{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Building a Creative Empire on Art, Music, and Community with Brianne Mees","description":"How do you turn a passion for local art and music into a thriving multi-million dollar business? In this episode of Women\u2019s Million Dollar Conversations, Alice Tang sits down with Brianne Mees, the co-founder of Tender Loving Empire. Brianne shares the story of how she and her husband grew a small DIY space into an iconic Portland brand that supports hundreds of independent artists and musicians.  Brianne reveals the challenges of scaling a retail and record label hybrid and discusses how staying true to the &quot;soul&quot; of her business allowed her to navigate the million-dollar milestone and beyond. If you are a creative entrepreneur or a mission-driven leader, Brianne\u2019s insights on community, curation, and &quot;Tender Loving&quot; leadership are a must-watch.  In this episode, you\u2019ll learn:  -The strategic evolution of Tender Loving Empire from one shop to multiple locations. -How Brianne reached the $1M milestone while maintaining a commitment to local makers. -Why Brianne views money as a tool for &quot;amplifying the good&quot; in the creative community. -Tactical advice for balancing the &quot;artist\u2019s heart&quot; with a &quot;CEO\u2019s mindset&quot;.  Key Moments:  01:12 \u2013 Origin Story: Creating a &quot;Creative Ecosystem&quot; for art, music, and handmade goods.  03:55 \u2013 The Value of Money: Using profit to amplify the voices of independent artists.  07:45 \u2013 The Scaling Milestone: The jump from one DIY shop to a multi-location retail empire.  11:20 \u2013 Curation Strategy: How she manages the complexity of a record label and retail hybrid.  14:35 \u2013 Leading with Love: Maintaining an &quot;Indie&quot; heart in a million-dollar business.  17:50 \u2013 Advice: &quot;Your brand is a story; make sure it's a true one.&quot; ","author_name":"Women's Million Dollar Conversations","author_url":"https:\/\/askalicetang.com\/womens-million-dollar-conversations\/","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/39739230\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/197516870"}