It's hard to believe it's been about ten years since I first brought PO-EM to life. Looking back, it was a different era in many ways, but the core of what I set out to do remains as true today as it was then.
My background is rooted deeply in artisan textiles and design. As an artist, the leap into creating PO-EM felt less like a pivot and more like a natural extension of who I am and what I love to do. Fun fact for those of you who've been with me from the very beginning: the brand actually started as "Pippa Romana," a playful nod to my dog and son. But within a few months, everyone was calling me Pippa thinking it was my name, so PO-EM it became - a name that, to me, perfectly encapsulates our founding mission: to create unique, art-driven, handmade wares...an ode.
My target customer? Well, it's always been me! I've always aimed to create pieces that I would genuinely love and wear or use in the home or seek as art. And while the journey of running a small business has built in grit and endless to-do lists – from emailing and inventory organizing to excel sheeting, designing, and problem-solving – I've always been the type to just keep moving forward, finding solutions quickly rather than dwelling on how hard something is. My hope has always been that the beauty and value of the final product would speak for itself.
The world has certainly shifted in the past decade. Customers today often seek a deeper, more personal connection with brands, a narrative that goes beyond the product itself. And while I admire those who effortlessly navigate the demands of being "the brand" on social media, my own energy – split between raising kids, caring for parents, and managing the daily needs of PO-EM – means my focus is, and always has been, on the product. I don't have a big marketing budget or a team to craft an elaborate message, so what you see is what you get: the product, lovingly created.
But please know, behind every design, every order, every piece you enjoy out in the world, there's a constant hum of activity. There's the immense satisfaction of creating beautiful things, of seeing it worn and appreciated. And perhaps most importantly, there's the impact we're able to have. Every piece you purchase directly supports artisans and rural communities, creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond the pieces themselves.
It's a challenging, yet always fulfilling, journey. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
