The Founders Journey: Meet Yard + Parish
The Founders Journey is our spotlight series featuring Black women & Non-Binary people who are building businesses and brands.
Join us in conversation with Samantha and Alesha from Yard + Parish, an eco luxury e-commerce platform putting sustainable black owned brands at the very centre of their company.
Can you tell us a little bit about Yard + Parish and some of your inspirations behind the brand?
Founded in 2019, Yard + Parish is an online sustainable luxury platform offering curated selections of Black-owned lifestyle brands in beauty, wellness, fashion, and homeware.
We’re inspired by the natural luxuries of island life and pay homage to our Afro-Caribbean heritage through storytelling and experiential pop-ups in and around London.
“We also wanted to challenge the ‘traditional’ definition of luxury because to us, community and health is true wealth.”
Why did you feel it was important to create Y+P?
In a society where shopping as a Black person can often be all business and no pleasure, we wanted to create something special for our community so we could feel catered too and understood in every way while we shop.
We’re making the best independent Black-owned brands that we’ve discovered on our journey more accessible and enjoyable to interact with. We also wanted to challenge the ‘traditional’ definition of luxury because to us, community and health is true wealth.
How do you create a work life balance for yourself?
Something we learned along the way was that rest is just as important as ticking tasks off your to-do list. To avoid burnout we are strict with incorporating active rest into our weekly schedules, for example, weekends in nature, quality time with friends and family, massage therapy, mini workout sessions and time alone (self-care Sunday is non-negotiable).
However, the reality is that this isn’t always possible — so during the most hectic times of the year we also make a point to make work fun, like having meetings from a new coffee shop or hotel (we call them ‘eating meetings’).
“Rest is just as important as ticking tasks off your to-do list.”
Have you had any challenges when running Y+P? If so, how did you overcome them?
The most notable challenge we faced was getting used to the sense of responsibility that comes with running your own business and the fact that our professional choices directly impact others. Since the business is our baby, we’re not really allowed to fall off the grid and disappear when we get tired. Thankfully, there’s two us, so when one of us needs to take a beat, the other’s got her back.
Founders Alesha & Samantha
“If you’re not passionate enough about your ‘why’, the temptation to quit might just win.”
Do you have any books/podcasts you’re interested in at the moment, if so what are they?
Confident & Killing it by Tiwalola Ogunlesi
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
Yard & Parish Self Care Bundle featuring black-owned brands.
Any word of advice for those who are thinking about starting a career in entrepreneurship?
Know your ‘why’ — because when things get tough, and they will, your reason for getting started in the first place is what will keep you going. If you’re not passionate enough about your ‘why’, the temptation to quit might just win.
Our visions are very much in sync, especially as we’re a family business and consider Yard + Parish to be the roots of a legacy we’re building. So whenever we get frustrated we remind each other that this is the lifestyle we chose and there’s nothing else we’d rather be doing — and we keep going.
Thank you Samantha & Alesha!
Check out Yard & Parish
IG: yardandparish
