Today we’d like to introduce you to Hayley Larue.
Hayley, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am the owner of Blondie in the City & The Blondie Shop, and I am also a jeweler and social media manager at Happy Jewelers.
Where my obsession with creation and the world of the internet all began:
I secretly started a blog after college, while bored out of my mind living in my apartment in LA. I used it to write and also play around with web design, but I so badly wanted to make it a fashion blog, where I could post photos of myself wearing what I found from online shopping. I contemplated it for months, out of fear of what people would think, but I finally just went for it by posting my first outfit photo on Instagram sometime in 2014. Sure, people had things to say, until they saw the growth after a few years. My blog became my space of the internet to share fashion, decor, and beauty tips. I’ve had the chance to work with brands such as Z Gallerie, Forever 21, Revolve, Givenchy Beauty, and so many more. My blog was such a huge part of my daily life, and I had deadlines to meet with the companies I was working with, but I still had to keep a part-time job. It was a struggle for a while, and I felt like I was all over the place, but my blog was the one thing I was sure about. I loved it and wanted it to continue to grow. I would stay up until 3 in the morning to make sure I got my post up, finished blog designs for some Etsy clients, sleep for 2 hours, and go to my part-time PR job that I hated.
After quite the struggle of finding something I loved to do, I finally got to a place where I love every aspect of my jobs.
I began running social media for Happy Jewelers, and I’ve been there for the past four years as a jeweler and social media manager. Because I was so familiar with the social media world, online sales, and partnerships, I was able to bring that knowledge to this company and help it continue to thrive. I’ve been able to work with celebrities on engagement rings and hundreds of custom pieces for clients, influencers, and reality tv stars. Remember when Lauren Bushnell and Chris Lane got engaged? That was your girl! 🙂
With so much of today’s world being online, and knowing what I knew from being a blogger myself, I knew working with influencers was something we needed to utilize. While we do have a physical store, our online presence and our online store is how we were able to survive and even thrive during this years pandemic. From very early on, when I began my blog and began working with different companies by promoting through social media, I knew it was an important avenue for companies to utilize, and even more so now.
I’ve always loved to create, and I love being able to do that in so many different ways.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I hit MANY struggles. There was a period of time where I was searching for jobs on Craigslist, even though I had my college degree. My first job that I got with my journalism degree, I was paid only $10 an hour. It was unreal. I made more by running my blog.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I wouldn’t have done anything differently. Everything that I encountered on my way, I believe was meant to happen in order for me to learn what I needed to.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blondieinthecity.com https://theblondieshop.com https://happyjewelers.com
- Email: [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayleylarue/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlondieintheCity/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hayley_Larue
Image Credit:
Jewelry photos (2): Cory Jones
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