Inspiring Conversations with Kendall Knox of Olive Ateliers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendall Knox.

Hi Kendall, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I graduated from University in Sydney, Australia with a Bachelor of Media and an interest in all things fashion, art and culture. I quite organically stumbled into fashion PR and marketing out of university and spent my early career networking and hustling. I’d always dreamed of flapping my wings and expanding my career by working and living in America. So I did just that.

I landed in Los Angeles in 2014 with no game plan, very few connections but with a heckload of determination. I opened the HQ for a large Australian fashion company, heading their Marketing team and launching their brands stateside. I then moved to oversee PR and talent relations for REVOLVE, which was a dream come true and an irreplaceable experience. Before the pandemic, I transitioned to oversee Brand Marketing for Thrive Market, an online grocery platform for the conscious consumer. During that time, I felt an intuitive urge to keep pushing myself creatively, and before I knew it, Olive Ateliers was born. Now I’m officially an entrepreneur and small business owner!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing good comes easy. Being far from home, making new friends, trying to focus on my career, all of those things brought challenges, but I tried to stay grounded and true to myself every step of the way and trust that if I followed my intuition, the universe would take care of me.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m the Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Olive Ateliers. We’re an importer and experiential retailer based in Los Angeles, and we source what we like to call, Objects with Old Souls. Essentially, anything a little rough around the edges with a cool story to tell. I’m most proud of the community we’ve built. In under two short years, we’ve garnered nearly 170k followers on Instagram, and each drop we see roughly 300-400 customers walk through the Atelier doors. Sometimes I need to pinch myself. I think what sets us apart is our ability to inspire curious living through awe-inspiring experiences, our assortment of one-of-a-kind products at fair prices and our ability to constantly storytell, connect and engage with our community. We’re not just trying to sell stuff, we’re really activating and practicing a lifestyle that is conscious, curious and creative by nature.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Olive Ateliers?
About Olive Ateliers: Est. in 2021, Olive Ateliers is a home decor importer, experiential retailer, and lifestyle brand born from an adoration for found objects and one-off furnishings that conjure charisma and tranquility. Olive Ateliers sources thoughtfully from Turkey, India, Indonesia, Morocco, Greece, France and more. The company was founded in 2021 by Kendall Knox, Laura Sotelo, and Ben Knox. For more information please visit @oliveateliers on Instagram and to receive the latest updates subscribe to the Olive Ateliers newsletter via the website www.oliveateliers.com.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
You can’t win ’em all. The more successful your brand becomes, the more folks will have something to say. The response to our business model and innovative way of retailing has been overwhelmingly positive, but there’s always going to be the 1% who’ll criticize you. Use that criticism and let it fuel your growth and development. Let it light a fire.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.oliveateliers.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliveateliers/
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/kendallknox/

Image Credits
Kendall’s Headshot – Bailey Templeton. Olive Ateliers – Vincent Elejorde