Product First, How The Jean Queen Earned Her Title, with Grace Na, Founder of Pistola Denim
Dear FoundHer...Real Founder Stories for Women Small Business Owners
Lindsay Pinchuk
4.9 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 25 January 2024
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
If you're a fashion lover, a denim enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates a great brand story, you'll be captivated by this episode of Dear FoundHer… Host Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Grace Nah, the founder of Pistola Denim. Grace shares her story of creating a Los Angeles-based women's wear brand known for its premium, yet accessible denim.
Grace dives into how she spotted a market need for entry-level premium denim and launched Pistola in 2013. Leveraging her extensive background in fashion and retail, she has infused her designs with a blend of expert tailoring and a bold, streetwise aesthetic.
The conversation delves into Pistola's rise to success, highlighting the brand's appeal with its stylish, high-quality denim. Grace recounts the brand's growth journey, from boutique beginnings to being featured in major retailers like Bloomingdale's, and the strategic launch of their direct-to-consumer channel. This DTC approach has enabled Pistola to present their full collection and foster a closer relationship with their customers.
A key to Pistola's success, as Grace points out, is their unwavering commitment to fit and quality. She discusses the rigorous fitting processes and the selection of specialized vendors, contributing factors to the brand's growing customer loyalty.
Grace also sheds light on how Pistola's retail and DTC channels complement each other, with retail partners curating selections and DTC offering a broader range and direct customer interaction.
Looking forward, Grace is focused on increasing Pistola's visibility. She plans to boost brand awareness through marketing efforts, influencer collaborations, and new campaigns. She also envisions opening physical stores to enhance the shopping experience for customers.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from a successful female founder and discover the story behind a brand that combines style, quality, and affordability.
Quotes:
“Really just being available to the woman wherever she is comfortable shopping is really important.” (30:23 | Grace Na)
“For the past 10 years, we were heads down, really focusing on quality, really focusing on the product assortment. I think the next part is really now pressing the gas pedal on like brand visibility. It's about acquiring and finding new customers. It's about more brand awareness via marketing and, you know, new different types of marketing channels.” (34:29 | Grace Na)
Connect with Grace Na:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pistoladenim/
Website: http://www.pistoladenim.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-na-07a3805/
If you like what you're hearing, please leave a rating or review at https://ratethispodcast.com/dearfoundher
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hi guys, it's me, Lindsay Pinchuk, host of Dear Founder. You'll hear me talk a lot about community in today's episode, which is why I want to make sure to let you know, Found Her Fridays, our events driving community among female founders, are back in 2024, and we kicked off last week with a virtual Founder Friday. We'll be back in real life this Friday, |
| 0:22.5 | January 26th, outside of Chicago, and soon in other cities. But click the link in our show notes |
| 0:27.9 | to access the registration and information for all of these incredible opportunities. |
| 0:32.3 | Join us and our amazing community of support as we work together to build and grow our businesses. |
| 0:37.9 | And now, on to our show. |
| 0:41.9 | Years ago, I went into one of my favorite boutiques in Detroit, rear ends, and was fitted |
| 0:47.1 | with a pair of pistola denim jeans by their owner, Ariana. |
| 0:50.8 | I was hooked. |
| 0:52.1 | Years later, those same jeans thankfully fit, and they've washed and worn |
| 0:56.6 | amazingly. Multiple pairs of jeans and a few jumpsuits later, you could only imagine my excitement |
| 1:02.2 | when a pitch came into my inbox to have Grace Na, the founder of Pistola, here on Dear |
| 1:07.6 | Founder, to share her story. I love this brand. |
| 1:12.6 | I love it for so many reasons. |
| 1:16.9 | Not only is it stylish and the quality is amazing, but the price is right always. |
| 1:22.5 | And there's nothing that I love more than sharing the brands I love with you and the stories and the incredible women behind them here on this show. |
| 1:26.5 | Grace founded Pistola in 2013. She brings over 15 years of |
| 1:30.7 | fashion industry experience at the buying, planning, and executive levels to her brand. Obsessed |
| 1:36.4 | with denim, Grace saw an opening in the market to design jeans that combine expert cuts with an |
| 1:41.4 | edgy streetwise sensibility. Since starting her company, Grace is now the mom of three, further showcasing her ability |
| 1:48.9 | to make it all happen. |
| 1:50.6 | I can't wait for you to meet today's guest, Grace Nah. |
| 1:57.6 | Dear founder, I'm your host, Lindsay Pinchuk. |
... |
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