In The Room with Lisa Bubbers
Welcome to the fourth episode of Season Six of the Room Podcast. Today we sit down with Lisa Bubbers, co-founder and CBO of Studs, an ear piercing experience that allows consumers to express themselves through “earscaping.”
Growing up in LA, but moving to New York in 2006, Lisa finds herself combining the laid back and chaotic nature of the west coast with the ambition and rigor of the east coast. While at the University of Pennsylvania, Lisa completed a thesis on curating contemporary art. Although she transitioned to entrepreneurship, she used her degree and its creative lessons to start her professional career as an assistant to the branding and integration group at an advertising agency.
Later, Lisa went on to work at Jonathan Adler and Homepolish, where she learned to extend existing brands to new categories, how to build retail environments, and how to cultivate collaborations and partnerships. In 2019, she decided to launch Studs along with her co-founder Anna Harmon, after realizing how expensive and uncomfortable piercing environments can be.
On today’s episode we discuss “the Great Earscape”, building your business with a complementary co-founder, and her thoughts on the future of a modern mall.
Let’s open the door.
Listen to the fourth episode of season six here.
Key Theme 1: The Great Earscape
More than simply creating a cheaper, cleaner piercing environment, Lisa looked to combine the piercing experience with the purchasing of earrings. With Studs, and what she has termed “earscaping,” Lisa looked to reimagine the retail environment for Gen Z and millennial customers. Rather than just getting their ears pierced at one place they have no connection to and buying all their earrings elsewhere, the consultative aspect of Studs allows consumers to create this connection with the retail environment and to plan out their piercings with an expert.
Key Theme 2: Building your business with a complementary co-founder
Lisa met her co-founder Anna through mutual friends long before they started Studs. Both having experiences in startups, they realized the complementary nature of their skills and how it could translate to a joint venture: Lisa with the brand and creative side of business, and Anna with the finance and operations background. Despite their different talents, Lisa highlights the values and visions that she shares with Anna, making them compatible co-founders. She also emphasizes the importance of transparency and open lines of communication when building a successful business with a partner. When thinking about who might be your ideal co-founder, think about the person that most compliments you and challenges you to level up in other ways.
Key Theme 3: The future of a modern mall
Lisa recognizes malls look different than in the past, yet she feels there is still high demand for them to exist, just with a more modern twist. In terms of malls in the future, Lisa believes that consumers will be hoping for communal outdoor spaces, great designs, and a vibrant feeling. The physical locations of Studs draws on Lisa’s perspective for the future, by combining the medical part of piercing with an experiential activation, Lisa hopes to create a modern environment that evokes emotion in its customers.
_____
Thanks for checking out this episode of The Room Podcast. Stream this episode on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
We will be back next Tuesday for a new, inspiring conversation. In the meantime, catch up on all our latest episodes, available now on all podcast streaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
