Wendy Estes and Tiffany Harris have one thing in common - the passion for Layla Grayce. Wendy, a mother to 4 children, including twin 3 year old girls understands how to multi-task and what busy working moms need. She knows all about selecting the best items for babies and children. Wendy is seriously super-mom balancing her career and family life. Wendy is one of the sweetest gals we know - just so genuine.
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| {Wendy & her twin girls |
Tiffany is their resident design buff and wow, she is just great at what she does. With degrees and education as an interior designer, certified color consultant and a current American Society of Interior Designers member -- she is pure perfection. Just recently Tiffany reconnected with her high school sweetie and married. Tiffany is constantly assisting customers with decorating suggestions and purchasing and has an amazing eye for great design. Just wait until you see her house!
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| {Tiffany} |
Read on to get all the details on their amazing company they have built together and how you can win a $150 gift certificate to one of our favorite shops, Layla Grayce.
{What inspired you to start this amazing shop, Layla Grayce? Did you ever imagine it to grow so quickly? What inspires your picks on the site?}
Tiffany: Layla Grayce was built on passion and adoration to create beautiful surroundings. We had access to some incredible furniture lines and realized there was a hole in the market because you couldn’t find them anywhere. Women have such busy lives and so little time to search out what they are looking for; we knew we could create an aesthetically pleasing virtual store where you could shop for yourself, mother, child or friend all with the click of a button.
No, we never imagined we would be as big as we are today, nor did we ever set out to be. We often laugh at our humble beginnings, but looking back, growth was an inevitable result due to the drive and delight we both have to continue to push ourselves and always strive to improve Layla Grayce.
Inspiration is found everywhere we go and we are constantly adding new products by pushing the limits to be current and still traditionally classic. The constant search for new products is infectious when we travel together. Thankfully, our aesthetic is almost identical even living across the country from one another.
{Wendy, you are a mom which automatically means you are a multi-tasker, especially with a growing biz! What advice or tips do you have for other moms out there doing the same?}
This is true. I’ve grown in to a multi-tasker, not a multi-slacker although in my next life I pick multi-slacker. Advice I give moms in business is toss the idea of balance out the window. Business needs you more one day, kids really need you the next so in my opinion balance is leaning left, then leaning right to compensate. If you’ve chosen to run a business and have children, I know it’s easier said than done but try to let go of “guilty mom,” you’ll be happier and so will those around you.
Second, try to be as efficient as possible. That starts with getting organized. A secret for managing my marketing/ web/ pr team remotely is Google. I run about 10 calendars that are shared with my team such as a blog, new product additions, social media, newsletter, press & web maintenance schedules. Employees can login to their Google account view changes, make changes and add notes and all changes are viewed real time. We’re also heavy users of Google’s document sharing. If you can be efficient by keeping organized, it should lower stress levels which trickles down to the kids.
{Layla Grayce has endless amazing things - a beautiful shop with beautiful things! This may be hard but do you have any personal favorites?}
Tiffany: Well, thank you! Layla Grayce has over 7,500 products and some are available in multiple colors, so there is a lot to choose from. It is so difficult to narrow down the favorites because everything was a “favorite” at one point, or else we wouldn’t have added it to our collection. Currently, our favorites are:
- Wendy and I both gave cell phone cases to everyone we know this year for Christmas. Stylish, functional and who doesn’t love personalization! - Fashion is something we used to do years ago and we decided to bring it back this past year to offer something more for our women’s department. Ella Moss for women and a little boutique line called Decaf Plush for kids are among our favorites.
- Aden and Anais eco-friendly bamboo swaddling wraps are one of the hottest gifts on the market for new moms. I don’t have kids, but they are so soft, I actually wear them as a scarf!
{Looking at the site, you must have quite the sense of style. How would you describe your own personal style?}
Wendy: One of the things I love most about this business is the consistent exposure to beautiful products and design trends yet no trend can replace a high-quality, well-designed classic piece. Over time, I’ve learned restraint in design and in my home. I favor minimal, yet impactful accessories and symmetry of space. I prefer classics in fashion or my home décor in key, core pieces embellished with modern, colorful accessories.
Tiffany: Both of our homes are the official testing ground for Layla Grayce products. If it isn’t good enough for us, then it certainly isn’t good enough for our customers. Presently, I am in the process of finishing an 8 month remodel on my home and I can proudly say it now reflects our Layla Grayce look. The key furniture pieces are covered in natural linen with sea glass blue accents and crisp white linen bedding. A few antiques added into the mix and a chandelier made from an old wine barrel hang in our entry to add character.
{Take a peek inside Tiffany's home. A few little antique shell bottles on an Oly studio antiqued mirrored top coffee table. A dome chair in the entry and a dining chair with wallpaper above. Oly Studio is a new collection recently added to Layla Grayce. The Serena Drum Chandelier was a must for Tiffany's dining room.}
{Tiffany shares her personal decorating tips with cupcakeMAG}
1) We are big believers in buying what you love and investing in pieces that can grow with your ever changing taste. It’s easy to inexpensively update classic pieces with the color palettes that express your style of the moment.
2) A home is meant to be lived in. Scratches and dents on furniture are proof of the love that surrounds us. Embrace the imperfect.
3) Express yourself. Take risks. Mix and match new and old pieces. Don’t let yourself become overwhelmed with the idea of redoing everything all it once and then never begin to create your own beautiful surroundings.
Tiffany tell us, "I'm currently obsessed with wallpaper. It’s like dressing your walls with your favorite fashion prints. This one is a shot of a ceiling and a modern fan with acrylic blades so it doesn’t distract from the wallpaper print. Also, a little antique 60’s dress form that I keep in my office usually dressed with pearls and scarves for fun."
Let's get to know these FABulous gals a little more! Wendy & Tiffany tell us a few things you may not know.
{WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT WENDY!}
1) Avid sports fan. MMA (http://ufc.com & http://pridefc.com), Dodgers, Lakers and most importantly my 10 year old son’s football team, the 2 yr undefeated metro-Atlanta champions. Go Eagles! 2) Can’t remember a joke. Can’t tell a joke. But, can laugh at them & most importantly admire those who can.
3) A Scrabble scrapper and especially liking the Scrabble app recently loaded on my ipad.
4) I work fast and drive even faster. Look out Atlanta.
5) Recipe collector. I believe good cooking comes down to 2 things, experience combined w/ an insane recipe. I enjoy reading Cook’s Illustrated and several foodie blogs.
{WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT TIFFANY!}
1.) Love Ugg boots on a cold morning at the beach.
2.) Current obsession – wallpaper. I have it in five rooms in my own home and still want more. We plan to add our favorites to Layla Grayce soon!
3.) Dislike the word “hate”. I wish it could be deleted from the dictionary. Being late. Seeing others be disrespectful to our elders.
4.) Pet peeve? Texting or talking loudly on cell phone at a nice restaurant.
5.) Sports fan of LA Kings ice hockey and Formula 1 Car Racing.
Did you just fall in LOVE all over again? We are sure Layla Grayce just swoons you right in! So what are you waiting for? Enter to win $150 to Layla Grayce! Read on to enter now.
{All Things Layla Grayce}
Giveaway: Thanks to Wendy & Tiffany we are giving one lucky reader $150 to Layla Grayce!
How to win: Visit Layla Grayce and tell us just what is on your wish list. This comment is mandatory. You also MUST be a follower of cupcakeMAG and cupcakeMAG for Littles.
For extra entries you can do the following below and leave us a separate comment for each letting us know. The more you comment the better chance you have to win!
5. Subscribe to our updates (top right corner above) - just sign up with your email!
6. Tweet about this giveaway and include @cupcakemag -- you must tweet, not just follow.
7. Tweet about this giveaway and include @laylagrayce -- you must tweet, not just follow.
8. Write a blog post about this giveaway on your blog and send us the link.
We will select a winner via random.org on Friday, March 5th at 11pm. Please make sure you enter the mandatory comment first before doing the extra entries.
