THE #OANDPGIRLS: Tania Yan
COOL, SO THERE'S THIS JEWELRY BOUTIQUE CALLED OLIVE + PIPER. WHAT'S THEIR DEAL??
Here's the story. olive + piper was created in 2012 by Vancouver girl, Tania Yan. She's the woman behind all the sparkle, the branding, and a lot of what goes on with what you see and also what you don't. Tania is involved in every single aspect of the business from the design process and digital content, to partnerships, shipping orders and connecting with customers. Want to know more about Tania and how she started olive + piper? Keep reading!
TANIA YAN, FOUNDER
WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO START OLIVE + PIPER?
I've always liked having something going on on the side - whether it was my blog (I started it in 2009 and no, it no longer exists), hand-making hairbands or being a part of a university club (how nerdy is that?!). At the time, eCommerce was just starting to really grow and I wanted to put myself up to the challenge of building an online company on my own, from the ground up - just to see if I could do it. I invested about $2,000 and gathered all the knowledge and resources I had to make it happen. I was determined to pay people nothing and do everything on my own to cut costs.
DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL FOR THIS? WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE?
I definitely went to school - it wasn't up for negotiation. I graduated in Cell Biology and Genetics and set forward to conquer the world with my new designation: Tania Yan, BSc. Low and behold, I got my first (real) job as a receptionist at an internet marketing company. Right before doing olive + piper full time, I worked at a baby & kids retail store doing online marketing and social media, and some operational stuff.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB, EVER?
I was a sale associate at Athlete's World!
WHAT'S A TYPICAL WORK DAY LIKE?
I work out of my home office and have 2 PT girls on the team. No day's the same as the next, but there are some routine things that give me structure. For example, on Monday mornings I'll have a quick meeting with the girls, overlook over the orders that need to go out and respond to our customers. I usually work on designing and scheduling our newsletter for the next day and anything else that pertains to that (adding new products, taking photos, etc.) Once these do-or-die things are out of the way, I spend the rest of the day on other projects. Right now, I'm working on our 5th anniversary campaign, launching a new collection and email workflows.
HOW MUCH OF THE WORK IS DONE IN-HOUSE? IS THERE ANYTHING YOU OUT SOURCE?
I would say 90% of the work is done right here. The girls and I take care of shipping orders, customer service, buying and designing pieces, graphics for newsletters, social, website banners, product and lifestyle photography, branding and packaging, social media, partnerships, affiliates, inventory management... the list goes on. (Can you believe I tried to do all of that myself once? Who do I think I am?!) What we do have outside help with is wholesaling, PR, and some digital ads.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST EXCITING THING THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE STARTING OYOUR BUSINESS?
Designing pieces, seeing them come to life and then being worn by people! I still get stunned by the fact that real people are buying jewelry that I designed with my brain (and zero experience)... and they are literally walking the earth right now, wearing it. (And hopefully enjoying it). Like, WHAT?! So cool.
On a side note, I brought on a jewelry designer this year and she has been amazing.
FAVORITE PIECE ON OLIVE + PIPER RIGHT NOW?
I really love the Trio Drop Earrings right now - so trendy and fun. But if you ask me which I wear on the regular, it would be the Harper Bracelets, Penelope Bracelet in champagne and Celeste Studs.
A QUICK NOTE TO YOURSELF IN YOUR 20'S...
A few things....
1. Want something? Go get it. No one cares what you're planning to do.... one day. At the end, it's all the same - you haven't done it.
2. You'll start to realize everything happens for a reason, even when it sucks. You are already on the path you are destined to be on. So be the best you.
3. There is something positive and a lesson to be learnt in every situation. Trust that, and always look for it.
Black coffee.
Eating out and foot massages.
I'm a hip hop girl.
Somewhere relaxing. Suggestions?
Nope. Sniff.
Not working out. Or kick-boxing.
Cookies and cream.
BANFF. (I just can't.)
I can't swim.
THANK YOU
Is there a copycat called Piper & Olive? I have a smart bulb with this company name on it. The logo is in cursive with concentric hearts like this above it.: 💗. Was it a promotional item that was misprinted? I’m just looking for the app to control it.
Hello ,Tania,i know you online and your story big impression to me .i am Aden .i am jinyulai jewelry company CEO ,we are usa brand melinda maria supplier and i am her vice designer.i think i can help you growing your brand too.
looking forward you reply …
Best regards
Aden
Dear Miss Yan,
As an E-commerce leader, we are contacting you with a couple of opportunities we thought might be of interest to you. Exit Strategy Labs is a sister company of Dropify. We have identified two of our operations that no longer meet our corporate strategy. That said, one or both of the operations may fit well with your business.
We are selling both www.Packagemovers.com and www.Locketkingdom.com
PACKAGE MOVERS is a full SaaS ready for the major markets, approved to sell on Shopify marketplace. It hosts a full back end and a connection to our dropshipper warehouse in Hayden ID, allowing seamless hands-off management of product shipping to customers within 2 days to the US and 3-5 days Internationally. The foundation of the app is in place, ready to take on more products and scale this into a full suite of product offerings. Customer support is limited to the store owners, who in turn manage their customers.
LOCKET KINGDOM is a branded, highly customized Shopify eCommerce retailer situated neatly in diversified, complementary and year-round-profitable segments specifically offering unique custom floating charm lockets, floating charm bangles and the respective stones, charms and gems. Locket Kingdom currently features a tight and high-volume lineup of 800+ branded SKUs which see the majority of profits earned in the jewelry vertical. This business is a one hundred percent turn-key opportunity! This business offers the purchaser to “take the wheel” of a nearly zero-overhead, completely relocatable eCommerce retail platform with unlimited growth potential.
If you feel that you may be interested in learning more about these businesses, please look at our websites and send me a note. I would be happy to send you a copy of the prospectuses for your further review.
If you are not interested in these opportunities, but know of someone that my like them, please feel free in forwarding this email with my contact information.
All the best,
I love Tania! Met her when first bought for the National Ballet of Canada Boutique at the Four Seasons Centre for the Arts. Her jewelry is fantastic, and our customers love it. Tania and I had a coffee together (I had a terrible cough) and made a connection I’ll always remember. She is Olive + Piper and gives us great ideas. Congratulations Tania!
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