June 14, 2022

S6E5: Lisa Bubbers, Co-Founder of Studs, is Bringing the Ear-Piercing Industry into the Modern Era with Integrated Piercing and Shopping Experiences

32 minutes

Our season continues with Lisa Bubbers, Co-Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Studs, the modern platform for ear-piercing and earrings. Studs is all about safe and accessible ear-piercing for all people. Plus they have an easy-to-use, refreshingly branded e-commerce website with every earring fashion choice available.

In this episode, Lisa talks to us about what “Earscaping” means to them, as well as what it’s like building a business with a complementary co-founder and the future of the modern shopping mall.

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4:47 - Where did Lisa grow up and how did that shape her view of the world?
5:43 - Did Lisa always think she was going to become a founder?
6:51 - How did Lisa’s degree in Visual Studies from UPenn translate into her early work experience?
8:52 - What lessons did Lisa learn around the intersection of the digital and physical while working at Jonathan Adler and home Polish?
11:11 - What does the term “Earscape” mean to Lisa and Studs?
14:00 - How did Lisa meet her partner, Anna, and what got them started on the founding journey together?
15:27 - What advice would Lisa have for new founders looking for co-founders?
16:53 - Who was the first person to say yes to investing in Lisa and Studs?
17:48 - What was Lisa’s first piercing experience like?
19:07 - How is Studs thinking about the future of omnichannel retail?
20:18 - How did the pandemic affect Studs business?
21:46 - What is the feeling that a customer gets when walking into a Studs store?
23:10 - What does Lisa think the modern mall will look like in five years?
25:05 - What are some of the tools in Studs’ D to C tech stack?
26:29 - Has Studs considered a subscription model? Why or why not?
27:27 - What’s next for Studs?
29:09 - What’s next for Lisa?
30:18 - Who is a woman in Lisa’s life that has had a profound impact on her and her career?