Tell us how the two of you met?
You launched the website officially earlier
this Fall, how long did it take you guys
We met in Los Angeles in 2012, but didn’t
from conception of the business to the
become good friends until about a year later.
actual launch?
We actually met on Katy’s first date with her
Katy had the idea in February of 2015, and
fiancé, Ben. Ben invited Katy out on
immediately asked Stephanie to be her
Valentine’s Day for a first date to see if she
business partner. We launched made for |
had a boyfriend. Ben and Katy each brought
made by on September 1st, about 6.5 months
along a friend, and their friends brought
later.
friends – Stephanie was one of those friends.
You could have started any number of
We both played ultimate frisbee in Los
businesses, why this one?
Angeles, so our paths crossed and our
friendship blossomed.
We wanted a business that, first and foremost,
created impact. We wanted to do something
that hadn’t been done - to provide a service
What exactly is “Unemployment
where there wasn’t one. While there are a
Opportunity”?
million e-commerce websites in the world, we
knew that with made for | made by’s unique
Prior to starting made for | made by, we both
mission, we could make a difference and
had “traditional” jobs. Katy was a political
added value to the world.
consultant; Stephanie worked in security
recruitment. Though they were very good jobs,
We secondarily wanted a flexible career that
they were rather intense jobs. We felt
could be done from anywhere in the world. A
consumed by our work, so (coincidentally,
drop ship model of e-commerce allows for just
around the same time), we quit with the
that!
intent of exploring something new.
Going from an 60 or 70 hour work week to a 0
hour work week required a shift in our
mindset - a shift from “I’m not doing
anything” or “this could be a giant mistake” to
“unemployment is an opportunity to do
something new, to grow, and to create.”
Wave Earrings by - Twenty Two Hours
56
THE CONE - ISSUE #7 - FALL 2015