We had the good fortune of connecting with Taylor Ivey and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taylor, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?

I’m not sure this is a habit but more a business philosophy. I don’t pay attention to trends. I never have. I design clothing to be trendless and ageless – silhouettes that will be in fashion today and also 10-20 years from now, piecies that can be worn by women in their 20’s up to 70’s. I choose patterns and colors based on the idea that simple is success.

Aside from that business philosophy, I’ve always been incredibly persistent. I’m a firm believer that persistence in 90% of what’s needed to succeed in business – that and an unwavering faith in your vision and product. Entrepreneurship is a difficult road filled with countless road blocks. Your ability to weather the storms and not be discouraged by such obstacles, to just continue to move forward I think is what sets those that succeed and those that fail apart. I actually think I perform best when in a crisis situation, when faced with a problem that doesn’t have an obvious solution. I enjoy thinking outside the box/creatively to come up with a way to either get around, over, under or straight through a problem. This may involve my business pivoting – something I am comfortable with and we do often! If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that those that survive are the businesses that are nimble enough to adapt quickly to change – something we have been able to do.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Skinny Dip are retail stores that focus on supporting emerging female, designers and doers from around the world. We try approach merchandising and customer experience from the perspective of a designer/artist – not as a retail store owner. This started because I myself am a designer. I’ve owned a clothing company, Ellsworth & Ivey, for 8 years and it continues to be a large part of my business.

At The Skinny Dip, we start everyday by asking ourselves: How would a brand want their merchandise displayed? What information do we think customers need to know about each brand and how can we make sure they leave the store with this knowledge? How would a brand want their inventory and backstock handled? How can we best share a brand story through our marketing platforms? How can we support their growth?
This approach to retail has been a key factor in our success and has cultivated an inviting, energetic customer experience where consumers can discover and learn about new designers. Was it is easy? No, I don’t think anything worthwhile is ever “easy” – but has 8 years in business been rewarding? Yes. When you’re an entrepreneur, you cannot avoid challenges – no human can. How you handle and overcome them is what sets apart those who succeed and those who don’t. I’ve found – and it’s taken me probably 7 years in business to grasp this – the more I invest in myself, my mental health and physical health, the better equipped I am to handle and overcome business challenges. Or perhaps I’m less affected by challenges and better able to not let fear and anxiety cloud my decision making process. I’ve found that taking time for myself allows me to show up as a leader, designer, business owner far better than I did when I burned the candle at both ends trying to go, go, go all the time. I think this has probably been my biggest lesson thus far.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Where to begin?! Some favorite eating + spots: Bakan Wynwood, Santorini by Georgios and Crust (delicious pizza), Spanglish Craft Cocktail Bar + Kitchen. Places to check out: Walk the boardwalk in Miami Beach, salsa dance at Hoy Como Ayer, check out some live music at Ball & Chain, tour the The Vizcaya Museum (a must see!), walk around Wynwood to photograph the wall art, get a Cuban sandwich at Sergios, snorkel and swim in the waters of Biscayne National Park, paddleboard in Key Biscayne!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to give a shout out to my co-worker, Meagan Moore. Meagan hasn’t been with me since the beginning, but she has been with me through the my most challenging personal year thus far, 2019. The affect this year had on my businesses could have been catastrophic, but Meagan was there, steadfast, holding everything up when I just wasn’t able to. Thank you, Meagan for being the rock of The Skinny Dip 🙂

Website: www.ellsworthandivey.com & www.shopthedip.com
Instagram: @ellsworthandivey & @skinnydipnantucket

Image Credits
Tess Mayer

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutMiami is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.