Rachel Lubchansky, Funky Frum
Name: Rachel Lubchansky
Hometown: St. Louis
Current Residence (City, State): St. Louis, MO
Education: BS, Integrated Marketing Communications with an emphasis in Fashion (Fashion Institute of Technology, NY)
Professional Background (brief, please): I worked a couple of internships in marketing and public relations with boutique-size firms during college.Afterwards, I was a Buying and Merchandising Assistant at Stuart Weitzman,
where I learned a great deal about retailing (and fabulous shoes). Upon moving back to St. Louis, I went to work as an office manager for my mom, who founded her privately-owned music school (Beverly Milder’s Musical Arts) 30 years ago. It was in this position that I strongly honed my skills in management, marketing, communications and financial forecasting.
What you wanted to be when you grew up: A Broadway singer.
What you are: Founder and owner of an e-boutique, Funky Frum (www.funkyfrum.com), and – according to my husband – a wonderful wife.
Brief Summary of your Start Up: Funky Frum is an e-boutique that caters to modest-dressing women who value current fashions and good style. Our core market is Orthodox Jewish women, though we attract women of all different
faiths.
Funky Frum opened its virtual doors in August 2005.
Company Website? www.FunkyFrum.com
What inspired you? A need. For quite some time, I dreamed of having my own company. The idea to become a modest clothing retailer, though, stemmed from a need in my own life. I was 25 years old, had recently moved back to St.
Louis (my hometown), and was on a path to religious observance. Dressing modestly became more of a priority for me, but I didn’t want to forgo my New York wardrobe and coastal sense of style.
After speaking with more and more women who shared the frustration of finding stylish and fashionable options but didn’t want to bare all, I realized the tremendous void in the market. and I set out to fill it.
How long have you been in business? Funky Frum’s e-boutique launched in August 2005, so we are nearing our 2nd birthday this summer. However, I spent about a year planning and getting everything in place before we opened
our virtual doors.
How did you fund it? Personally, with savings and a home equity line of credit.
Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor)? I have a mentor, but he’s not quite what you may have in mind as a Fairy Godmother. He is a retired business executive who volunteers his time to mentor entrepreneurs. I was paired with him through SCORE, a wonderful program through the SBA, which I highly recommend to anyone seeking mentorship.
I was guided in the beginning phases by another mentor, a local business owner whom I know through a local organization with which I used to volunteer.
Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups? Ladies Who Launch, and I network through my volunteer work at a number of different organizations.
Current Business Challenge? Growing the business and increasing our customer base (More simply, getting the word out).
What are you doing about it? Reading (I love Entreprenuer magazine!).Researching new markets. Engaging in heavier social networking. Looking for a new part-time employee with strong marketing and communications skills.
Favorite motivational quote: I can’t say I have a favorite, I enjoy them when I hear them but I don’t keep them on my desk.
Family? I have an incredible husband. My parents and grandparents live nearby. And my siblings and in-laws are always available for “phone support.”
If so, how do you balance family and business? Thankfully, my husband is fully supportive of my business and the work I do. He is not only my biggest fan, but my “idea guy.” Generating new business ideas is a great way for us
to spend time together and also keep Funky Frum moving forward.
Favorite book? I’ve loved so many. Perhaps my most recent favorites were two books my Book Club read in the past year: “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini and “My Sister’s Keeper” by Jodi Picoult.
What do you do to relax? I read and write, take walks with my husband, and hang out with friends. My built-in relaxation is every Saturday when I observe the Jewish Sabbath – my one day a week when I don’t engage in any
work.
What do you want to change most about your world? Believe it or not, nothing comes to mind! In the global sense, though, I’d love to help create a world that is just and accepting of each others’ differences; we pass too many
judgements about people we don’t even know.
What are you most proud of? While we’re in a product-based business, Funky Frum is really a service to women across the globe that are able to enjoy their shopping experience without having to cull through the racks at a
department store or boutique only to find one piece that works for them. I’m proud that Funky Frum is able to offer women a shopping experience they aren’t able to otherwise obtain.
What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses? Get a business advisor or mentor, find a good accountant, write a business plan and refer back to it every step of the way, and network with other women!
Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource)? My accountant and my three favorite magazines that provide a wealth of information on a monthly basis: Entrepreneur, Internet Retailer and Business Week’s Small Biz.
Would you be interested in being a Fairy Godmother to another woman entrepreneur? (I am working on a secure system to do this, any ideas?) I would love to learn more about the program once you have put one in place.
What business subjects would you feel comfortable mentoring in? Getting off the ground, planning and organization, writing a business plan.
Would you be interested in going to lunch with other women entrepreneurs for
a “networking tea party”? Definitely.
If you are out of Utah County, would you be willing to be a facilitator of
such an event? Yes
