After a decade, it's no surprise that home lifestyle brand Parachute is still standing as the D2C boom comes to an end.
Founded in 2012 by Ariel Kay, Parachute has built a loyal customer base with its high-quality bedding, towels, and robes. The company has now expanded into various categories, including furniture and baby products, and has opened 26 retail stores around the world.
Naturally, TechCrunch wanted to know what it's been like managing the DTC boom of the past few years, so we asked Kay to appear on our podcast Found to talk about it. When she first started her company, she knew her customers were immediately attracted to it because her company was on the cusp of products that felt personal and were tailored to the interests of millennial consumers. I remember what happened.
“From the moment we launched, everyone was saying, “I've been waiting for a brand like this,'' she said. “It was very clear early on that we were onto something.”
Her company led her to travel the world in search of the perfect materials to accent any home. She learned to manage logistics, hire a team, and find a network of other entrepreneurs to support her during the ups and downs of her life. solo Founder. The result was not only a decade of lessons, but also a decade of hard-won success.
This week on Found, we talk to her about being a solo founder, and topics such as hiring, financing, and how she's maintained a presence even after other DTC brands went out of business. I also touched on it.