WITH BETH KIRBY
As creative entrepreneurs, we dream of the trifecta—time freedom, financial freedom, and creative freedom. What no one tells us, though, is that scaling up the business actually limits those freedoms and pulls us farther away from the joy we felt in the beginning, back when we were just getting started and had nothing to lose.
Tara Mangini and Percy Bright founded Jersey Ice Cream Co in the summer of 2010. What began as a vehicle for selling vintage furniture has evolved into an enviable design business. Tara and Percy move into the homes they are designing, drawing inspiration from the space itself to create interiors that are beautiful, distinct, and timeless. Their work has been featured in Design*Sponge, the New York Times, and Architectural Digest, among many other online and print publications.
Tara and Percy join me to explain how their business unfolded organically, benefitting from online press without a marketing budget of any kind. They share their goals around creative freedom, discussing their desire to ‘feel like we felt at the beginning, but be less broke.’ I ask Tara and Percy about the pros and cons of working with your other half, and they communicate the way that overcommunication keeps them on the same page. Listen in for Tara & Percy’s insight on the idea of ‘arriving’ as a big old myth and learn why they are scaling down their business to pursue unadulterated creative freedom.
How Jersey Ice Cream’s business model unfolded organically
The creative freedom that stems from having nothing to lose
Tara & Percy’s realization that scaling up was not their path
Tara & Percy’s revised definition of what success looks like
How Jersey Ice Cream has benefitted from online press
How Tara & Percy are inspired by the houses themselves
Why Tara & Percy view their lack of formal training as an asset
Tara & Percy’s take on not getting credit for your creative work
Tara & Percy’s decision to radically shift their business model
Why the idea of ‘arriving’ is a myth
How overcommunication keeps Tara & Percy on the same page
Tara & Percy’s concerted effort to develop work-life balance
Email hello@localmilkblog.com
Jersey Ice Cream in Design*Sponge
Jersey Ice Cream in Architectural Digest
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