Life, Love and Business Post Lockdown
When the country locked down earlier in the year, I felt this was something that would be quick. I remember speaking to a friend in New York, then the epicenter, and she mentioned that she did not think we would be back in school by Fall. I was speechless. Months later she was partially right. The pandemic is still here and Covid still rages. Life itself continues, and it has proven to be unstoppable, even thru a global pandemic.
As the world keeps on rapidly changing, we have all adapted in our own idiosyncratic ways to live post lockdown. Some of us are comfortable with going back to our daily lives, while others are living and learning virtually. Some are going to Disney while others won’t go to Whole Foods. One thing is certain, what we used to take for granted has been examined, and it has been a great time of reflection on a global scale.
In case of many small business, including my own, we were forced to pivot or die. Many didn’t make it, yet many others who shifted quickly, thrived. For The Curated Look and for myself, this was a time for quiet changes. I decided to shift my focus from brand promotion to working with clients (what I had already been doing all along), and to give the brand itself a more client-focused approach.
Even though I was consumed with the news and trying to make sense of things, I found time to study at GIA (online) and earn a jewelry degree I had been wanting to get for years. I watched every business seminar I could get my hands on, worked with a business coach, re-read my mission, worked with my marketing team, meditated, journaled. I basically broke down my business and narrowed it down to what was working and continued to grow and invest time on that.
What emerged was a very specific and curated (natch) experience for my clients. One that would be Covid safe and convenient, while transcending from the typical online shopping situation. I am blessed with clients all around the world, and have been working with clients virtually for years. This is something that kept coming up in my reflection. It is something I am good at and known for, so I decided to make it the cornerstone of The Curated Look while enhancing our Covid safety protocols and honing in on the contactless piece.
Happily, clients have continued to add to their jewelry collections, albeit more thoughtfully and with a purpose. Working with them through these strange times has felt like a blessing, and our relationships deepened as a result. I was also able to add clothing to my repertoire, welcoming Charlotte Brody to the CL family. Her easy timeless pieces just make sense right now.
I must admit I was hoping for an October re-launch and big party. Covid has def slowed this down, if not forced me to eliminate it all together. The thing about this year is that we don’t really know what tomorrow or next week is going to look like, and I’ve come to understand that I never really did. Letting go of that fake feeling of control has been a challenge. I’m a planner. I’m a celebrator, an at-home entertainer. All of those seem to be paused forcing me to operate my business in alternate ways.
The good news is that The Curated Look is bigger (or smaller depending on how you look at it) and better than ever. Gone are the crowded events and gimmicky parties. Sure they were fun, and they are sure to be back, but my focus for now is connecting on a deeper level with my clients in order to be able to better meet their needs and of course be of support during these unprecedented times.
“What the world needs now, is love, sweet love. That’s the only thing that there’s just too little of” has been circling my brain daily since the lockdown compounded with everything else that this challenging year has brought forth. I hope that you can feel the love through everything I do, whether you are a client, friend or just casually stopping by. Our new mission and specialized services reflect that, and I am confident that by adhering to our principals we are helping make this world a better place.
Shopping and style and fashion and jewelry might seem trivial to some in times like these, but I am willing to add some perspective to that. Historically, when life has been challenging it has been beauty and art in its many forms that has carried us through and inspired us and kept us going. It’s why we travel, or share a pretty meal on Instagram. It’s what makes us human, and fashion and personal style and expression is a big part of that.
I believe that looking your best is so important to feeling good. Once you are feeling good you can conquer almost anything. I hope that I can be of support to you, whether it be curating your closet to reflect more Covid friendly choices, or to gift yourself that special piece of jewelry. No client is too big or too small. This is important work! Especially now when we could all use something to feel good about.
Thanks for reading and following along. Stay safe!
xo Gaby