April 16, 2018 • 32 mins
FYI!!! Carla Marie is no longer the host of a morning show in Seattle but she is still supporting small businesses in every way possible. She’s even started her own small business with her radio cohost and best friend, Anthony. All of the links below will help you stay up to date!
Follow Carla Marie on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/thecarlamarie/
Watch Carla Marie and Anthony’s Show on Twitch
twitch.tv/carlamarieandanthony
Sign up for The Carla Marie and Anthony Show newsletter to stay up to date:
https://view.flodesk.com/pages/5f516ae62c60490027b9ec20
Email Carla Marie
SideHustlersPodcast@gmail.com
Text Carla Marie and Anthony:
201-305-0894
Follow Carla Marie and Anthony on Instagram
http://instagram.com/carlamarieandanthony
Subscribe to Carla Marie and Anthony on YouTube:
YouTube.com/CarlaMarieAnthony
Follow Carla Marie and Anthony on Facebook
http://facebook.com/carlamarieandanthony
Email Carla Marie and Anthony
CarlaMarieandAnthony@gmail.com
Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
For a lot of people. You know, why are you when?
Do you know what you want to do? And this
is what you want to do and do it. I'm
a hustle side side hustle. Do it. I'm a hustle
a sod sid hustle do it. I'm a hustle, side hustlow.
I'm a hustle side slow. I'm a hustle side side hustler.
Come on, ask about me, yo yo. It's the side
(00:24):
Hustless podcast. We call the Root. Welcome to another episode
of Side Hustlers podcast. I am joined by someone who's
actually not act here, so this is this is different.
This is my first episode. We're not even on the phone.
We're face timing. We've never met in person. I've got
Chelsea Barber on FaceTime. Hollo, Chelsea, Hi are you? I'm great.
(00:46):
So Chelsea and I we've never met. We only know
each other through Tatum. Tatum was in the very first
episode of Side Hustlers. She was the creator of This
Is magazine. And you and Tatum went to college together. Yes,
we were both went to Universe see San Diego together.
Chelsea is the first person who is a side hustler
who has something you can actually go out and buy,
(01:06):
which I think is super cool that we've you know,
up until this point, we haven't had anyone like that.
You have a swimwear line, which I love. Yeah, it's amazing.
I'm going to give you the website a million times
about this podcast, But it's C B Swimwear s e
a letter B swimwear dot com. Do you want to
check her out? So the name, I want to talk
about that for a second. It's a play on your
(01:28):
own name. It is so um A lot of people
don't realize this, but CB Swimwear stands for my initials.
So CP is Chelsea Barber. And then it's also kind
of play on words because Chelsea where you look at it,
but it's from Yeah, it's like you couldn't actually do
anything else. You had to have a swimwear line, I know, right,
(01:51):
So what is your day job? Because creating a swimwerlar
a line obviously seems pretty tough to do, but you
obviously have a day job too. I do. So I
managed the activewear department at a major retailer here in
San Diego. So I've been doing that. Um well, I've
been working with the retailer for about eight years. So yeah, no,
(02:12):
managing is taken up a lot of time. But actually
I really love it. I love what I do. So
it's just finding time, you know, on my two days
off a week or completely dedicated to my swimmer line
and after work. So when did you launch the swimmer line? Um,
I started it last year. So yeah, I started in
the beginning of two thousand and seventeen. Is when I
(02:33):
really started looking for someone to produce them and kind
of got it going. I have like a billion questions
that I'm trying to for out, like which path to
go down? So at your your nine to five, is
it really a nine to five? Like what are your hours?
So I work five days a week eight to five
and then yeah, I usually don't actually leave until around six,
(02:55):
but after that I go home and I try to
spend about two to three hours and you know, on average,
um working on swimware stuff, whether that be editing photos,
working on the website, reaching out to like local swimsuit
shops or whatever it might be that day, and then
my two days off during the week, or just completely
(03:15):
swimwear relieving. Wow, do you take anything from your regular
day job that or anything you've learned to creating this line.
Oh absolutely, Um, working in fashion, I've been doing that
since I was eighteen, So that's given me a really
good insight as to what people are looking for. You know,
what customers like with their fit, what styles are coming up,
(03:39):
what's going to be big for the next season. So
given me kind of an upper hand and knowing the
industry in a sense and just staying related to fashion
trends all the time is blast. What is the end goal?
Is the end goal to have a swimware line that
everyone knows about everyone's wearing and that's all you do
all the time, or do you want keep doing both? Um?
(04:01):
I would love to just focus full time on swimwhere
eventually I think I love the product and it's such
great quality. I truly believe that it could be something
that everyone knows about that's just a common name and
you know, major retailers and surf shops. So that's the goal. Okay,
we're gonna get you there. We're gonna do that. We're
gonna make sure you're gonna retire from your regular desk
(04:21):
job and do this full time. It shopping for bathing
suits though it sucks like we as women. Men. If
you're listening to this right now, you will never understand.
I'm sorry, but between the boobs and the butt and
all of it, it's just it really is awful. So
when creating a swimsuit, are you thinking, Okay, I've been
in dressing rooms and it's been awful, Like what is
(04:42):
that like for you creating them? Absolutely? So, I've I've
had firsthand experience working in the swimsuit department helping people.
So I mean almost every conversation starts with I have
to do swimsuit shops today, like everyone dreads it. So
in starting the line, my main focus is having quality
(05:04):
swimwere that makes you feel good. And I like to
take the prototypes, like right before we're finished, and try
them on on so many different bodies. So like a
size small, I'll try it on myself, who's a typical
size small. I'll try it on my friend who's five
two and a size small, you know. So I like
(05:25):
to get a bunch of different body types that all
relate to this particular size and see how it fits
them and how I can adjust it. And somehow we've
managed to make it work where it's almost every body
type that's amazing focuses. Yeah, that is so amazing. And
if you haven't checked her out yet and CEB Swimwear
dot com or on Instagram, it's CB Swimwear s e
(05:46):
A B swimwere I'm going to stop reminding you how
to say how to spell it at some point. I
know I spell it all the time, I'm sure, but
I want people to check it out because your Instagram
also is awesome. But you're modeling a lot of the
stuff I noticed I did, so that's that's kind of
how we started with. You know, when you don't have
a lot of money to hire models, you just kind
of make it work. That's got to be a for
(06:07):
companies when you think about how much money they're spending
on the actual model. If you can just do it yourself,
you're saving so much well exactly. And it's like I've
spent so much on you know, just startup costs and
the materials and all the production. So I was trying to,
you know, save a dollar wherever I could. So I
kind of just went out and I was definitely one
of those obnoxious girls at the beach making my boyfriend
(06:29):
take photos of me. But you know, it paid off
and we had some photos to put on the Instagram
and then we recently did an actual photo shoots. You'll
see more of those photos. It's not just all you.
I love that though you look awesome. So when you
keep saying wheat is it who is who is working
with you? Or is this just you? Um? So it's
me and one of my best friends, Nina's Sugar. So
(06:50):
she's kind of the brains of the operation. I do
a lot of the designing and a lot of the
creative side and you know, sourcing the materials the production.
She actually went to law school and just graduated UM
last year. So she was one of the first people
I've reached out to just in you know, um, filing
(07:12):
to be a business and all the paperwork technicality is
just making sure that I was doing everything correct. Yeah,
And when I reached out to her, she was like, Okay,
I am so in on this. I want to help
you however you can. Like she's kind of a beach
bum like me. We both grew up in San Diego
and have a love for the beach and we've been
friends since very little. So she was like, I want
(07:34):
to help you on here, I can I want to
be part of this. Like, so she's been amazing in
things that it would just cost me so much to
hire some that's incredible. But all of like the photo
editing and uploading to the website and handling that's up,
that's you. Yeah, I've pretty much done all of that myself.
I've had, you know, a couple of friends helped me
with maybe a logo design or things here and there.
(07:56):
But I have done the website, you know, from the beginning,
and all of the editing and everything. Too. Good for you.
That's incredible, thank you. But now where are all these
products that people are ordering? Like do you just have
them in your closet at home? Yeah? I literally have
boxes of swim suits in my house. So let's clear
her out, go order them, clear her around. I know
(08:17):
you guys, help me get my room back. But what
is the next step then? I mean, obviously, because right
now you have was it four different pieces? Four or five? Um?
So I have five pieces, three bottoms and two tops
and one of the tops comes into different colors. Okay,
that's what it is. Obviously you're going to add I'm
assuming more styles or are you gonna put them? So
(08:38):
we will see I mean maybe just moving into a
place that has a home office start. But my boyfriend,
they're looking at, you know, moving into a new place,
so probably get a two bedroom with like a home
office where I could keep that stuff for now. Um,
and then you know, one sales increase and we get
a little bit more traction, hopefully buying like a little storefront.
(08:58):
That cool. Yeah, do you ship them yourself? I do? Yeah,
that's crazy to think about. I mean, so many amazing
companies start like this though, these companies that we shop
from now. I mean probably even Jeff Basos with Amazon.
In the beginning, it wasn't it clearly wasn't what it
is now. But exactly, it's so cool to know that
if I order something that you created, you are the
(09:19):
one that's putting it in the mail. Yeah, and I
actually love doing that. That might seem like something that's
like an annoying task to do, like oh, I gotta
go to the mail or you know, drop it off
of the post office. Definitely sucks, but but I actually
love doing it because it just feels like, Okay, you know,
I'm making progress, Like you know, people are actually buying
a product that I made, and it's someone from you know,
(09:40):
Indiana that I don't even know. When your friends and
family are supporting you like, that feels amazing, But it's
kind of a different feeling when someone who you have
no ties to buys your product just because they love it.
That's amazing. Now for someone who is starting a company,
whether it's swimwhere or something completely different, how did you
get people to start buying yourself like that girl in Indiana?
(10:01):
I mean, I've just done a lot of marketing through
Facebook and Instagram, and you know, that's pretty much all
I've done, you know, a lot of word of mouth,
but as far as like the ones that aren't local,
it's been basically just Facebook and Instagram. That's where a
lot of people have messaged me saying that they saw it.
So it's amazing the kind of advertising you can do
(10:22):
now with just seven dollars you can reach it. Yeah,
so that's definitely been my main form of advertising locally, um,
you know, just going with friends and um doing like
little shows at houses and things like that where I'm
just meeting friends of friends. But yeah, it's been you know,
(10:42):
pretty much keeping costs out for advertising. It's been nice.
That's that's so smart. If you can keep cost costs down,
especially starting a business, why not do it? Yeah exactly.
Then you can put that money in other places, like
I don't want to say research, but you obviously want
your product to be the best. Why waste money if
you can spended other places. Yeah exactly. The very beginning
(11:03):
you were there things that were thrown at you that
you had no idea what to do with. Oh. Absolutely. Um.
I didn't go to schooling for design. I went to
University of San Diego and I studied business. While I
was there. My first semester, I took a photography class
just to fulfill my art credit, and I loved it
so much that I just kept taking photography classes. Crazy.
(11:26):
I kind of realized, like, hey, I'm in college and
just because I'm doing a a business degree doesn't mean
that I can't take classes that I enjoy to like
keep myself sane. So I just added on photography classes
each semester, and my junior year, I realized I was
on track to have a minor and photography, so I'm like, Okay,
well I might as still do this, And it's helped
(11:48):
me so much because I've been able to the last
photo shoot I did, um, the one that wasn't all me.
I was able to actually photograph it. So it's cool
being able to have that in my back pocket and
be able to photograph and kind of lead the photo
shoot how I want to and not have to hire
a photographer. Who would have thought that those random classes
(12:11):
you were taking, actually how many years later turned out
to be this like your I mean, your photographs that
you're taking are really the only way people are going
to see your product before they have it in their hands.
And that's all because you took random classes. Yeah, exactly,
So it really paid off. But so you asked about,
you know, like my bound I didn't have any design
(12:33):
background really, so I really just taught myself. Like through college.
I would just you know, pick up any books I
could at the library because I knew that that was
something that I wanted to do. I've always wanted to
get into design and swimsuits specifically, so I just did
a lot of research in whatever free time I had,
and once I graduated, I just looked up a bunch
(12:54):
of manufacturing companies. Spent like a good six months trying
to find a manufacturer because I was just so nitpicky
and you know, I interviewed people, and so I found
this um manufacturer that just hit perfectly, and she guided
me through a lot of the things that I didn't understand. Yeah,
there were so many terms that I was just like, yeah,
(13:17):
and then I would go home and google it and
was just like, I have no idea what that means.
But you kind of just you know, fake it till
you make it and love that. How old are you?
That is crazy? You're twenty six years old and you're
launched your own swim More line. Like, think about that.
Have you ever stopped back and be like, what did
I just do? I? Actually I haven't really thought about it.
It's crazy. Yeah, I'm just excited to be doing it.
(13:39):
It's something that I've wanted to do for so long
that I just kind of, you know, woke up one
day and was like I need to just do this
or also I'm gonna regret not going for it. I
love that because that's what I want people to understand.
Stop putting it off and just do it. Yeah, I mean,
I just figured the worst thing that can happen is
it fails miserably, and at least I say I tried,
(14:00):
you know, It's like I didn't want to go through
life wondering like, oh, what if I had started to
swimsuitl line back in my twenties. When we hear that
from so many people older than us, you know, Oh,
I wanted to do this when I was younger. Oh
I wanted to do that. Don't be that, just do it. Yeah,
And like so many people my parents age that I
had talked to you, you know, when I was telling
them about my idea, We're just like, you have to
(14:21):
go for it. Like I wanted to do this when
I was your age, and then I got married at
kids and just you know, never got around to it.
And I was like, it was really motivating to be like, Okay,
I need to really put myself to do this. Well,
you obviously had people who supported you. Did you have
anyone that was like, you're crazy, that's dumb, don't do that. Um,
I really didn't, you know. I've been so lucky that
(14:42):
the people around me have supported me a lot, you know,
And I think part of that comes from my family
and friends knowing that this has been something that I've
just been talking about since I was so young, and
so many people actually when I graduated, were like, oh,
are you going to start your swimsuit line? And I
was like yeah, And I was like, oh, if I
want to told you about that back in tenth grade,
(15:02):
you know, so that actually kind of was making me
like accountable in a way, and I was like, you know,
I do need to do this because I've talked about
it so much that I feel like a lot of
people believe in me, and a lot of people would
have my back on this. So I've been fortunate in
that When did you because you said just a tenth grade,
when did you first realize that this was something you
actually wanted to do? Was it then? I mean, honestly,
(15:24):
since I was so little, you know those what do
you want to be when you grow up? Things that
you put in like elementary school. Mine was always fashion
designer and I don't even think I knew what that was,
but I just thought it sounded so cool, and I
knew that I love designing clothes, and I would just like,
you know, cut my clothes up however I wanted, and
just you know, and at that time, I had already
(15:45):
fallen in love with like bathing suits. I grew up.
When you're in San Diego. Yeah exactly. So I think
I had more swimsuits than I did actual pieces of clothing,
So it just kind of developed into a swimsuit um
specific thick probably in about middle school. Yeah. There was
just a survey our study last week that said something
(16:07):
along the lines of all these things that you say
you want to be when you're a kid, you actually
never grow up and do. And it's so cool that
you get you're doing it. That's so true. But I
feel like most people are like, oh, I want to
be a firefighter exactly. That was on the list. It
was like doctor, firefighter, cop, teacher, like all these things
that obviously these careers that we know exist as kids.
(16:28):
You know that you don't know, but you new fashion
designer apparently, and you were ready. I know. I like
look back at that and I'm like, that's so funny.
I guess I've always just had a creative knack. That's amazing. Um,
you said you go to shops around you and how
does that work? Do you try to get them to
sell your bathing suits? Yeah? So that's kind of where
I'm at right now, is I'm just talking to a
couple of different surf shops I'm working with one to
(16:49):
do consignment for this summer. That one is like my
main account that I'm working on. And then I know
a lot of suit shop owners in the area just
from growing up and because at the beach, So that's
actually been really beneficial too. So I've been able to
go over and talk to them, and you know, a
lot of them are willing to help out someone who's local,
who they know, So it's been great to get in
(17:11):
a couple of different shops and start working with them
for the summer. Is that crazy seeing your bathing suits
hanging up in a shop? I know it actually is.
I'm just like, I couldn't have dreamed that I would
be here a year ago. Well you start when you
started early seventeen. Yeah, I started beginning in two thousand seventeen.
It was kind of like, alright, new year, I'm gonna
do this, and I just hit the ground running. So
(17:32):
your website, I have it up in here. I'm obsessed
with the your logo. We're we're just a cbst wim
where established seventeen? Did you create the logo yourself or
do you have someone do that? So I drew it up. Um,
I am not as good at illustrator as I wish
I was Adobe illustrator. For those who are like, what
the heck is she talking about Adobe Illustrator? Yeah, exactly.
(17:53):
And so I drew up the label and then I
have a good friend who's great at creating labels. He
does a lot of graphic design. So I reached out
to him knowing he would have it done, and he
finished it in like an hour. Oh my god, I know,
it was amazing. I sent him the picture and he
just sent it back to me like an hour later,
and my jaw dropped him, like how did you do that?
And we made a couple of minor edits, you know,
(18:13):
just like the size of the font and stuff like that,
but it was that was something that was so cool
to see come to life because I had just drawn
it on like a notepad. You know times do you
still have the notepad? I do love that, save it forever,
I know. So yeah, just seeing that come to life,
and then seeing the logo on the labels that I
(18:34):
printed out once I ordered those was another thing that
just kind of shocked me. I'm like, oh my gosh,
this feels so real. It's going to be such a
cool feeling. Yeah, good for you. You're You're really doing it.
I love it. I'm like, I feel like I've known
you forever and I'm like, yeah, you're finally doing it.
Them so proud of you. I mean, i've known you
before at this point, like twenty two minutes. So, but
it's cool. And I can tell talking to you, even
(18:55):
if I wasn't looking at you on FaceTime, that you
are so passionate and excited about this. Yeah, it's it's
so cool. I can't wait to go order all of
them and try them on. I know. It's it's just
something that like I really am excited about, I'm passionate about,
not only because I love the designs, but I really
do like the fabric, the material, Like everything is so
(19:17):
top notch that I'm really proud of it. And when
people try it on, they say like, oh, this feels
so good, like, you know, doesn't feel like a cheap swimsuit,
which a lot of the suits that I have are
what about CB swimwhere is different than say your average
run of the male baiting suit line. So I kind
of designed these pieces, you know, obviously with myself and
(19:39):
mind and my preferences, but just what are people looking for?
And I feel like it's a suit that's kind of
like the perfect combination. So it's something that you could
wear while you're surfing or playing beach volleyball that's going
to like stay good. But it's also something that you
can wear and look really cute and at a Las
Vegas pool party, so you kind of press it up
(20:00):
or dress it down. And these pieces, like I had
one of my friends just slaring him and she was
jumping on a trampoline and did a backflip and it
was a strapless one, which I don't have up on
the website yet, but it didn't fall down. Everybody, are
you going to post that video of her doing that?
I have the video and her face afterwards was like
(20:22):
I've never done that in a strapless top and it
not fallen down. She's like, this is amazing. Well, that
isn't so much of the problem. Like, Okay, finally I
got a bathing suit that I would used to have
my um water park bathing suits and then my beach
bathing suits because water park you or certain beach bathing
suits knowing the waves would be bigger there because your
your top is gonna come off or you're gonna get
a wedge at the water park and lose your bottom
(20:45):
and all this stuff. But it's so cool that you've
put it all together and it's something you could wear
to like Coachella too at the same time. Yeah, like
that that wrap around top and reverse it top is
something that I would totally wear to Coachella with, you know,
shorts and boots and a little like coming over or something.
Now you said flip in reverse. It can be worn
different ways. Yeah, so the Yeah, so that one is reversible,
(21:07):
so it's either all white or the inside you can
flip it and it'll be gray, and then the other
color is um black and gray or dark gray light gray.
Look at that. It's so cool. I'm talking to someone
who's like in the beginning of this in ten years
when you're like in every department store and you heard
it here first. Well, actually know, Tatum beat me to it.
(21:29):
So Tatum, we know that has this is magazine. She
actually featured you in this issue, her latest issue that's
out now, in the Badass Boss Babes section. I know
that was so cool. It's awesome and I was just
reading it too. I think I think that's the section
I'm into. So we're badasses together. I love that. I know, yeah,
you and I were both in there. That's it's such
a cool idea what she's doing, and I love the
(21:49):
magazine idea, and you know, the Badass Boss Babes was
such a cool feature. Have you had anyone yet from
her magazine reatun like I saw you in this magazine
or actually yeah, I had two people message me on
Instagram and say like, I loved your feature, like your
swim suits are so cool. So it was just really
it was awesome to hear that, and I'm like so
(22:09):
happy for her that she's having you know, random people
read it and reach out to her as well. Yeah,
I know the magazine it's crushing, and there's so many
women that are, you know, getting this vibe permit where
they're getting motivated or they feel that they can relate
to people. But then there's stuff like your bathing suits
in there where they're finding things that they didn't know
existed that will help them in their life, where that
(22:30):
they'll love too because there's women like them creating it
and not some giant corporation that's just pushing things out.
And I think that's what's important. And yes, you do
have your day job at a giant corporation, but you
do learn things there that are great for your job,
but also what not to do. I'm sure, Oh yeah,
for sure. I've learned a lot of what not to
(22:51):
do is as far as, like you know, from various vendors,
um from dealing with customers. Like it's just it's something
new every day, good or bad, and it's just what
you learn from it that matters the most. So I've
definitely learned a lot. So you think if you started
a CB swim where I say, four years ago, it
would be a different collection than it is now because
(23:12):
of your time working. I think so. And you know,
I have so many sketch books filled with just ideas
and random sketches, and I always like seemed to think
of the best swimsuit ever right when I'm about to
fall asleep, So then I have to get up and
turn the lights on and you sketch it out because
I'm gonna be so mad if I forget about it
the next day. Um. But it's like, I have so
(23:34):
many of those, and this collection just really came from
me wanting to start with kind of like a minimalist
look and just something that was very like clean and
could go with everything, and just kind of like a
good introductory line because any of the pieces match one
another as well as if you have a pair of
black at home, you can match it with any of
the tops two. So it's just pretty versatile. But I
(23:57):
think if I had started it four years ago, it
would have definitely been a different, completely different line. When
did you have the name? The name start, I think
started about two years ago, so before it was something
that I was officially ready to like start going with,
I was just kind of thinking about the name, and
then that just popped into my head because I was like, okay,
well my initials, Like, you know, should I try to
(24:19):
do something with the S C A and my name
and you know obviously see like the ocean. I was
just playing around with that and I was like S
E A B, Like I just kind of liked the
sound of me be and it just kind of stuck.
And that's just what I started referring to it as,
and that's what everyone, my friends and family came to
know it as. And I was like, well I'm not
(24:41):
changing it now. No, that was not a good idea. No,
that's that's really cool. So you mentioned that sometimes you
get ideas right before falling asleep and you sketch them.
I guess I never thought about. It's the same way
a musician will think of a line and they need
to save it in their phone, which I guess you
can't really do. You need to physically be ready to
roll and draw it. You always have a notebook with you. Well,
that's so funny you say that, because so many times
(25:03):
I'll be sitting in traffic or just doing something where
I don't have a notebook on and I'll open the
notes in my iPhone and I have so many random
notes in there that you wouldn't even believe it. It's like,
here's an example of one of my notes, strapless top
with X on back, and it's just like things like that,
like X on back and it doesn't even make sense
(25:24):
if you're reading it. But I know what it is
and I'll remember it. But it doesn't. Notes now have
like the little markup thing you can attempt to draw
on your phone. I mean, it would look nothing like
I'm sure if you were sketching it. But yeah, that's
actually a good idea, probably much better than me trying
to notate in my note you need to be like,
what's his Steve from Blues Clues and have your handy
dandy notebook with you at all times. Hello, what are
(25:45):
you doing? I actually do carry one in my purse,
but if I like, don't have that on me or something. Yeah,
So where do you get a lot of your inspiration from.
I actually really started to get inspiration when I was traveling.
So I've been to twenty six different countries, and yeah,
traveling is something that I will save up my money
for and just spend it all on. That's um something
(26:07):
that's really important to me. And I was lucky enough.
When I was in college, I did three different study
abroad trips. So I did one freshman year summer, and
then I did one between my sophomore and junior year,
and then my junior year I did semester at sea,
which is yeah, so that's where you're doing class on
(26:30):
a boat and traveling to different countries. And during that time,
we went to fifteen different countries and I just learned
so much from different cultures and got inspired by the
colors of each country. And that's where, like so many
of my note pads like coming handy because I have
so many sketches from there that I like to look
(26:51):
back on and get reinspired from, and just the photos
I took there, you know, and just be able to
look at that and kind of start like a different
piece or a different collection based on that. You obviously
have your first collection to still is out right now,
what is next? Because you have a ton of ideas
I know that we're not seeing. I can't get them
out like soon enough. Well, what's definitely in the works
(27:14):
is a one piece. I've been getting a lot of
requests for that, so I think just a simple black
one piece. Um that's a V neck and a low back,
so you know, something that's just really flattering. That's what
we've been working on, is just the fit. And then
the other one, like I said, is that strap list
top that stays up, the one that yes, you said that, Yeah,
(27:37):
that's very important. You need to call name for it
other than the top that stays on. So that one,
the name I'll give you a little sneak peek, is
called unhooked on you because it actually has a neck
piece that goes with it that hooks into the the
top part of the swimsuit, so you can have like
a removable neck piece to make it like a halter top,
(27:59):
or you can just take get off. I have a
strapless bikini for like sun tanning. I like that again
all the sneak peaks in the podcast that is my favorite.
Is there an app or something on your phone other
than Instagram and other than your notepad that you use
to help with your swim more line, Now, it doesn't
have to be something that anyone else could use, just really,
is there something that is a go to app that
(28:19):
you need all the time? I usually and nothing like
specifically for like the designing process, but the apps that
I love for editing, Um, I use dark Room, So
that's been a really great editing app and it kind
of helps you keep an aesthetic throughout your Instagram because
I use like Photoshop just to edit things here and
(28:40):
there and kind of create whatever colors I want. But
then I like to do dark Room just to get
a similar vibe through all the photos. And then another
one I use is called later and that's something that
you can time like when your posts actually will be posted.
Because for me, I really like get in the zone
(29:01):
and I can edit like three or four photos at once,
but then I just don't have time to like post
it throughout the day when I'm working. So it's nice
that I can set that to post tomorrow at you know,
one o'clock and I don't even have to worry about it.
The captains there, the whole thing is ready to go. Well,
that's got to be convenient, especially for someone like you
who isn't sitting home all day working on this from home,
(29:22):
like you're you have another job, someone is expecting you
to do that job, and this is just this needs
to run on its own when you can't. Baby, Yeah, exactly.
And it's so funny because I'll be at work and
you know, one of my friends will come over and
we'll go to lunch or something and she's like, wait,
when did you post this? I've been with you the
whole time, you know, like we'll be at lunch. And
so it is a really cool app and it just
saves me a lot of time. Is that a paid
(29:43):
app or is that one free? That one's free, because
I know, I know there's also buffer that is allowing
you to do that. Now, for a while, Instagram didn't
let you do automatic posts. It didn't let you schedule
post because it was just trying to be a pain
in the butt. But now I didn't know about that one,
so I'm a still one well. And the cool thing
about it too is you get to see the picture
in your feed before it posts. Awesome. That's like actually
(30:07):
the reason that I originally got it was because I
wanted to like make sure that the aesthetic looked good
with the other photos before posting it. So it's kind
of a cool like little preview before you actually send
it out there. That's a common theme because Tatum and
Andrea Michelle both talked about unum, which is very similar
U n U M. It does that where you can,
(30:27):
like I guess, plug in all your photos to see
the aesthetic, which my Instagram is just an absolute disaster.
It's just random picture, random picture. But for some, but
for something like a company, is an aesthetic super important?
It really is, And I've come to realize just how
important it is because that's really what gets people to
follow you. You know. It's like we as humans are
(30:49):
all about aesthetic and finding something that resonates with you
or something that you find like pretty in a sense
really matters in an Instagram, and you know, you can
have a great quality photo and a good caption and
that's great, and that might work, but I think like,
in order to really reach people, you have to have
(31:09):
a cohesive page that has a good aesthetic that reaches
out to people. It's true because when I see it,
I'm like, oh, that's pretty, and I'm like I like
that Instagram like Instagram goals, and then when it comes
time to actually post, I'm like, naw, I'm not doing
all that because there is a lot of work that
goes into it. People don't realize it's it's your portfolio.
It really is your a lot of times not the
(31:31):
first thing people are going to see of your company,
because they're not just googling, you know, for swim swimwhere
they're looking at hashtags on Instagram and that's what they're
finding things. So it's super smart that you know that's
what you do and that's what you put your time into. Yeah, exactly,
And you're right, that is the first thing that a
lot of people see and how I've reached the majority
of my audience that isn't family and friends. So that
(31:54):
is like what a lot of my efforts go into
and a lot of my time. All right, Well, I
hope that everyone listening to this podcast at least goes
and likes you on Instagram and follows you on Instagram,
I mean, and goes to CB swimwear dot com shops
your stuff. I'm telling you what we're gonna buy you out.
We're gonna make yourself up everything and help me get
rid of these And before you go, Chelsea has done
(32:14):
this awesome thing for listeners of the podcast. You can
get ten off anything you buy at CB swimwear dot
Com with Primo code Carla Marie. That's what the C.
You should know that by now it's c B swimwear
dot Com
For a lot of people. You know, why are you when?
Do you know what you want to do? And this
is what you want to do and do it. I'm
a hustle side side hustle. Do it. I'm a hustle
a sod sid hustle do it. I'm a hustle, side hustlow.
I'm a hustle side slow. I'm a hustle side side hustler.
Come on, ask about me, yo yo. It's the side
(00:24):
Hustless podcast. We call the Root. Welcome to another episode
of Side Hustlers podcast. I am joined by someone who's
actually not act here, so this is this is different.
This is my first episode. We're not even on the phone.
We're face timing. We've never met in person. I've got
Chelsea Barber on FaceTime. Hollo, Chelsea, Hi are you? I'm great.
(00:46):
So Chelsea and I we've never met. We only know
each other through Tatum. Tatum was in the very first
episode of Side Hustlers. She was the creator of This
Is magazine. And you and Tatum went to college together. Yes,
we were both went to Universe see San Diego together.
Chelsea is the first person who is a side hustler
who has something you can actually go out and buy,
(01:06):
which I think is super cool that we've you know,
up until this point, we haven't had anyone like that.
You have a swimwear line, which I love. Yeah, it's amazing.
I'm going to give you the website a million times
about this podcast, But it's C B Swimwear s e
a letter B swimwear dot com. Do you want to
check her out? So the name, I want to talk
about that for a second. It's a play on your
(01:28):
own name. It is so um A lot of people
don't realize this, but CB Swimwear stands for my initials.
So CP is Chelsea Barber. And then it's also kind
of play on words because Chelsea where you look at it,
but it's from Yeah, it's like you couldn't actually do
anything else. You had to have a swimwear line, I know, right,
(01:51):
So what is your day job? Because creating a swimwerlar
a line obviously seems pretty tough to do, but you
obviously have a day job too. I do. So I
managed the activewear department at a major retailer here in
San Diego. So I've been doing that. Um well, I've
been working with the retailer for about eight years. So yeah, no,
(02:12):
managing is taken up a lot of time. But actually
I really love it. I love what I do. So
it's just finding time, you know, on my two days
off a week or completely dedicated to my swimmer line
and after work. So when did you launch the swimmer line? Um,
I started it last year. So yeah, I started in
the beginning of two thousand and seventeen. Is when I
(02:33):
really started looking for someone to produce them and kind
of got it going. I have like a billion questions
that I'm trying to for out, like which path to
go down? So at your your nine to five, is
it really a nine to five? Like what are your hours?
So I work five days a week eight to five
and then yeah, I usually don't actually leave until around six,
(02:55):
but after that I go home and I try to
spend about two to three hours and you know, on average,
um working on swimware stuff, whether that be editing photos,
working on the website, reaching out to like local swimsuit
shops or whatever it might be that day, and then
my two days off during the week, or just completely
(03:15):
swimwear relieving. Wow, do you take anything from your regular
day job that or anything you've learned to creating this line.
Oh absolutely, Um, working in fashion, I've been doing that
since I was eighteen, So that's given me a really
good insight as to what people are looking for. You know,
what customers like with their fit, what styles are coming up,
(03:39):
what's going to be big for the next season. So
given me kind of an upper hand and knowing the
industry in a sense and just staying related to fashion
trends all the time is blast. What is the end goal?
Is the end goal to have a swimware line that
everyone knows about everyone's wearing and that's all you do
all the time, or do you want keep doing both? Um?
(04:01):
I would love to just focus full time on swimwhere
eventually I think I love the product and it's such
great quality. I truly believe that it could be something
that everyone knows about that's just a common name and
you know, major retailers and surf shops. So that's the goal. Okay,
we're gonna get you there. We're gonna do that. We're
gonna make sure you're gonna retire from your regular desk
(04:21):
job and do this full time. It shopping for bathing
suits though it sucks like we as women. Men. If
you're listening to this right now, you will never understand.
I'm sorry, but between the boobs and the butt and
all of it, it's just it really is awful. So
when creating a swimsuit, are you thinking, Okay, I've been
in dressing rooms and it's been awful, Like what is
(04:42):
that like for you creating them? Absolutely? So, I've I've
had firsthand experience working in the swimsuit department helping people.
So I mean almost every conversation starts with I have
to do swimsuit shops today, like everyone dreads it. So
in starting the line, my main focus is having quality
(05:04):
swimwere that makes you feel good. And I like to
take the prototypes, like right before we're finished, and try
them on on so many different bodies. So like a
size small, I'll try it on myself, who's a typical
size small. I'll try it on my friend who's five
two and a size small, you know. So I like
(05:25):
to get a bunch of different body types that all
relate to this particular size and see how it fits
them and how I can adjust it. And somehow we've
managed to make it work where it's almost every body
type that's amazing focuses. Yeah, that is so amazing. And
if you haven't checked her out yet and CEB Swimwear
dot com or on Instagram, it's CB Swimwear s e
(05:46):
A B swimwere I'm going to stop reminding you how
to say how to spell it at some point. I
know I spell it all the time, I'm sure, but
I want people to check it out because your Instagram
also is awesome. But you're modeling a lot of the
stuff I noticed I did, so that's that's kind of
how we started with. You know, when you don't have
a lot of money to hire models, you just kind
of make it work. That's got to be a for
(06:07):
companies when you think about how much money they're spending
on the actual model. If you can just do it yourself,
you're saving so much well exactly. And it's like I've
spent so much on you know, just startup costs and
the materials and all the production. So I was trying to,
you know, save a dollar wherever I could. So I
kind of just went out and I was definitely one
of those obnoxious girls at the beach making my boyfriend
(06:29):
take photos of me. But you know, it paid off
and we had some photos to put on the Instagram
and then we recently did an actual photo shoots. You'll
see more of those photos. It's not just all you.
I love that though you look awesome. So when you
keep saying wheat is it who is who is working
with you? Or is this just you? Um? So it's
me and one of my best friends, Nina's Sugar. So
(06:50):
she's kind of the brains of the operation. I do
a lot of the designing and a lot of the
creative side and you know, sourcing the materials the production.
She actually went to law school and just graduated UM
last year. So she was one of the first people
I've reached out to just in you know, um, filing
(07:12):
to be a business and all the paperwork technicality is
just making sure that I was doing everything correct. Yeah,
And when I reached out to her, she was like, Okay,
I am so in on this. I want to help
you however you can. Like she's kind of a beach
bum like me. We both grew up in San Diego
and have a love for the beach and we've been
friends since very little. So she was like, I want
(07:34):
to help you on here, I can I want to
be part of this. Like, so she's been amazing in
things that it would just cost me so much to
hire some that's incredible. But all of like the photo
editing and uploading to the website and handling that's up,
that's you. Yeah, I've pretty much done all of that myself.
I've had, you know, a couple of friends helped me
with maybe a logo design or things here and there.
(07:56):
But I have done the website, you know, from the beginning,
and all of the editing and everything. Too. Good for you.
That's incredible, thank you. But now where are all these
products that people are ordering? Like do you just have
them in your closet at home? Yeah? I literally have
boxes of swim suits in my house. So let's clear
her out, go order them, clear her around. I know
(08:17):
you guys, help me get my room back. But what
is the next step then? I mean, obviously, because right
now you have was it four different pieces? Four or five? Um?
So I have five pieces, three bottoms and two tops
and one of the tops comes into different colors. Okay,
that's what it is. Obviously you're going to add I'm
assuming more styles or are you gonna put them? So
(08:38):
we will see I mean maybe just moving into a
place that has a home office start. But my boyfriend,
they're looking at, you know, moving into a new place,
so probably get a two bedroom with like a home
office where I could keep that stuff for now. Um,
and then you know, one sales increase and we get
a little bit more traction, hopefully buying like a little storefront.
(08:58):
That cool. Yeah, do you ship them yourself? I do? Yeah,
that's crazy to think about. I mean, so many amazing
companies start like this though, these companies that we shop
from now. I mean probably even Jeff Basos with Amazon.
In the beginning, it wasn't it clearly wasn't what it
is now. But exactly, it's so cool to know that
if I order something that you created, you are the
(09:19):
one that's putting it in the mail. Yeah, and I
actually love doing that. That might seem like something that's
like an annoying task to do, like oh, I gotta
go to the mail or you know, drop it off
of the post office. Definitely sucks, but but I actually
love doing it because it just feels like, Okay, you know,
I'm making progress, Like you know, people are actually buying
a product that I made, and it's someone from you know,
(09:40):
Indiana that I don't even know. When your friends and
family are supporting you like, that feels amazing, But it's
kind of a different feeling when someone who you have
no ties to buys your product just because they love it.
That's amazing. Now for someone who is starting a company,
whether it's swimwhere or something completely different, how did you
get people to start buying yourself like that girl in Indiana?
(10:01):
I mean, I've just done a lot of marketing through
Facebook and Instagram, and you know, that's pretty much all
I've done, you know, a lot of word of mouth,
but as far as like the ones that aren't local,
it's been basically just Facebook and Instagram. That's where a
lot of people have messaged me saying that they saw it.
So it's amazing the kind of advertising you can do
(10:22):
now with just seven dollars you can reach it. Yeah,
so that's definitely been my main form of advertising locally, um,
you know, just going with friends and um doing like
little shows at houses and things like that where I'm
just meeting friends of friends. But yeah, it's been you know,
(10:42):
pretty much keeping costs out for advertising. It's been nice.
That's that's so smart. If you can keep cost costs down,
especially starting a business, why not do it? Yeah exactly.
Then you can put that money in other places, like
I don't want to say research, but you obviously want
your product to be the best. Why waste money if
you can spended other places. Yeah exactly. The very beginning
(11:03):
you were there things that were thrown at you that
you had no idea what to do with. Oh. Absolutely. Um.
I didn't go to schooling for design. I went to
University of San Diego and I studied business. While I
was there. My first semester, I took a photography class
just to fulfill my art credit, and I loved it
so much that I just kept taking photography classes. Crazy.
(11:26):
I kind of realized, like, hey, I'm in college and
just because I'm doing a a business degree doesn't mean
that I can't take classes that I enjoy to like
keep myself sane. So I just added on photography classes
each semester, and my junior year, I realized I was
on track to have a minor and photography, so I'm like, Okay,
well I might as still do this, And it's helped
(11:48):
me so much because I've been able to the last
photo shoot I did, um, the one that wasn't all me.
I was able to actually photograph it. So it's cool
being able to have that in my back pocket and
be able to photograph and kind of lead the photo
shoot how I want to and not have to hire
a photographer. Who would have thought that those random classes
(12:11):
you were taking, actually how many years later turned out
to be this like your I mean, your photographs that
you're taking are really the only way people are going
to see your product before they have it in their hands.
And that's all because you took random classes. Yeah, exactly,
So it really paid off. But so you asked about,
you know, like my bound I didn't have any design
(12:33):
background really, so I really just taught myself. Like through college.
I would just you know, pick up any books I
could at the library because I knew that that was
something that I wanted to do. I've always wanted to
get into design and swimsuits specifically, so I just did
a lot of research in whatever free time I had,
and once I graduated, I just looked up a bunch
(12:54):
of manufacturing companies. Spent like a good six months trying
to find a manufacturer because I was just so nitpicky
and you know, I interviewed people, and so I found
this um manufacturer that just hit perfectly, and she guided
me through a lot of the things that I didn't understand. Yeah,
there were so many terms that I was just like, yeah,
(13:17):
and then I would go home and google it and
was just like, I have no idea what that means.
But you kind of just you know, fake it till
you make it and love that. How old are you?
That is crazy? You're twenty six years old and you're
launched your own swim More line. Like, think about that.
Have you ever stopped back and be like, what did
I just do? I? Actually I haven't really thought about it.
It's crazy. Yeah, I'm just excited to be doing it.
(13:39):
It's something that I've wanted to do for so long
that I just kind of, you know, woke up one
day and was like I need to just do this
or also I'm gonna regret not going for it. I
love that because that's what I want people to understand.
Stop putting it off and just do it. Yeah, I mean,
I just figured the worst thing that can happen is
it fails miserably, and at least I say I tried,
(14:00):
you know, It's like I didn't want to go through
life wondering like, oh, what if I had started to
swimsuitl line back in my twenties. When we hear that
from so many people older than us, you know, Oh,
I wanted to do this when I was younger. Oh
I wanted to do that. Don't be that, just do it. Yeah,
And like so many people my parents age that I
had talked to you, you know, when I was telling
them about my idea, We're just like, you have to
(14:21):
go for it. Like I wanted to do this when
I was your age, and then I got married at
kids and just you know, never got around to it.
And I was like, it was really motivating to be like, Okay,
I need to really put myself to do this. Well,
you obviously had people who supported you. Did you have
anyone that was like, you're crazy, that's dumb, don't do that. Um,
I really didn't, you know. I've been so lucky that
(14:42):
the people around me have supported me a lot, you know,
And I think part of that comes from my family
and friends knowing that this has been something that I've
just been talking about since I was so young, and
so many people actually when I graduated, were like, oh,
are you going to start your swimsuit line? And I
was like yeah, And I was like, oh, if I
want to told you about that back in tenth grade,
(15:02):
you know, so that actually kind of was making me
like accountable in a way, and I was like, you know,
I do need to do this because I've talked about
it so much that I feel like a lot of
people believe in me, and a lot of people would
have my back on this. So I've been fortunate in
that When did you because you said just a tenth grade,
when did you first realize that this was something you
actually wanted to do? Was it then? I mean, honestly,
(15:24):
since I was so little, you know those what do
you want to be when you grow up? Things that
you put in like elementary school. Mine was always fashion
designer and I don't even think I knew what that was,
but I just thought it sounded so cool, and I
knew that I love designing clothes, and I would just like,
you know, cut my clothes up however I wanted, and
just you know, and at that time, I had already
(15:45):
fallen in love with like bathing suits. I grew up.
When you're in San Diego. Yeah exactly. So I think
I had more swimsuits than I did actual pieces of clothing,
So it just kind of developed into a swimsuit um
specific thick probably in about middle school. Yeah. There was
just a survey our study last week that said something
(16:07):
along the lines of all these things that you say
you want to be when you're a kid, you actually
never grow up and do. And it's so cool that
you get you're doing it. That's so true. But I
feel like most people are like, oh, I want to
be a firefighter exactly. That was on the list. It
was like doctor, firefighter, cop, teacher, like all these things
that obviously these careers that we know exist as kids.
(16:28):
You know that you don't know, but you new fashion
designer apparently, and you were ready. I know. I like
look back at that and I'm like, that's so funny.
I guess I've always just had a creative knack. That's amazing. Um,
you said you go to shops around you and how
does that work? Do you try to get them to
sell your bathing suits? Yeah? So that's kind of where
I'm at right now, is I'm just talking to a
couple of different surf shops I'm working with one to
(16:49):
do consignment for this summer. That one is like my
main account that I'm working on. And then I know
a lot of suit shop owners in the area just
from growing up and because at the beach, So that's
actually been really beneficial too. So I've been able to
go over and talk to them, and you know, a
lot of them are willing to help out someone who's local,
who they know, So it's been great to get in
(17:11):
a couple of different shops and start working with them
for the summer. Is that crazy seeing your bathing suits
hanging up in a shop? I know it actually is.
I'm just like, I couldn't have dreamed that I would
be here a year ago. Well you start when you
started early seventeen. Yeah, I started beginning in two thousand seventeen.
It was kind of like, alright, new year, I'm gonna
do this, and I just hit the ground running. So
(17:32):
your website, I have it up in here. I'm obsessed
with the your logo. We're we're just a cbst wim
where established seventeen? Did you create the logo yourself or
do you have someone do that? So I drew it up. Um,
I am not as good at illustrator as I wish
I was Adobe illustrator. For those who are like, what
the heck is she talking about Adobe Illustrator? Yeah, exactly.
(17:53):
And so I drew up the label and then I
have a good friend who's great at creating labels. He
does a lot of graphic design. So I reached out
to him knowing he would have it done, and he
finished it in like an hour. Oh my god, I know,
it was amazing. I sent him the picture and he
just sent it back to me like an hour later,
and my jaw dropped him, like how did you do that?
And we made a couple of minor edits, you know,
(18:13):
just like the size of the font and stuff like that,
but it was that was something that was so cool
to see come to life because I had just drawn
it on like a notepad. You know times do you
still have the notepad? I do love that, save it forever,
I know. So yeah, just seeing that come to life,
and then seeing the logo on the labels that I
(18:34):
printed out once I ordered those was another thing that
just kind of shocked me. I'm like, oh my gosh,
this feels so real. It's going to be such a
cool feeling. Yeah, good for you. You're You're really doing it.
I love it. I'm like, I feel like I've known
you forever and I'm like, yeah, you're finally doing it.
Them so proud of you. I mean, i've known you
before at this point, like twenty two minutes. So, but
it's cool. And I can tell talking to you, even
(18:55):
if I wasn't looking at you on FaceTime, that you
are so passionate and excited about this. Yeah, it's it's
so cool. I can't wait to go order all of
them and try them on. I know. It's it's just
something that like I really am excited about, I'm passionate about,
not only because I love the designs, but I really
do like the fabric, the material, Like everything is so
(19:17):
top notch that I'm really proud of it. And when
people try it on, they say like, oh, this feels
so good, like, you know, doesn't feel like a cheap swimsuit,
which a lot of the suits that I have are
what about CB swimwhere is different than say your average
run of the male baiting suit line. So I kind
of designed these pieces, you know, obviously with myself and
(19:39):
mind and my preferences, but just what are people looking for?
And I feel like it's a suit that's kind of
like the perfect combination. So it's something that you could
wear while you're surfing or playing beach volleyball that's going
to like stay good. But it's also something that you
can wear and look really cute and at a Las
Vegas pool party, so you kind of press it up
(20:00):
or dress it down. And these pieces, like I had
one of my friends just slaring him and she was
jumping on a trampoline and did a backflip and it
was a strapless one, which I don't have up on
the website yet, but it didn't fall down. Everybody, are
you going to post that video of her doing that?
I have the video and her face afterwards was like
(20:22):
I've never done that in a strapless top and it
not fallen down. She's like, this is amazing. Well, that
isn't so much of the problem. Like, Okay, finally I
got a bathing suit that I would used to have
my um water park bathing suits and then my beach
bathing suits because water park you or certain beach bathing
suits knowing the waves would be bigger there because your
your top is gonna come off or you're gonna get
a wedge at the water park and lose your bottom
(20:45):
and all this stuff. But it's so cool that you've
put it all together and it's something you could wear
to like Coachella too at the same time. Yeah, like
that that wrap around top and reverse it top is
something that I would totally wear to Coachella with, you know,
shorts and boots and a little like coming over or something.
Now you said flip in reverse. It can be worn
different ways. Yeah, so the Yeah, so that one is reversible,
(21:07):
so it's either all white or the inside you can
flip it and it'll be gray, and then the other
color is um black and gray or dark gray light gray.
Look at that. It's so cool. I'm talking to someone
who's like in the beginning of this in ten years
when you're like in every department store and you heard
it here first. Well, actually know, Tatum beat me to it.
(21:29):
So Tatum, we know that has this is magazine. She
actually featured you in this issue, her latest issue that's
out now, in the Badass Boss Babes section. I know
that was so cool. It's awesome and I was just
reading it too. I think I think that's the section
I'm into. So we're badasses together. I love that. I know, yeah,
you and I were both in there. That's it's such
a cool idea what she's doing, and I love the
(21:49):
magazine idea, and you know, the Badass Boss Babes was
such a cool feature. Have you had anyone yet from
her magazine reatun like I saw you in this magazine
or actually yeah, I had two people message me on
Instagram and say like, I loved your feature, like your
swim suits are so cool. So it was just really
it was awesome to hear that, and I'm like so
(22:09):
happy for her that she's having you know, random people
read it and reach out to her as well. Yeah,
I know the magazine it's crushing, and there's so many
women that are, you know, getting this vibe permit where
they're getting motivated or they feel that they can relate
to people. But then there's stuff like your bathing suits
in there where they're finding things that they didn't know
existed that will help them in their life, where that
(22:30):
they'll love too because there's women like them creating it
and not some giant corporation that's just pushing things out.
And I think that's what's important. And yes, you do
have your day job at a giant corporation, but you
do learn things there that are great for your job,
but also what not to do. I'm sure, Oh yeah,
for sure. I've learned a lot of what not to
(22:51):
do is as far as, like you know, from various vendors,
um from dealing with customers. Like it's just it's something
new every day, good or bad, and it's just what
you learn from it that matters the most. So I've
definitely learned a lot. So you think if you started
a CB swim where I say, four years ago, it
would be a different collection than it is now because
(23:12):
of your time working. I think so. And you know,
I have so many sketch books filled with just ideas
and random sketches, and I always like seemed to think
of the best swimsuit ever right when I'm about to
fall asleep, So then I have to get up and
turn the lights on and you sketch it out because
I'm gonna be so mad if I forget about it
the next day. Um. But it's like, I have so
(23:34):
many of those, and this collection just really came from
me wanting to start with kind of like a minimalist
look and just something that was very like clean and
could go with everything, and just kind of like a
good introductory line because any of the pieces match one
another as well as if you have a pair of
black at home, you can match it with any of
the tops two. So it's just pretty versatile. But I
(23:57):
think if I had started it four years ago, it
would have definitely been a different, completely different line. When
did you have the name? The name start, I think
started about two years ago, so before it was something
that I was officially ready to like start going with,
I was just kind of thinking about the name, and
then that just popped into my head because I was like, okay,
well my initials, Like, you know, should I try to
(24:19):
do something with the S C A and my name
and you know obviously see like the ocean. I was
just playing around with that and I was like S
E A B, Like I just kind of liked the
sound of me be and it just kind of stuck.
And that's just what I started referring to it as,
and that's what everyone, my friends and family came to
know it as. And I was like, well I'm not
(24:41):
changing it now. No, that was not a good idea. No,
that's that's really cool. So you mentioned that sometimes you
get ideas right before falling asleep and you sketch them.
I guess I never thought about. It's the same way
a musician will think of a line and they need
to save it in their phone, which I guess you
can't really do. You need to physically be ready to
roll and draw it. You always have a notebook with you. Well,
that's so funny you say that, because so many times
(25:03):
I'll be sitting in traffic or just doing something where
I don't have a notebook on and I'll open the
notes in my iPhone and I have so many random
notes in there that you wouldn't even believe it. It's like,
here's an example of one of my notes, strapless top
with X on back, and it's just like things like that,
like X on back and it doesn't even make sense
(25:24):
if you're reading it. But I know what it is
and I'll remember it. But it doesn't. Notes now have
like the little markup thing you can attempt to draw
on your phone. I mean, it would look nothing like
I'm sure if you were sketching it. But yeah, that's
actually a good idea, probably much better than me trying
to notate in my note you need to be like,
what's his Steve from Blues Clues and have your handy
dandy notebook with you at all times. Hello, what are
(25:45):
you doing? I actually do carry one in my purse,
but if I like, don't have that on me or something. Yeah,
So where do you get a lot of your inspiration from.
I actually really started to get inspiration when I was traveling.
So I've been to twenty six different countries, and yeah,
traveling is something that I will save up my money
for and just spend it all on. That's um something
(26:07):
that's really important to me. And I was lucky enough.
When I was in college, I did three different study
abroad trips. So I did one freshman year summer, and
then I did one between my sophomore and junior year,
and then my junior year I did semester at sea,
which is yeah, so that's where you're doing class on
(26:30):
a boat and traveling to different countries. And during that time,
we went to fifteen different countries and I just learned
so much from different cultures and got inspired by the
colors of each country. And that's where, like so many
of my note pads like coming handy because I have
so many sketches from there that I like to look
(26:51):
back on and get reinspired from, and just the photos
I took there, you know, and just be able to
look at that and kind of start like a different
piece or a different collection based on that. You obviously
have your first collection to still is out right now,
what is next? Because you have a ton of ideas
I know that we're not seeing. I can't get them
out like soon enough. Well, what's definitely in the works
(27:14):
is a one piece. I've been getting a lot of
requests for that, so I think just a simple black
one piece. Um that's a V neck and a low back,
so you know, something that's just really flattering. That's what
we've been working on, is just the fit. And then
the other one, like I said, is that strap list
top that stays up, the one that yes, you said that, Yeah,
(27:37):
that's very important. You need to call name for it
other than the top that stays on. So that one,
the name I'll give you a little sneak peek, is
called unhooked on you because it actually has a neck
piece that goes with it that hooks into the the
top part of the swimsuit, so you can have like
a removable neck piece to make it like a halter top,
(27:59):
or you can just take get off. I have a
strapless bikini for like sun tanning. I like that again
all the sneak peaks in the podcast that is my favorite.
Is there an app or something on your phone other
than Instagram and other than your notepad that you use
to help with your swim more line, Now, it doesn't
have to be something that anyone else could use, just really,
is there something that is a go to app that
(28:19):
you need all the time? I usually and nothing like
specifically for like the designing process, but the apps that
I love for editing, Um, I use dark Room, So
that's been a really great editing app and it kind
of helps you keep an aesthetic throughout your Instagram because
I use like Photoshop just to edit things here and
(28:40):
there and kind of create whatever colors I want. But
then I like to do dark Room just to get
a similar vibe through all the photos. And then another
one I use is called later and that's something that
you can time like when your posts actually will be posted.
Because for me, I really like get in the zone
(29:01):
and I can edit like three or four photos at once,
but then I just don't have time to like post
it throughout the day when I'm working. So it's nice
that I can set that to post tomorrow at you know,
one o'clock and I don't even have to worry about it.
The captains there, the whole thing is ready to go. Well,
that's got to be convenient, especially for someone like you
who isn't sitting home all day working on this from home,
(29:22):
like you're you have another job, someone is expecting you
to do that job, and this is just this needs
to run on its own when you can't. Baby, Yeah, exactly.
And it's so funny because I'll be at work and
you know, one of my friends will come over and
we'll go to lunch or something and she's like, wait,
when did you post this? I've been with you the
whole time, you know, like we'll be at lunch. And
so it is a really cool app and it just
saves me a lot of time. Is that a paid
(29:43):
app or is that one free? That one's free, because
I know, I know there's also buffer that is allowing
you to do that. Now, for a while, Instagram didn't
let you do automatic posts. It didn't let you schedule
post because it was just trying to be a pain
in the butt. But now I didn't know about that one,
so I'm a still one well. And the cool thing
about it too is you get to see the picture
in your feed before it posts. Awesome. That's like actually
(30:07):
the reason that I originally got it was because I
wanted to like make sure that the aesthetic looked good
with the other photos before posting it. So it's kind
of a cool like little preview before you actually send
it out there. That's a common theme because Tatum and
Andrea Michelle both talked about unum, which is very similar
U n U M. It does that where you can,
(30:27):
like I guess, plug in all your photos to see
the aesthetic, which my Instagram is just an absolute disaster.
It's just random picture, random picture. But for some, but
for something like a company, is an aesthetic super important?
It really is, And I've come to realize just how
important it is because that's really what gets people to
follow you. You know. It's like we as humans are
(30:49):
all about aesthetic and finding something that resonates with you
or something that you find like pretty in a sense
really matters in an Instagram, and you know, you can
have a great quality photo and a good caption and
that's great, and that might work, but I think like,
in order to really reach people, you have to have
(31:09):
a cohesive page that has a good aesthetic that reaches
out to people. It's true because when I see it,
I'm like, oh, that's pretty, and I'm like I like
that Instagram like Instagram goals, and then when it comes
time to actually post, I'm like, naw, I'm not doing
all that because there is a lot of work that
goes into it. People don't realize it's it's your portfolio.
It really is your a lot of times not the
(31:31):
first thing people are going to see of your company,
because they're not just googling, you know, for swim swimwhere
they're looking at hashtags on Instagram and that's what they're
finding things. So it's super smart that you know that's
what you do and that's what you put your time into. Yeah, exactly,
And you're right, that is the first thing that a
lot of people see and how I've reached the majority
of my audience that isn't family and friends. So that
(31:54):
is like what a lot of my efforts go into
and a lot of my time. All right, Well, I
hope that everyone listening to this podcast at least goes
and likes you on Instagram and follows you on Instagram,
I mean, and goes to CB swimwear dot com shops
your stuff. I'm telling you what we're gonna buy you out.
We're gonna make yourself up everything and help me get
rid of these And before you go, Chelsea has done
(32:14):
this awesome thing for listeners of the podcast. You can
get ten off anything you buy at CB swimwear dot
Com with Primo code Carla Marie. That's what the C.
You should know that by now it's c B swimwear
dot Com
Popular Podcasts
United States of Kennedy
United States of Kennedy is a podcast about our cultural fascination with the Kennedy dynasty. Every week, hosts Lyra Smith and George Civeris go into one aspect of the Kennedy story.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.