Meet Taylor Sella of Jane in Tarzana & Santa Monica

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Sella.

Taylor, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Born and raised in Southern California, I’m proud to call myself a “Valley Girl”. After graduating from Viewpoint High School in Calabasas, I attended Chapman University for both undergraduate and graduate school for film production.

After spending some time working in film and television, I took a short break to reassess where my heart was at. As much as I love the industry, I wasn’t sure if it was my life’s calling. During that break, I was presented with an opportunity to develop and run a new location for Jane. They were opening a store in West Hollywood and wanted my help. It was a WILDLY different demographic than their Tarzana and Santa Monica locations. They needed to develop a mix of items and styles to meet the needs of its diverse clientele. Since I had always had a passion for fashion and a strong sense of style, they felt confident in my ability to contribute a unique perspective.

It ended up being an amazing experience. Although I’d grown up around the business, I had never really experienced the inner workings of what made it tick. I was hit with a whirlwind of new information – from buying and receiving, to preparing the merchandise for the floor. To be honest, it was a bit daunting at first. While my creative abilities served me well in merchandising, analyzing weekly sales trends and selecting current items to meet our price point wasn’t exactly what I went to school for. But I ended up loving it. I loved making people feel good about themselves. I loved getting to know the community around the store. I loved developing relationships with our vendors. And I loved getting the opportunity to work closely with my mother.

Unfortunately, due to insane raises in rents, we ended up closing our West 3rd location, but it allowed me to take on a much bigger role in our other two stores. As it turned out, I had quite the eye for fashion-forward pieces – even if it meant stepping outside the box. Since stepping into this bigger role, our profits have doubled and our business continues to grow. It’s been an amazing journey and I’m excited to continue developing our relationships with the businesses and communities around us.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
To be honest, I feel like the majority of our journey has been filled with fun and excitement. But if I had to speak to some of the challenges of running a small business, the first thoughts that come to mind are:

BALANCE BETWEEN WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE

I would imagine opening and running a small business is a lot like having your first child. Your initial instinct is to worry about everything that could possibly go wrong if you step away. Missed sales opportunities? Will the store open on time? Will the displays be maintained? But as time goes by you learn how to take a breath and trust your team.

There’s also the matter of learning how to turn your brain off when you step away from work. If you let it, your business can be an all-consuming affair. It’s important to give yourself a break sometimes and enjoy the people around you. These are a few of the lessons I’m proud to say I’ve learned.

STRADDLING TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS

Finding a way to cater to two very different communities, while maintaining a singular brand is a tough balancing act. Los Angeles is a melting pot of different tastes and styles. While both of our stores carry a lot of the same basics, it’s been a learning curve to nail down the demands of each customer base.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Jane – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Jane opened with the philosophy that trendy clothing could be affordable. Our goal is to give our patrons a memorable experience with amazing customer service and fresh selections. Our team is experienced and knowledgeable with the fit and styles that work best for every customer. We receive new merchandise every week and always meet the needs of current trends. In addition, we have a curated selection of gifts which include books, candles, crystals, and other unique specialty items. We offer complimentary wrapping for all gift purchases. We promise a meaningful experience that keeps customers coming back every week.

We are proud of our legacy of lifelong customers. Through eleven years of business, we’ve built meaningful relationships. We’ve celebrated life milestones, ranging from birthdays to graduations to new family additions.

Pricing:

• Everything is under $98.00!

Contact Info:

• Address: 18735 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, CA, 91356
• Phone: (818) 343-5001
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @janeoftarzana

Image Credit:
Sabrina Pour

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