We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Allison Smith-Mackey a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Allison, appreciate you joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

The Covid 19 pandemic was a dark and uncertain time and at the time most e-commerce brands were flourishing with a captive audience. My brand Orchid Noir, was filled with neutrals and tailored to travel and work accessories and jewelry. I saw sales decline when I anticipated an increase, which lead me to reevaluate the direction of my business. As a designer and a creative I realized I craved bright and colorful creations and designed and curated a collection of vibrant accessories. I embraced the creative direction and Pop of Confetti, the collection was born. The brand came out of success of the collection.

Why confetti? Out of anxiety I would watch tv and shred gifted tissue paper to add to mailing packages. The confetti would calm my nerves and elevate my mood. The confetti was self expression, artistic, and a beautiful mess. In stead of a pop of color, the packages would get a Pop of Confetti.

Allison, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi I’m Allison, Owner of Pop of Confetti (www.popofconfetti.com) I’m on a mission to create a platforms and opportunities for emerging artists, makers and brands whose art helps add a lil confetti to each and every day. Pop of Confetti is located in Carytown’s Mile of Style in Richmond, VA. The store is filled with fun and cheerfully crafted artisanal pieces and fair trade curated accessories including art by 20+ Fem local makers. We have lots of great gifts for life’s celebrations. I strive to bring creativity into the intentional act of giving.

I’m originally from the Bronx, NY and from a very young age I had a profound love for the arts. My parents would sign me up for sports and extracurricular activities and it was like pulling teeth for me to go. But when it came to anything adventurous like Girl Scouts or art classes, i was excited and motivated. As a New Yorker I was very active in the arts scene and was always inspired to create.

In 2009 when I moved to Virginia due to the recession, on weekends I would frequent Richmond and discovered there was such a talented and thriving arts community. So my husband and I soon moved from Charlottesville to Richmond and I quickly joined the makers community. I found purpose in participating in all things creative. I would often shop in Carytown and was inspired to become a local merchant.

Richmond is filled with creative talent and I am excited to showcase their artistry while providing an unconventional shopping experience because gifts are personal.
Beyond demonstrating your level of effort, thoughtfulness and consideration, gifts demonstrate your energy? This is why a personal gesture, such as a gift, is offensive if rejected. In an e-commerce driven world it’s become important, to offer a personalized products, with unique options that delight!

Pop of Confetti is a gift shop reimagined, offering a fresh take on classics. My untraditional, artful choices are vibrant, handcrafted and intentional gifts that bring fun and whimsy into gift giving.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

In my experience customers have to know, like and trust you, and that comes with listening to customer feedback, implementing changes and staying consistent in quality and overall experience. I lead with the features and benefits of our selections and the customer chooses what’s best for their needs. Customer satisfaction is my greatest asset.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

As an artist working in corporate America for most of my professional career, I always had a creative outlet. I make and craft on a daily basis and friends and family would purchase my creations but at a certain point you can no longer hoard everything you make and it’s time to share your talent with the world. I started doing markets and they would all me to flourish. When the income from markets could cover personal expenses my husband and I decided it was time to transition into a full time entrepreneur. My happiness depended on it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.popofconfetti.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/popofconfetti_
• Facebook: Facebook.com/popofconfetti
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asmithmackey

Image Credits
Mx.Bex Sound and Snap Photo