Three Years of love, - A founders note and the secret to the continual spark
Monica GrunickOur story is rooted in love, although it may not have always felt like it. The first three years of love, have flown by so quickly it's almost hard to process the lessons and learnings along the way. It's been surprising what we've weathered personally and professionally through the first few years of our journey. In fact, starting love, has stretched us in new ways and unexpected ways.
Growing pains
Personally I've shared many joys as well as pains. I married the love of my life, Peter, and have found more and more joy with him as we deepen our relationship and create our version of life together. Simultaneously, I've been helping my manage my dad's care as he ages and navigates new and ever evolving health challenges. The balance of these has made me feel pulled, sad, but also full of expectation and given me an appreciation for life in all of its forms and how we care for each other.
Professionally it has been a challenge to manage two separate (but related - hey sis!) businesses with both love, and love, Pittsburgh. We have pushed and stretched our managers and team to do more than ever before, just as we have stretched ourselves. It was a bit of a surprise to me that it seemed like our work had more than doubled somehow when undertaking the management of a second brand. The challenge of keeping tabs on so many moving parts I have yet to master, and we have a tendency to keep adding more to our plates so the goal lines are ever changing.
At love,, after weathering a year of tall black fences, surprise sidewalk closures, and heavy machinery outside of our front door, we are relieved to see the life coming back into Market Square's reimagined landscape. The proximity that made it hard to endure the construction, is also a benefit to the recovering foot traffic and programming brought into the square.
The last three years (plus) we've been busy trying, testing, designing, creating, inventing, tinkering with newness in our products, promotions and events. It feels like we're just getting a small grip on what is working for us, and what we want to bring more of forth into the world.
I am thankful for these experiments, and for the foundation we have built. Through all of the changes, the simple concept of love, has endured. The idea that love is the answer, the endless cycle of energy in the world, the more you give the more that comes back to you, the more you give to yourself the more you have to put into the world.
Ultimately, no matter what we try, where we stumble, or where we shine, we have confidence that our purpose will remain timeless.
Back to the heart of it
When we began, love, was a small section of our Strip District love, Pittsburgh store. You found it and loved it, and when we had the opportunity to rent our current Market Street location, we knew it was the right time to give love, more room to breath on its own, to let it stand out and be a place that knows no bounds, and to spark joy in those who's path it crossed.
Using the filter of what makes our own hearts sparkle, our collection is a reflection of myself and Kelly. The mission to be cute, comfortable, and cared for is at the heart of each piece that we hope you will gift to yourself or someone who needs more love, in their life.
Thank you for being a part of our journey. We are enamored with your love, stories that you share with us in our store. With your regular visits to soak up the positive vibes in the middle of a workday. With your gatherings, connections, and joyful presence. With your smiles, shares, likes, and orders from afar. We are ever encouraged by each and everyone of you, to keep the flow of love, going, feeding off of it and returning it back to the world.
As we continue to build our dream brand, the magic comes from this circular energy exchange from you to us, and back again. We promise to keep our cups overflowing so that we can share that sparkle through creative new ideas that we keep building. We invite you to keep love, in your hearts, and come along for the next chapter of our love, story.
