staff is good.

4. So during the creative process, how do you decide what candy to sell?
DL: I go to all the trade shows and pick different candies that I like and that I think will sell in a certain market. People just love the Dylan’s candy bar brand as well as those popular brands like Mars and Hersheys and Nestle. So we carry so many different candies for different holidays, so it’s great.

5. When I went to your New York store, I notice your famous display case of autographed candy boxes...Who was your most memorable celebrity visitor?
DL: I’d say, I love all; just the fact that all different people come. But I’d say Oprah Winfrey and Janet Jackson.


6. How do you feel that being featured on TV shows, such as Gossip Girl, help your business?
DL: Hugely. People love that show and they think it’s super cool, so they are like, “oh it must be a cool store to get candy.” And then those Gossip Girl stars love the store; they come in on a regular basis which is nice.

7. I also noticed that you sell a lot of merchandise as well as candy. Do you find that that sells as well as the candy?
DL: I think candy is number one, but people love the idea that they can live a candy lifestyle and have clothing that looks like candy and accessories, and they also complement each other.

8. How do you bring together fashion and candy?
DL: The clothing we’re starting to do, the jewellery we’re starting to do...The idea of different colours for different holidays, and different seasons. You know how fashion changes (winter, spring, summer, fall) we have darker colours for winter, brighter colours for spring, in our candies and in our clothing and accessories.

9. Do you have any new and exciting promotions or collaborations coming up?
DL: We’re going to launch a line with Gwen Stefani, Harajuku Lovers, that’ll be big, it’s Happy Bunny. And I’m coming out with a book in October called Unwrap Your Sweet Life, so it’s all exciting!

10. Lastly, what is your favourite type of candy?
DL: I love everything. But I’d have to say...we have really good marshmallow items in New York and I love red gummy candies, so red gummy bears, red Swedish fish, all of them.

Autographed photo!

In Holt Renfrew, at her display

Thank you Dylan for the fantastic interview! Check out the super sweet website! http://www.dylanscandybar.com/

-Christina
Follow my adventures on Twitter: @christinaaa28