How a simple observation turned into a business I never saw coming.
Let me start by saying that starting a clothing company was never something I thought I would ever do. Not even remotely. I spent 30 years in the employee benefits industry as a consultant. Suffice it to say, I know my way around a complicated business problem. But clothing and retail, not so much. Yet here we are.
This concept started while out west with the family.
My husband and I take the kids West at least twice a year, dating back to 2016. Our first trip was my foray into snowboarding. I had skied as a kid, but 30ish (PLUS) years later, I was starting over regardless, so I opted for snowboarding. Let me pause here with a quick PSA for those learning to snowboard: 1) If you are just starting, you need to take a lesson taught by an experienced instructor. 2) Spouse or significant other does not constitute said experienced instructor. If my lack of snowboarding skills didn’t prevent me from staying upright, I would have pushed my husband off the side of the mountain.
Anyway. I eventually got the hang of it, and I do love whooshing and slooshing down the mountains. While I'm not an amazing snowboarder, being in the mountains is breathtaking and I am not one of those 'chill on the beach' type of people. I need to be active.
While I do love activity, I am also 100% here for the Après as well. Anyone who has spent the day on the mountain knows that glorious feeling of exhaustion, exhilaration and relaxation that comes from sitting around a firepit next to the mountain. And let’s be honest, what woman doesn’t want to look cute and chic while doing it. There’s a reason that Après Ski sweaters are everywhere. That slogan drums up the image of a gaggle of gals experiencing the pure bliss of sharing drinks around a fire after a long day skiing. Which leads me to mantra – Après isn’t just for skiers!
What about all the snowboarders out there? What about the people who prefer to strap only one slippery board to our feet instead of two to launch ourselves downhill? Don’t we deserve an overpriced expresso martini? Shouldn’t we get to throw on a warm, cozy and stylish sweater too? I don’t want Après Ski splashed across my chest after I’ve washed the mountain with my backside for 7 straight hours, indicating I was on skis. I want some credit for doing it on a snowboard!
I searched high and low for a sweater or sweatshirt that said “Après Board”, and to no avail. I looked everywhere, and trust me, I’m a professional shopper, so there was no stone unturned. It seemed that if I wanted something done, I was going to have to do it myself.
So here we are. After 30 years in corporate, I decided it was time to pursue my brilliant idea. How hard could it be?
I am not that naïve, but I also had absolutely no idea just how much goes into launching a clothing line. I didn’t know how much I didn’t know. Despite how scary this little risk of mine has been, I have felt a huge sense of accomplishment in all the research; learning the process, the lingo, the who’s who and what’s what of creating a brand.
There are manufacturers. Fabrics. Yarn blends. Sizing charts. Minimum order quantities. Shipping. Websites. Trademarks. LLCs. Tech packs. Integrations. The list goes on and on and on. There have been approximately 1,874 decisions about things I previously didn't know existed. Did you know there's an entire science behind how letters are knitted into a sweater? I do now.
There's something incredibly energizing about learning something completely new, particularly when you've spent decades building a career in an entirely different industry. It's exciting. It's frustrating. It's occasionally ridiculous. And I’m pretty sure my friends have had just about enough of me firing back-to-back-to-back text messages with my stream of consciousness filled with pictures, questions and ideas, but that’s what besties are for. Plus, they all know they get free cute sweaters out of it.
But this is about more than sweaters.
What I've come to realize is that AprèsBoard represents more than just selling clothes. This is my new chapter, and it has been revitalizing. Don’t get me wrong, I am terrified, but I’ve never been one to shy away from a challenge. I know better than anyone that life doesn’t follow script and it certainly doesn’t come with an instruction manual or rules of the road. If it did, I’d ignore it anyways.
I have lived my life on the road less traveled and have achieved everything I’ve dreamed of in doing so. Sometimes the hard way, but is there really any other way?
I try not to take myself too seriously, but that's not to say I don’t work hard or that I’m not credible or reliable. It simply means that what you see is what you get. Life is messy. My house is messy. Sometimes my hair is messy. I worry about finances, and my kids not ending up in jail. I swear a lot and I am unequivocably unable to hide what I’m thinking. My face betrays me every single time.
So, if you’re here for cozy, stylish (and adorable) clothing and some real truths about life, welcome to AprèsBoard.
This isn’t just a website to display luxury sweaters and a button that says ‘BUY NOW’. My goal is to create a clothing line that celebrates stories, observations, adventures, mistakes, and the occasional unsolicited tidbits of advice. And, of course, we always want to celebrate making it down the mountain in one piece.
Hopefully, this ends with a successful brand, a lot of laughs, and some really great sweaters. Worst case, I'll have enough material for a very entertaining blog.
Cheers to whatever comes next.
Because Après isn't just for skiers. And the best part of life is still ahead. Stay tuned for an expanded inventory and more random thoughts.
The Story doesn't end here. Check out the AprèsBlog?
