Rowan's Founder on Elevating the Ear Piercing Experience With Safety and Celebration
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Content Strategist Ashley Chiaradio interviews Louisa Serene Schneider, founder and CEO of Rowan, a unique ear piercing experience. Listen in as Schneider discusses how her nieces’ ear piercing experiences inspired her to start the business, how Rowan’s business model is marrying safety with celebration for a unique ear piercing experience, and why an earring subscription box is a perfect solution to the piercing aftercare process for customers.
In addition, Schneider shares how the COVID-19 pandemic caused huge growth in demand for Rowan’s at-home piercing service, why the company’s focus on safety and its professional nursing staff is appealing to customers, and the piercing company’s expansion into brick-and-mortar during the health crisis. Lastly, Schneider explains how celebrating “unit-level happiness” on a weekly basis keeps her team motivated, as well as what she’s looking forward to in 2021 at Rowan.
Louisa Serene Schneider is the founder and CEO of Rowan. The idea for the business came to her when taking her teenage nieces to get their ears pierced at the mall. She felt as though the experience was lacking in safety and celebration. From there the idea of Rowan was born — to offer safe piercings in a way that celebrates the experience as a life milestone. With a background in finance, Louisa always had a keen interest in retail, with an eye on the consumer experience. Louisa covered consumer and retail at JP Morgan before receiving her MBA from Columbia Business School. She then went back to Morgan Stanley and traded retail. (Fun fact: She traded the IPO of lululemon athletica.) Now a mom of three, Louisa launched Rowan in June 2019 with $4 million in venture capital funding.
Date: December 1, 2020
Credits: Louisa Serene Schneider
Duration: 15:07
More Episodes
Former Kendra Scott CMO on the Brand's TikTok Success
This episode of Women in Retail Talks features a clip from the November Women in Retail and Total Retail Virtual Exchange. In this clip, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Mindy Perry, former chief marketing officer of Kendra Scott, the Austin-based jewelry and accessories brand founded on family, fashion, and philanthropy. Perry discusses how the Kendra Scott brand went viral on TikTok earlier this year, along with secrets to success around influencer marketing.
10:33 How the 'Queen of Cotton Candy' is Growing Her Brand on TikTok
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Emily Harpel, founder and owner of Art of Sucre, a gourmet cotton candy company that offers cart service and pre-spun favors. Harpel discusses the inspiration behind founding the company, her professional journey, and her experiences of not being taken seriously as a young, female business owner.
24:34 Five Below's CXO Judy Werthauser on How Women Can Stop Holding Themselves Back
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Judy Werthauser, executive vice president and chief experience officer at Five Below. Werthauser is also a 2021 Top Women in Retail honoree. Listen in as she discusses why its important to find leaders who leverage your skills holistically, how her biggest challenge as woman in business was doubting herself, and how women can stop holding themselves back.
23:04 How This 2021 Woman on the Rise is Leading Retail's Digital Transformation
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Jamie Lee, head of digital experience at Everlane, an ethically-made apparel brand. Lee is also a 2021 Woman on the Rise honoree, included in the 2021 Top Women in Retail report. Lee discusses her career background in retail and her journey to her current role, including what drew her to join Everlane.
18:50 Bearaby's Founder Champions Rest, Self-Care and Flexibility for Her Team
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Digital Content Director Kristina Stidham interviews Kathrin Hamm, founder and CEO of Bearaby, a multimillion dollar direct-to-consumer company selling sustainable, breathable weighted blankets. Hamm discusses how her personal struggle with sleep deprivation inspired her to launch the business, how she knit the first Bearaby blankets herself after she was unable to find a manufacturer, and how she built a reliable supply chain as the brand quickly grew.
28:09 How Just Enough Wines' Founder is Breaking the Mold With Canned Wine
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Jessica Hershfield, co-founder and CEO of Just Enough Wines, a seller of consciously crafted canned wine. Hershfield discusses why she decided to sell wine in a can, what it was like breaking into the traditional wine industry with a canned product, and what sustainably sourced and packaged wine looks like for Just Enough Wines.
19:06 How Andie's Founder is Innovating Swimsuit Fit and Size Inclusivity
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Melanie Travis, founder and CEO of Andie, a global e-commerce company changing the way women shop for swimsuits and intimates. Travis discusses her career background, how a work retreat revealed the need for a better swimsuit shopping experience, and how Andie is addressing the culture of shame around female bodies in swimsuits.
19:41 Brand-Builder Sally Mueller Illuminates Menopause Wellness at Womaness
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Co-Founder Melissa Campanelli interviews Sally Mueller, co-founder and CEO of Womaness, a menopause wellness, skin and body care brand. Mueller discusses the menopause solutions and education offered by Womaness, how her personal experience illuminated the huge white space in women's menopause care, and her background in retail and brand building.
28:33 DreamGirls' Co-Founders Build Self-Esteem With Natural Hair Care Line
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Digital Content Director Kristina Stidham interviews Tonya Thompson and Sharie Thompson-Wilson, co-founders of DreamGirls, the female and Black-owned, family-operated natural hair care brand. Thompson and Thompson-Wilson discuss the genesis and evolution of the DreamGirls business, as well as how they launched their signature Healthy Hair Care System product line during the COVID-19 pandemic.
31:04 How Tiny Organics' Meals Introduce Whole, Healthy Foods to Children
In this episode of Women in Retail Talks, Women in Retail Leadership Circle Senior Editor Marie Albiges interviews Betsy Fore and Sofia Laurell, co-founders and co-CEOs of Tiny Organics, a 100 percent organic, plant-based baby and toddler meal company. Fore and Laurell discuss how they created the idea behind Tiny Organics after identifying a need for healthy baby foods, how the duo began testing foods with 100 founding families, and much more.
29:46 
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Google Play Music
Stitcher