We asked insiders and experts from various industries to tell us something they think outsiders are unaware of and we’ve shared a few of those responses below.

Akeia Jones | Sr. Mortgage Advisor

The vilotiality. Some months, quarters, or even years your experiencing the extreme high of success and then boom its a drought. It takes continuous hustle, grind and a drop of humble to be an entrepreneur in any space. Taking your foot off of the gas is never an option. Read more>>

Jon Hershman | Co-Owner

Most glasses and sunglasses made today are very low quality, manufactured for our disposable modern world. Before the early 2000s, there were hundreds or thousands of glasses manufacturers. With industry consolidation and control of the eyewear market handed to Luxottica and a few others, quality, craftsmanship, and artistry has been lost. Vintage frames were rich with detail, exquisite design, and craftsmanship that was painstaking and labor intensive. Now, most frames, even the expensive ones from your favorite fashion houses are made of injection-molded plastic, which becomes brittle, is very difficult to adjust, and doesn’t last more than a few years. Real zyl or acetate frames are all made by hand, formed from a single block, only coming to life with hours of heating, filing, polishing, and manipulating until its final form is fully realized. This is why we sell vintage products. We believe in putting out name behind a product that is meant to last. Read more>>

Paula Rincón | Pola Unique Jewelry Founder and Designer

90% of people don’t seem to realize how much gold actually costs. I’m often asked if my gold-plated pieces are 24K gold, and they nearly have a heart attack when I tell them how much it would cost to have them custom-made in solid gold—an option I do offer! Read more>>