Meet the Maker: Q + A with Poppy and Finch

We’re so excited to announce our DIY Workshop with Portland based botanical studio Poppy & Finch! This one day only event on Saturday, June 5th is an amazing opportunity to connect with Weina Dinata, the talented female founder & native plant advocate behind the brand.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WEINA, HER MULTI-TALENTS AND HER PASSION FOR NATIVE PLANTS…

For our readers that don’t know about Poppy & Finch, tell us a bit about yourself and your work.

My name is Weina Dinata. I was born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. I came to the US and got a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design specializing in branding and packaging from Academy of Art College and University of San Francisco. I studied Flower Arrangement from a prestigious teacher in Jakarta and went to music school focusing on classical piano.

Poppy & Finch is a botanical design studio inspired by the beauty, versatility and the crucial role of our naturally occurring native plants for our habitat. We help people to connect with nature in a deeper, meaningful and ecological way through our one-of-a-kind up-cycled table-top gardens, wall-mounted or hanging gardens, educational gifts, workshops and gardening consultation. 

I am also launching my mobile business in the summer to support my mission connecting and educating people on native plants in different communities, events, and schools.

How did the idea for Poppy & Finch get started? How did you bring it from dream to reality?

The idea of Poppy & Finch started out of my needs to attract birds and beneficial insects into my garden. I did a lot of research and it led me to native plants and how crucial they are to the existence of our ecosystem. I fell in love with native plants and started practicing ecological gardening to help our habitat. I was committed to share my knowledge about native plants and my design aesthetics to be the hub and resources for people who want to connect and surround themselves with meaningful beauties.

I made my dream into reality by starting with a lot of outreach programs or different venues educating people from different walks of life about the importance of native plants for our habitat and showcasing the beauty and versatility of native plants through my botanical creations.

Your favorite thing about the work that you do?

My favorite thing about the work that I do is to get the chance to connect people with nature in a deeper and meaningful way. My work gives me purpose to help our habitat in a more approachable and proactive way from our own home.

I love working with native plants because they teach me to love and respect what we inherited unconditionally, which is translated to loving and respecting myself the way I am. Last but not least, working with nature is very grounding, refreshing and humbling.

What did you do before Poppy & Finch came to be?

I worked in graphic design studios for 15 years focusing mostly on branding and food packaging design and simultaneously, volunteered in non-profit organizations around sustainability. So, I guess the combination of my background and passion for sustainability culminated in Poppy & Finch. I also did back-up singing for a blues/rock singer/songwriter.

What advice do you have for new entrepreneurs who want to start their business?

Mistakes are your best friend.  Start somewhere, don’t wait until it’s perfect. I know this sounds cliche but follow your heart, do what you love and question your why’s. Never compare yourself to anyone and to what appears on social media. Believe in yourself, dig deep, and find your purpose and values.

Describe an “aha moment” that helped you grow as a business owner?

My aha moment is when I realize that there’s no arrival, everything is evolving and you’re the boss of yourself so you have all the choices in the world on what to choose to grow as a business owner even as an individual. Being a business owner is my own therapy process to becoming a better version of yourself.

Your favorite “get sh*t done” song?

I love old school stuff like Debbie Gibson, Tiffany, Belinda Carlile, etc. I also love singing Indonesian songs from when I was growing up while I am creating my moss balls and table-top gardens. 

Your dream collaboration or partnership?

I want to be the the Martha Steward of outdoor lifestyle! Working together with Patagonia because I love their company’s culture and their commitment to our environment. Also, as much as I am afraid of public speaking, I’d love to be part of TED (talk) about what I do sharing my journey as an entrepreneur to inspire people (especially older people because I didn’t start my business until when I was in my 40’s) who wanted to start their own business and sharing my passion of the beauty, versatility and crucial role of native plants for our habitat. 

How can people connect with you? 

You can connect with me via email: weina@poppyandfinch.com. You’re also invited to visit my educational habitat garden and botanical studio in NE Portland.

Our Fave Things at ROW DTLA

ROW DTLA is our amazing, outdoor market venue, and a destination itself worth visiting. The unique mixed-use space in downtown Los Angeles encompasses 32 acres of restaurants and cafes, shops, offices, and loads of Instagrammable photo moments. Plus it’s a great outdoor place to bring the kids and dogs.

We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite places to go and things to do while you’re there! And remember, your first two hours of parking are free during our pop-up market. See you soon!

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Cafe and Dining

With some great options to choose from, ROW dining has you covered all day long. You can start with breakfast at Cafe Dulce, grab a quick lunch at Pikunico and do cocktails and dinner at Rappahannock Oyster Bar. Here are some drool worthy highlights of some of our tops picks!

go get em tiger

Hayato

Rappahannock Oyster Bar

Shopping

In between meals, spend your time in ROW DTLA’s globally recognized shops. You can pretty much find anything you’re looking for here. Here’s a little peak into shops that have our homes, kitchens, and bodies covered.

Flask & Field

Poketo

Still Life Ceramics

Play

There are artful walls, installations, and the beautiful shop fronts themselves that give ROW DTLA so many photo opportunities. This beauty, coupled with the amazing architecture that is the DNA in this historic district, has photographers from all over flocking to shoot here. So take your time, wander thoroughly, find all the hidden gems, but don’t leave this place without capturing it on camera.

5 Self Care Tips from Entrepreneurs

Everyone has their rough days, even those successful trailblazers you admire oh-so much. For ambitious entrepreneurs, long work hours overweigh the thought of sleeping, eating, or socializing. It’s always important to take care of yourself before diving into new projects. While some of these self-care tips may seem short term, it’s imperative to remember that these rituals are investments into physically and mentally healthier & happier individuals in the long run.

Here are five tips notable entrepreneurs:

1. Sleep your way to the top. The recommended sleep amount is 7-9 hours for ages 26-64. Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post, claims she broke her jaw after passing out from exhaustion while working. She believes most individuals are in a sleep deprivation crisis and has since adopted better self-care through better sleep.

2. Reach out to others for help. When you’ve got a lot on your plate, life can seem overwhelming and hard to balance. Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama told Women’s Health that when things get tough, she reaches out “ to friends, my mom, my girlfriends; I vent, I release…”

3. Give yourself some “ME” time. Oprah Winfrey credits her healthy mental health and self-care to giving herself some alone time. "I always give myself Sundays as a spiritual base of renewal—a day when I do absolutely nothing. I sit in my jammies or take a walk and I allow myself time to BE—capital B-E—with myself.”

4. Read more. The more you read, the more you learn, the more you know. For busy entrepreneurs like Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, reading the news on phone screens may be efficient, while for others, reading books may produce greater ideas. Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett, spends 80% of his day reading books; he credits many of his great money making decisions to this habit.

5. Exercise. Exercising strengthens your heart, improves your circulation, raises oxygen levels, releases endorphins, and more. Every morning, Shark Tank investor and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, gets his daily workout in from going on the elliptical to dribbling around the court to Latin-fusion aerobic classes.

Unique Coloring Pages to Print

It’s time to sit down and get creative!

Our founder Sonja created these 6 pages for you to print as coloring book pages. So grab crayons, watercolor paints, coloring pencils and whatever you can get your hands on! Share your masterpieces with us on Instagram by tagging us @uniquemarkets #uniquemarkets. Have fun!

4 Perks of Conscious Consumerism

By Cat Iannucci

This year has brought more conversation around conscious consumerism and the might of spending power.  Shopping “small” and local is something we all need to make part of our regular routines. There are so many benefits to being a more responsible consumer, but here are some of our favorites… 

#1

Peek Behind the Brand,
Get to Know the Founder(s)

Many smaller, more responsible brands emphasize their leadership team because they are the people whose passion made your product purchase possible. As a patron of these types of businesses, you have an opportunity to know who is behind the product and what their values are. Which then allows you to ensure that they align with your own. 

#2

Take Care of Your Mother

Mother Earth that is. By purchasing from brands owned and manufactured in the United States you're reducing the environmental impact of shipping. The shorter the distance between where your product is made and you, the fewer fossil fuels are being emitted into the atmosphere from plane, ship, train, and truck travel. 

#3

Slow Down Fast Fashion
& Mass Production

Fast fashion, naturally, applies strictly to clothing and accessories, but the concept of cheap, disposable products extends far beyond fashion. There’s low quality, irresponsibly produced food, home decor, and pretty much anything else you can think of. But the impacts of these fast products are enduring. The waste created each year by fast fashion is hard to believe — globally, we create about 13 million tons of textile waste annually. Not to mention the poor business practices that these types of operations breed; underpaid labor, irresponsibly sourced materials, hazardous waste and production practices like clothing dye being dumped into waterways, and more. By choosing to buy from an independent or local brand that doesn’t mass produce abroad, you’re helping in numerous ways that help the planet and us all.

#4

Create Jobs & Help Your City

Let’s talk money, honey… As small businesses grow they hire more and more people, creating jobs in your community! Plus, small businesses pay numerous taxes including City, State and Federal — unlike corporations and large businesses who receive tax credits or don’t pay any at all! So when you buy from small businesses, you’re helping to actually put dollars back into community services and infrastructure like schools, libraries, park space, fire stations, better roads, and more! Shopping local and shopping small is a WIN-WIN.

“Don’t put anything in your cart if you wouldn’t be proud to know who makes it, what it’s made with, or how it’s made.”

Kids These Days: A Look at 'Small' Business Owners

by Kara Scharwath

For the last 10 years, Unique LA has worked with more than 7,500 small business owners. Supporting up-and-coming entrepreneurs is at the heart of why the company exists. It’s their amazing stories and accomplishments that motivate us to work harder every day.

One of the goals when starting Unique LA was to show young people that it’s possible to be successful at doing what you love, even if you’re an artist, furniture maker or jewelry designer. Over the years, we’ve seen inspired young shoppers decide to become successful designers and business owners - and sell at the markets! Here are two stories of some of the smallest entrepreneurs around.

Frères Branchiaux The three brothers of Frères Branchiaux – Collin, 12, Ryan, 9, and Austin, 7 – started their Washington, D.C.-based candle and apothecary business after their parents told them that if they wanted more allowance to buy video games, they should either get a job or start a business. “We decided to start a business.” They researched different products and settled on scented soy candles. Their mom, Celena, passed along what she learned at a candle workshop and they started hand pouring candles in small batches and making room sprays, diffusers, incense, soap, bath bombs, and more.

The boys balance the demands of owning a business with the need to be kids by keeping things in perspective. “Since we play football, baseball, soccer, and take piano and language lessons, our parents manage our time so we won’t be too busy. Sometimes it feels like it is too much, but we remind ourselves that it is worth it in the end.” Austin, the youngest brother, says. He also thinks it’s worthwhile because they are giving something back to the community. “I can help poor people by donating 10% to the homeless.”

When asked what it’s like to work so closely with family, the oldest brother Collin says, “It’s good but hard sometimes. I’m the oldest and sometimes they don’t listen to me. I have to be patient because they are younger but we always have fun when we are together.”

Their dream is to have their own store, many stores in fact, and to be millionaires. But for now, you can find their products in two D.C. based shops – Shop Made and Steadfast Supply – and popup markets like Unique LA. The best part for Ryan, the brother in the middle, is getting to travel all over the country to sell candles!

Heathmade Always curious about nature and the world, Heath Pollard started experimenting with plants and herbs at the age of four in a potions class. When his pre-kindergarten class did an Entrepreneurial Fair, Heath decided to submit his first sales plan for hand sanitizer and paid $20 to rent a booth and sell it there. He quickly learned how to mix and stir essential oils, plant butters and other natural substances into a line of wellness products that became Heathmade.

Today, at nearly eight years old, Heath makes a whole line of beautifully packaged products including lotion bars, lip balms, lip scrubs, healing face and body balms, and hand sanitizer. Heath still loves getting dirty mixing and creating each product, which originates entirely from his curious nature. But the best part is, “getting to be the boss of my parents!”

Heath wants his company to not just be successful, but to inspire other kids to start their own companies. “I want Heathmade to be a ginormous company in a big building. My vision is to get kids curious about being business people. I want them to know they can do it too.” His advice for other kids that want to become entrepreneurs? “Follow your passion because it’s worth it!”

5 Tips to Drive Online Sales

We went live on Instagram with Anne Nichols, co-founder of Salty + Pine and former CEO of Elli to talk about pivoting to online sales in a world where brick & mortar experiences are restricted. From an industry expert and seasoned e-commerce leader, here are 5 things you can do now to grow your business online:

1. Set Realistic Goals

Now is the time to map out the goals for you business so that you can work towards them and measure your progress. Think both long term and immediate when setting your goals. Here are some examples to get the planning started:

• Set sales goals like drive X$ in sales or double sales over last year
• Launch redesigned website
• Develop new products
• Establish wholesale partnerships

2. Get your House in Order

By “House” we mean digital storefront like your Website, Etsy Shop, or Instagram feed. This is how people are going to get to know your brand and your products so first impression and ease of use is key! Upkeep and maintenance is also important, make sure your storefront is fresh and always up-to-date with your current offerings.

Website:

• Review analytics to set site optimization priorities
• Get customer feedback to inform site and product updates
• Update product images, descriptions, and pricing as needed
• Add any new products, testimonials and reviews
• Review and optimize SEO titles and descriptions

Instagram:

• Make sure you have a business account
• Create a shop in Facebook Business Manager
• Tag your posts and products with commerce tags

3. Pick, Pack & Ship

Fulfillment can be a logistical nightmare and is often the point where an amazing brand can break down. Make sure you have a scalable plan for when your sales start increasing!

Self fulfillment:

• Often the most logical first step
• Stock up on shipping supplies
• Simplify labeling and shipping (made easy with services like ShipStation or Shippo)

Third Party Logistics:

• When you can’t keep up with order volume (woohoo!)
• Connect with partner to manage inventory and fulfillment like ShipBob which stocks your inventory in one of their fulfillment centers and charges fees based on volume and shipping destination

4.Engage with Customers

With so many brands vying for the consumer’s attention and business, the way you engage with your customers both new and prospect is your secret sauce. Make it authentic and try creative ways to connect and engaged virtually.

Instagram:

• Check out COVID-19 Business Resources (See that button in your profile? Click it!)
• Add Action Buttons to profile and stories
• Do events online like hosting a Q&A, or going live with a fellow entrepreneur
• Showcase and explain your products or services
• Teach your audience how to do something

Email Marketing:

• Create a sign up and/or leverage current email list
• Create a content calendar with balance of inspirational and promotional messaging
• Start mailing regularly

5. Grow Your Audience

It goes without saying, all of the steps above will organically help grow your audience but there are a few more strategic ways to make sure you’re getting the word out:

Unpaid:

• Collaborations with like-minded brands
• Social Tag & Follow giveaway featuring minimum 5 brands
• Experiment with targeted or regional hashtags on social media

Paid:

• Experiment with promoted Instagram and Facebook posts which you can do on a budget you set. Start with promoting posts with the most engagement to lookalike audiences then track engagement and cost-per-action to determine effectiveness. Scale and optimize accordingly!

4 Steps to Get a Handle on your Money

“Money is just Choice plus Communication.”

We sat down (figuratively on IG Live) with Portland finance pro, Renée Shade, to talk about moolah in the time of Coronavirus. She shared her 4 steps to get a handle on your money, both personal and for business:

1. TAKE INVENTORY of all your expenses

This is a brain dump of everything you pay for. Refer to bank and credit card statements, expense reports from Quickbooks or Xero for business expenses and spending by Payee in Mint, YNAB, Venmo, and the like for personal expenses. Write each expense on a sticky note or spreadsheet (something you can move around) then for each expense, identify:

• Name of Vendor

• How much is it?

• What does this pay for?

• How often do I pay it?

• It is contractually obligated?

• Business or personal? Separate your biz and personal expenses.

2. MAKE DECISIONS AND CHANGES

Make a decision matrix, divided into four quadrants: Important & Not Important / Hard to Change & Easy to Change. Sort your expenses into each quadrant then start by cutting Not Important/Easy to Change items like monthly subscription to apps you never use working your way through to the Important/Hard to Change items like insurance. Voila!

3. ADD IT ALL UP

Add up all of your business and personal expenses then figure out what expenses you have to pay in the next...30 Days, 60 Days, 90 Days. Do this separately for both your personal and business expenses.

4. MAKE A PLAN

For each period, answer:

• What are my expenses (after cuts)?

• How much do I need to bring in?

• How am I making money during this time?

• What am I doing/What’s staying the same/What’s changing?

• What are my contingency plans?

If you’re feeling like everything is uncertain now, remember now is the perfect time to make a plan and that starts with getting a clear picture of your finances and spending. Making changes within your sphere of influence will put the control back in your hands so you can do your best!

“Take a moment, take a breath. Make a plan and try your best.” Zoe | Starbeam

Renée Shade has almost 20 years of experience in operations, finances, and executive leadership for solopreneurship, nonprofits, startups, and Fortune 100 companies. She’s organized and prepared, which gives her the advantage of excellent foresight. Whether it's dollars, numbers or values, she enjoys seeing the world through measurable means, and is even more passionate about helping others see the advantages of doing it too. renee@fisherbusiness.net

Q + A with Social Impact Brand Neococo

NEOCOCO

(@neococo_tribe)

At just 18 years old, founder Amrita began working as a fashion stylist for Elle - India. Over the years, she’s worked as a stylist on films and commercials with designers and celebrities. However, after learning about the harsh realities of refugees in the Middle East, Amrita’s career took a turn. She decided to create her own brand, NEOCOCO, by giving job opportunities to women refugees. These resilient women create hand embroidered t-shirts that symbolize the significance of freedom within women’s rights, conflict, abuse and issues beyond. 100% of the revenue is directed back into the company to hire and assist more refugees.

What did you do before starting your business?

I always worked in Fashion. I freelanced as a fashion stylist for fashion publications, TV commercials and movies. A lot of my work as a costume stylist involved working with smaller groups of artisans and sourcing specialized embroidery techniques. I love the art of sourcing and the thrill of being able to explore hand made textiles, prints and embroidery/beading techniques.

What does your typical work day look like?

Part of how we operate is by allowing our team to work from home. Most of the women are moms figuring out their lives in the US for their kids and families and we offer a work from home policy. We attune the logistics for each individual to work past their challenges, e.g. transportation, hours, skill level, language and inhibitions. So we follow a very strict and disciplined work routine. We meet with our team every Monday to pick up, drop off and train any potential candidates. On other days we work on design, potential opportunities and collaborations.

What’s the most important thing you attribute to your success?

Staying true to our mission. Our goal is to create job opportunities for women refugees resettling in Los Angeles. We create high quality hand embroidered T-shirts that tell a story of every women who embroiders it giving her back independence and dignity. We believe in creating social and entrepreneurial opportunities for our team enabling them to explore different platforms. We have a 100% control over quality since we source and manufacture locally in Los Angeles.

What is the hardest thing about being a business owner?

You have to have a THICK skin and you have to be ok with people saying NO. Being able to hustle, to focus on marketing, sales, the company mission, production, design, quality control all at the same time. Building a core team of people who share your brand mission can be a challenge but is a crucial part of building that support system. And most importantly on rough days being able to get up and love yourself and love what you do. :)

Any advice to someone wanting to take a leap of faith to start their own business?

Know your business, your mission, your goals and how you want to get there. Create that road map on paper and let that be your guide.

“I have learned that no matter how many borders divide us we are all in many ways bound by more similarities than differences.”

Your biggest inspiration?

I am inspired by people and their stories. I love to travel and meet new people. I have learned that no matter how many borders divide us we are all in many ways bound by more similarities than differences.

Favorite “Get Sh*t done” Song?

Hands down Nicki Minaj's - “Moment 4 Life”

Dream Brand Collab?

TOMS Shoes

WFH with Kids: 3 Tips to Stay on Task

By: Heidi Reichert | Unique Markets Portland

If you’re a parent with young children, you’re probably juggling more roles than you thought you were capable of right now. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, small business owner, or working remotely, you’re likely struggling with staying on task while being your child’s teacher and full time care provider. Not to mention keeping up with the house and life.

As a mom to an 8 and 5 year old, launching a business of my own, I’m right there with you! While the productivity expectations in this new normal are and should be completely different, it is possible to get work done with a little creativity and a lot of flexibility.

1. Make a Schedule

Everyone benefits from a routine in the best and worst of times.

With two working parents and two kids, we ran a tight ship pre-COVID 19, getting everyone fed and out of the house to work and school in the morning, then once again in the evening with dinner and bedtime. Once the stay-at-home order started, we found that sticking to a routine helped retain a sense of normalcy and also gave everyone direction for the day ensuring things that needed to get done got done. 

While sticking to a clock is not going to be realistic for most families, setting a sequence of events and goals for the day is helpful. Break down your day into 30 minute to 1 hour chunks involving the essentials like meals, snacks, school time, and work time and be sure to incorporate time for play, walks, and free time. Involve your kids in making the schedule to get buy-in and get creative by drawing it on a chalkboard or making a poster to hang in the kitchen. Once you’ve set your schedule, stick to it. Your kids are more likely to respect work time if they see you following through with the schedule.

2. Set Expectations

If your kids are not used to a parent working from home, they are naturally going to expect to have your attention 100% of the time because you’re physically there. 

Help your kids adjust by explaining to them that just like they have responsibilities (picking up their room and getting their school work done), you have responsibilities to your job too. For me, this not only helped my young kids understand that mommy needs uninterrupted quiet time, it also alleviated that nagging guilt of being torn between the kids’ needs and work demands. (Who knows what I’m talking about?!) Frame the expectations in a way that shares goals and rewards: “Let’s all get our work done so we can go out for a walk, work on that craft project, or bake cookies!”

When trying to balance Zoom meetings, projects, and phone calls in an activity filled home, make a sign that indicates do not disturb in a fun way like “Busy Bee” which signals to your littles that you are not to be interrupted.

3. Be Flexible

I personally work best in the morning. I wake up full of ideas and inspiration and can’t wait to get going! With the kids at home, I’ve had to adjust to the reality that my solid work time needs to happen in the afternoons when their school work is done and my husband is free to watch them. Maybe this is nap time or screen time in your house. Now, I work in smaller spurts so I can still feed off of my AM creative energy (most days this means jotting down an idea to go back to later or shooting off a quick email) and reserve projects that need more time and focus for the afternoons.

Challenge yourself to work in shorter bursts of time (aren't moms already champions of this?!), you may surprise yourself!

We are all in different circumstances, facing various levels of responsibilities, emotions and stress. It’s important to accept that some days will be more productive than others and that’s OK. Also, this is reality right now so don’t apologize if your kid crashes your Zoom meeting or IG Live broadcast. We’re all in this together and one of the beauties coming out of this situation is that we’re getting to see and embrace the unpolished human side of each other.

Q + A with Rewilder

Rewilder

“Zero waste originals” - this is how founder Jenny hopes to reinvent fashion, by creating modern design bags from 100% salvaged materials. After realizing how much waste gets produced in a normal fashion lifecycle, she decided to forgo her career in architecture and rather used her experience in this field to create #betterbags.

What inspired you to start your company/brand?

Rewilder revolves around transforming industrial waste into eco-friendly bags. Working 15 years in architecture and material development, I was frustrated with the amount of waste I was seeing, and was looking for a more responsible path. While teaching a Materials Innovation class at Art Center, I came across an industrial filter cloth material being thrown away on a massive scale. Rewilder was born around this first material, and the realization that as a designer I could make meaningful change in the way we look at materials.

Why did you choose the specific industry your brand is in?

The materials we look for are high performance fabrics that lend themselves to soft goods. We quickly recognized the potential for fashion to drive change, as it’s an industry that makes people do strange things, be outside of the normal. We use our fashion platform to encourage consumers to change their relationship with all their stuff.

What did you do before starting your business?

My previous life was in Architecture, founding the Architectural Division inside of a large manufacturing company. I worked with a team of engineers and fabricators to solve complex architectural projects – new material development, hardware, structural systems, and lighting – innovative experience that became the basis for Rewilder.

Describe a memory or an a-ha moment you had and how you felt?

Learning about the beer filter material and its life cycle was the ah-ha moment. A single large brewery trashes 2 tons of this material every 3 days (that’s 250 tons annually!). It’s an incredibly unique and beautiful material, with patina from filtering hops and barley, and it was shocking to learn that it’s thrown away.

What’s the most important thing you attribute to your success?

Persistence, Innovation, Collaboration.

Persistence because it’s really hard to start a small business, and especially hard to differentiate yourself in a saturated market. There were many hurdles and uncertainties, and we had to trust in ourselves to keep at it, knowing this is important and worth the work. Innovation because we have to constantly think outside the box, rethinking the entire way that materials are used and the potential of materials that are typically considered trash. Finding new materials to work with is detective work, constantly exploring unusual places. Collaboration because we rely on companies to partner with, like the Hollywood Bowl, Subaru, and CHNGE. These are forward thinking projects that recognize the many impacts (economic / equity / environmental) of diverting materials from the landfill and giving them a valuable second life.

Where do you see your company in 5 years?

Rewilder is leading the way toward a culture where we use and re-use materials that are already here, rather than making new. Over the next years, we want to build a conscious brand leading a truly zero-waste design model, grow a sustainable and local manufacturing facility, and partner with companies to divert massive amounts of material from the landfill.

Your biggest inspiration?

Our materials! Finding new materials is incredibly exciting, and is the catalyst for design

inspiration.

Favorite “Get Sh*t done” Song?

Dej Loaf, No Fear

Dream Brand Collab? 

Patagonia / Allbirds / Outerknown

Monthly Virtual Pop-Up Marketplaces

The idea for Unique Markets came to our founder, Sonja Rasula, while driving all around LA from small boutique to small boutique, trying to put together a gift of a few items, from brands she loved, for a friend. Why wasn’t there one cool store with all the locally made brands she wanted to spend her money with? Thus, Unique Markets began, as a way to bring together all of the amazing designers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs we want and love, under one roof!

When COVID-19 made hosting these markets IRL impossible, we had to think of a way to continue to help our community of small business owners in another way. How could we bring those brands together in a way that would showcase them best? For Mother’s Day, we introduced our first ever Virtual Pop-Up Marketplace. We featured brands that had everything Moms wanted, and it was a huge success!

We are very excited to announce that this month we will continue with our Virtual Pop-up Marketplaces MONTHLY! Yes!! Every month we will be bringing you a themed curation of brands we love.

• July 6 - 12: BIPOC-Owned Brands
• August 3 - 9: Home Sweet Home As we continue to stay in, goods for a beautiful nest and staying home in style & comfort.
• Aug 31 - Sept 6: The Queen Bee Pop-Up! In celebration of Beyoncé’s birthday, all things for bosses & queens.

One of the things we’re really excited about for this show is that, because it’s Virtual, we have many more vendors from across the US that aren’t normally able to travel to the markets! We’ll have some amazing Unique Markets veterans participating, but we’ll also get a chance to introduce you to new brands and designers from all over! So bookmark our Homepage UniqueMarkets.com, sign up for our newsletter, and follow along on Instagram as we share some great people, and their dreams with you!

See You in 2021: Letter from the Founder

SAD BUT HEALTHY & HOPEFUL

Hi everyone! It’s with a heavy heart that I announce that we will not be moving forward with any IRL (in real life) events for the remainder of 2020. We’ve officially cancelled our LA and Portland Summer Markets, and all vendors and shoppers have been fully refunded. The lifeline of our amazing community is YOU — our talented, hard-working business owners and our fab shoppers and dedicated fans — so until I know that I can keep you and your family and friends safe, I’m not willing to put business before health.

To everyone reading this, please know how much I, and the entire team here at Unique Markets, will miss you! The buzz of laughter and excitement that is heard at our markets, the energy that’s felt all throughout the atmosphere as people discover things, and the smiles we witness as entrepreneurs and shoppers connect — these are things that I will look forward to experiencing again with you. As sad as I am to not have any markets this year, it’s allowed me to step back the past few months and actually reflect (for the first time in 12 years). And figure out ways to pivot and keep the unique party going!

• We will be launching Monthly Virtual Markets starting in July

• We are also launching something brand new and exciting very soon!!!

• We have ramped-up our blog content to offer playlists, artist Q&As, helpful articles and more

• Season 2 of our podcast, SOS with Sonja Rasula, launches the week of July 20th

• We’re about to launch helpful videos and tutorials on my new YouTube Channel for small business owners (subscribe now to ensure you don’t miss anything)

I am so grateful for the ability to continue to connect with all of you through the website, social media, etc. You better believe we’ll be announcing our new plans soon. Now more then ever we need to shop small and support local, independent design and business!

While this year has brought so many layers of struggle for everyone, I have bright eyes for the future. I hope you are safe and well, and look forward to the next time I get to see you! For now, we’ll see you online…

xo, sonja

5 Ideas to Keep Kids Busy this Summer

By: Heidi Reichert | Unique Markets Portland

Summertime is ahead and it may feel like after three months of stay-at-home, you’re out of ideas. We’ve got you covered with fun activities to keep the kids busy and creative!

Trash to Treasures

Go dumpster diving in the recycling bin and get creative with empty tissue boxes, toilet paper rolls, paper bags, and whatever else you can find. Put out tape, glue, and kid friendly scissors and see what they come up with! They can build homes for their stuffies, make puppets, or create art pieces to display.

Chalk your Walk

Get outside and decorate your driveway or sidewalk with chalk art. Kids can scribble, draw, and create hopscotch games. Make someone’s day and write friendly messages of hope for the neighbors!

Science Experiment

Ooblek is the gooey, slimy substance that kids are inexplicably obsessed with. It’s simple to make, so weird, and oh so fun to play with.

Ingredients:
2 cups cornstarch
1 cup water
Food coloring (optional, but not really)

Instructions:
Pour 2 cups of cornstarch into a bowl
Add 1 cup of water and stir to combine
Add food coloring (tip: if you want multiple colors, separate the mixture into different bowls for each color)

When mixed together you should be able to squeeze a handful of oobleck into a ball, when you release the pressure the ball should “melt” back into liquid. Cool! Put a protective covering over the dining room table, set out trays of oobleck and let the kids get their fingers in it. If it dries out, just refresh by adding a little water. It’s messy, but easy to clean up. Just let it dry and vacuum it up!

House Helpers

Kids love to help around the house, so give them simple chores like matching up socks from the clean laundry bin or wiping down the door handles with eco friendly cleaning solution. Try setting out a few plastic cups and bowls at the kitchen sink and let them “wash the dishes” while you meal prep. Plug the sink to preserve water and have a towel handy because this one can turn into a splash and bubbles session!

For the love of Reading

Finally, when you need a hands-off activity but don’t want to feel guilty about screen time, hop on to epic! for thousands of online books including read-to-me for the younger ones and my personal favorite, DIY drawing instructionals for the blossoming artists. epic! has a 30 day free trial but your local library will have access to online books, magazines, and audiobooks for free with apps like OverDrive and Libby.

Q+A with Laura Estrada Jewelry

Laura Estrada Jewelry

(@lauraestradajewelry)

No stranger to Unique Markets, Laura Estrada began selling with us in 2018. For over 8 years, she has been creating jewelry with incredibly unique shapes and textures. Her pieces are absolutely timeless!

What inspired you to start your company/brand? 

As far back as I can remember, I have been making little objects with my hands out of any material I could find. I come from a nomadic, eccentric, working class Guatemalan American family and making art always felt like a way to tell my story. The jewelry that I make is a reflection of my own personal experience and the way that I relate to and cope with the world we live in. My hope is that this sentiment can translate through the work and create a sense of empowerment and connection in each individual that wears my jewelry. 

Why did you choose the specific industry your brand is in? 

Jewelry and the medium of metal is endlessly fascinating to me. Humans have been adorning themselves for thousands and thousands of years, and there is no end of that in sight. It's an expression of life, taste, ritual, of what it means to be human. I like the timelessness and longevity of jewelry -- it makes me feel like I can be a part of a story, that the work I make can have purpose and meaning that lasts far longer than myself. 

What did you do before starting your business? 

I felt it was important for me to take the time to learn and experience as much as I could in the field before diving into starting my own business. After earning my BFA in jewelry + metalsmithing, I apprenticed for master jeweler Lola Brooks for several years, receiving valuable mentorship in the field, honing my craftsmanship, and becoming skilled in high end gold and diamond fabrication. I went on to work for a larger commercial jewelry company in Los Angeles as their production manager, then lead designer, where I gained a greater understanding of the business side of the industry. With those experiences, I felt ready to start my own line and quit my job to make jewelry full time.

“The jewelry that I make is a reflection of my own personal experience and the way that I relate to and cope with the world we live in.”

What does your typical work day look like? 

I find my best and most productive days start with exercise. I typically get up between 8 and 9am, share a coffee and porch moment with my partner, then walk to my neighborhood yoga studio for some mental and physical alignment. I break my days of the week up into studio production, working on new designs, and building the business and brand. My favorite days are the ones where I get to spend all day in my studio, tinkering, experimenting with new materials, getting completely lost in the creative process. As a one woman venture, I am doing all aspects of the business myself, so I have found having systems in place and structure to the day is essential for me.

What is the hardest thing about being a business owner? 

To be completely honest, for me personally, it is self doubt. I've always been an anxious person, and can get lost in a spiral of uncertainty and questioning if I am on the right path or making the right decisions. I have to constantly remind myself that things take time and to enjoy the process and experience every moment. There is no right path, there are just many and they are all individually beautiful and worthwhile. 

Any advice to someone wanting to take a leap of faith to start their own business? 

Be ready to face rejection and know that it does not necessarily reflect on you and your artistry. If you don't get picked up by a store you think you'd be perfect for or your emails go unanswered, or sales don't skyrocket immediately, just know that it takes time and count every small achievement as a success. 

Your biggest inspiration? I would say it's a trifecta of my own personal experience, art history, and the wonder of nature.

Favorite “Get Sh*t done” Song: All of Ege Bamyasi by Can 

Dream Brand Collab? I know this isn't exactly the question, but if I could ever have my work grace the inspiration and icon that is Erykah Badu, I would be done. Also, Iris Van Herpen. 

Music Roundup: Listen to Our Artists of the Week

You get the drill. Every weekday on our IG Live series Sonja’s Morning Show, our favorite “Gen-Z adjacent” staff-member, Daniel, gives his recommended “Artist of the Day.” Here are five of Daniel’s music recommendations from last week:

Charlotte Hadden/Crack Magazine

Greentea Peng

Song Recommendation: Mr. Sun (miss da sun)

Greentea Peng has one of those undeniable smoky and raw voices in the same vein as Amy Winehouse. The South East London crooner is a mix of jazz, reggae, and soul, with flows that'll make you wonder if she moonlights as an MC. She carries an authenticity within her lyrics that will certainly get you to be in a reflective mood.

Katie McCurdy/Kinfolk

Kilo Kish

Song Recommendation: Like Honey

A true artist in every sense of the word, Kilo Kish is your favorite artist's favorite artist. Her swirling dark synth pop music sounds jarring, ethereal, heavenly, and sometimes even sinister. Watch any of her music videos and you'll start to wonder why the avant-garde creative isn't already bigger than she is.

Kllo/Twitter

Kllo

Song Recommendation: Candid

The Australian duo are a pure vibe! A mix of house, UK garage, and RnB, Kllo's subject matter is usually about the different stages in a relationship or love lost, written with a sincerity that will make you feel the emotion in their simple lyrics. Their music is peaceful & refreshing and perfect for just sitting down, lighting a candle, and closing your eyes.

Ramsey Cheng/Verse

ODIE

Song Recommendation: Little Lies

ODIE's sound is a bit hard to describe. His music influences range from hip hop greats like Kid Cudi and Kanye, to architects of afrobeat like Sunny Ade and Fela Kuti, all the way to Coldplay. His music has a calming presence, and he's adept at providing introspective and relatable lyrics that are simple, yet profound. He's one of those artists that you will grow to love because of his consistency in quality and unpredictability in sound.

Tyler Mitchell//i-D Magazine

Steve Lacy

Song Recommendation: Hate CD

A homegrown talent from Southern California, Steve Lacy is a DIY artist. When he's not playing guitar or providing backup vocals for alt R&B band, The Internet, he creates an eclectic mix of psychedelic funk, disco, and RnB put together all on his iPhone. Listen to his album Apollo XXI to see how Lacy takes 70s sounds and updates them for a new generation.

If you like this article, read Our Five RnB/Soul Reccomendations to Get You Through The Quarantine …