Any successful business has a dedicated and talented team of employees, or as we prefer to call ourselves

“The Shop Girls”.

Meet Shop Girls from left to right: Sam, Soosie, Kali and Brittany.

SHOP GIRL ONE

SOOSIE:  The Owner, Visionary and 20 year industry veteran affectionately known as the “QB”

SHOP GIRL TWO

SAM: The Creative Services Director, Resident Artisan and The Printer Whisperer

SHOP GIRL THREE

BRITTANY: Former NASA Scientist turned Event Stylist.

SHOP GIRL FOUR

KALI:  From the Coast to College and back again, Kali is our customer service Queen.

1. YOU WENT TO FSU TO MAJOR IN DESIGN. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO ENTER THAT FIELD?
I have always been passionate about art and design. I knew after highschool I wanted a career industry that allowed me to be both creative and technical. Design is a field that incorporates both!

2. WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE YOU WORKED AT URBANcoast?
I had a design internship for Switchflops.  After completing the internship I was hired full time and worked with them for a year.  I didn’t want to move up North since the company moved its headquarters to New Jersey.  Fortunately, the founder Lindsey Phillips knew Soosie who was looking for a full time graphic designer.  The rest is history.

3. HOW DO YOU WORK WITH A CLIENT WHO DOESN’T HAVE A CLEAR VISION OF WHAT THEY WANT?
I ask the client for any and all ideas and visions they have for their event, especially the look and feel they want to achieve.  You can tell a lot about the style of a client based on this. Using this information I present options for them to let me know what the like or don’t like. This will pin point their direction and will allow us to help finalizate the themes, colors, and motifs.

4. WHAT ARE THE TOP DESIGN TRENDS YOU ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW?
The top color is purple of course! A mix of font styles are trending right now, as well as monograms, embellishments and custom designs versus off the shelf invites.

5. WHEN DESIGNING A CUSTOM INVITATION, WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CLIENT TO ASK YOU UP FRONT?
The most important information I need to know is budget and timeline. This will allow me to show appropriate options and ideas that will fit the budget within the time frame given.

6. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST DESIGN CHALLENGE TO DATE?
Finding the best fit for the client is the biggest design challenge. To help them merge their vision with what is appropriate and will look the best.

7. WHAT IS MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR POSITION?
Creating variety. Many times I design something that is not something I would normally choose for myself. Designing for others has expanded my creativity and allowed me to continue developing my skill.

8. WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD SINCE WORKING AT THE COAST?
The first wedding we did! It showed the entire experience from the start of invitations all the way through the decor. It was such a special day not only for the bride but for the Coast as well.

9.) GIVE ME 5 WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE THE COAST.

fun, fresh, creative, classy, innovative

10.) WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR DESIGN INSPIRATION FROM?

Magazines are a big part of where I get my inspiration.

1. YOU WERE A SCIENTIST AT NASA.  WHAT DID YOU DO AND WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GO INTO THAT FIELD?

I tested explosives and their effect on the environment as well as remediation of PCB’s. I was lucky to work with top professors and leaders and was able to be published twice and speak at various conferences. Science has always been a love of mine. I liked that it is more hands on and has the flexibility to be quite different every day.

2. WHY DID YOU CHANGE CAREERS AND FEEL CONFIDENT THAT YOU COULD TRANSFER YOU EXPERIENCE TO A COMPLETELY DISPARATE INDUSTRY?

I changed careers after I decided that being trapped in a lab was not for me. It can be a very isolating profession, and I am definitely a people person. Retail has always been in my blood as my family has always owned a retail store. From my Father’s side of the family who owned The Halle Bros. in Cleveland, Ohio to now the 2 Halle’s locally. I have a very creative family and am blessed to have some of it rub off on me.

3. AS A SALES REPRESENTATIVE FOR ONE OF THE LEADING REP GROUPS IN THE COUNTRY, YOU’VE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT AND WORK WITH RETAILERS AROUND THE STATE.  WHAT ATTRACTED YOU TO URBANCOAST WHICH WAS ONLY A YEAR PLUS OLD?

My territory covered east to Orlando and South to Naples, and with over 400 customers I have definetly seen my fair share of stores. Believe it or not really unique stores were hard to find. The difference not only in product lines, customer service, and quality was utterly apparent when I first stepped into URBANcoast. Even though it was only a year old URBANcoast never gave off anything that let you know it was new. Everything was always done with care and professionalism. I feel in love with it and made it a priority to always come visit when traveling the area.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF STYLING EVENTS?

I LOVE styling events. I would say the hunt is my favorite part of styling events. I enjoy finding a unique item at a reasonable price that will positively add to the event. My favorite moment is when the room is totally set up before anyone sees it and you can admire how all the time spent made for such a wonderful event!

5. WHAT DO YOU FIND IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE WHEN APPROACHING AN EVENT?

I would say the biggest challenge thus far has been to trust in myself that my ideas are good and to stop looking to Soosie for confirmation.

6. WHAT IS THE MOST REWARDING PART OF YOUR POSITION?

To everyday be surrounded by such an amazing group of women that add value to my life both personally and professionally.

7. WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST EXPERIENCE YOU HAVE HAD SINCE WORKING AT THE COAST?

The company trip to the Ryan Nece Charity Event! It was so fun!

8. GIVE ME FIVE WORDS THAT YOU FEEL BEST DESCRIBE THE COAST.

Innovative, Unique, Ambitious, Design Driven, Fun… Ok that’s 6

9. WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR DESIGN INSPIRATION FROM?

From everywhere.  Magazine, movies, art, but most importantly my family!

1. WHEN DID YOU START AT THE COAST AND WHY?
I started working at the Coast a month or so after it had opened. I had been working at a restaurant and was looking for a new job in the hopes of accumulating more work experience and cultivating skills that would help me in a future work place.
 

2. HOW IS IT DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER JOB YOU’VE HAD?
Working at URBANcoast is extremely different then any other place I have been employed. I started working soon after URBANcoast had opened and, because of that, I have had the opportunity to grow along side URBANcoast.
 

3. SINCE YOU ARE IN COLLEGE NOW, AND ONLY WORK HERE PART TIME (WHEN AND WHEN YOU ARE NOT IN SCHOOL) HOW DOES WORKING AT THE COAST SHAPE YOUR FUTURE ASPIRATIONS?

The Coast has allowed to me to pinpoint my strengths and weaknesses. Because I do a variety of tasks, I have been able to determine what I am good at doing and what I need to work on. I feel lucky that the Coast has allowed me to narrow down the line of work I would like to do upon graduating college since many students struggle with that.

4. WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE WHILE WORKING AT THE COAST?
Picking one rewarding experience would be impossible because I have been able to learn so much. I have figured out how to work successfully in a group while doing an event, how to engage with people in a professional way, the importance of details etc.etc.—The list could go on and on.

5. SINCE YOU ARE OFTEN ON THE FLOOR, DEALING WITH CUSTOMERS, WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE ON HOW TO HELP THE MOST DISCERNING CUSTOMER?
My advice is to work honestly with the customer and not to be afraid to ask for assistance from the other girls who may be able to throw in recommendations or help in another way.

6. WHEN WORKING ON EVENTS, WHAT HAD BEEN YOUR MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE?
The most rewarding part of working and setting up for events would have to be the end result. As tired as I may be, seeing the event finally put together and the client happy with our work, never gets old.

7. WHAT IS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT AT THE COAST?
I have to pick just one?!

8. GIVE ME FIVE WORDS THAT YOU FEEL BEST DESCRIBE THE COAST?
Creative, classy, professional, fun and unique

9. WHERE DOES YOUR DESIGN INSPIRATION COME FROM?
My design inspiration has come from Soosie. Upon first working at the Coast, my design inspiration was limited (lets be honest). However, its hard not to fall in love with and have Soosie’s taste rub off on you!