A New Leadership – Interview with founder of Marli New York, Maral Artinian

Marli New York has a minimal, magnetic aesthetic that draws inspiration from the world’s most dynamic city and the amazing women who live in it. We spoke to founder Maral Artinian about scaling, growth and keeping it entrepreneurial

What do the first 30 minutes of your day look like/ your morning routine? I am an early bird and the first thing I like to do in the morning is exercise. I wake up, put on my gym clothes, and hit the gym. Some days I practise yoga in my apartment if I don’t go to the gym. Tell us how the brand has evolved since it launched and how you maintain a sense of entrepreneurialism throughout the business? The Marli brand has evolved significantly since its launch with our retail and online expansion across the world. Today, Marli WORDS: AMY SESSIONS

has nine stand-alone boutiques around the world in addition to our e-commence platform which has also been growing. I have always been entrepreneurial since I started working at a young age and I grew up in this environment. What I learned is to work closely with my team which gives them the opportunity to interact more freely and feel closer to me and the business – I’ve found that this gives them more confidence when it comes to decision making and provides a sense of accomplishment as a team. The brand is an extension of me, and I constantly thrive to drive the business forward – this is what gets me out of bed every morning with enthusiasm and joy. How do you balance the creative and commercial sides of the business, and do you feel more drawn to one than the other? I absolutely love both sides of the business. I lead the creative department for Marli. With my team, we discuss daily creative briefs from product design, campaigns, and interior designs. I love when a creative idea comes into reality and translates the vision of the brand. It is a big celebratory moment for everyone on the team. When my creative mind is not at

its peak I turn to the commercial side of the business. I have to say I am grateful to have a team of experts when it comes to the other side of the business. Which platforms now drive the majority of sales and how do brick and mortar stores compare? Most of our customers come into our stores to enjoy the world of MARLI. Coming into the store offers a tangible experience that has been especially created for our customers. Launching our own e-commerce platform has allowed us to further our reach to an international audience and present customers with a wider offering. We continue to focus on developing both journeys for our customers and ensure their satisfaction. Do you see buying patterns globally or within the GCC and which pieces drive sales season after season? In general, the Marli customers share the same buying philosophy globally. Our best performing collections have been the Cleo and Avenues collections, but our Tip-Top collection has also been a new favourite amongst new and existing customers since its launch. We continue to launch new creations within our core collections to diversify our offering, always keeping our clients at heart. Our Cleo collection today not only offers beautiful gem stone variations, but has different designs that cater to the various styles of our dynamic customers. The collection is fun, playful and timeless. As for our Avenues collections, our customers, both in the US and globally, absolutely love the design aesthetic as they really see it reflect the spirit and the pulse of New York City. What have been the biggest challenges to date and how did you overcome them? I think at every stage of the business growth we faced a challenge that at that moment we thought was big, but eventually you learn to take those challenges and turn them into opportunities. As a young brand you have many challenges, for example, building the Marli team was one of the challenges we faced at the beginning. As we know business is all about having the right team that really believes in the company’s vision. When you are a young brand the recruitment process becomes much more challenging. Today I can truly say that whoever’s joined the Marli family is indeed a true believer in the vision of the brand. Another challenge I would say is gaining share of voice within the market in the presence of mega competitors in the industry, but then again, I am very proud of the achievements we have made so far, and the journey continues! What is your approach to leadership as generations become ever more entrepreneurial? How do businesses accommodate this? At Marli we recruit individuals who have entrepreneurial mindsets, because they must bring something to the table, make decisions and have their own contributions to the brand. Marli’s team worldwide comes from a diverse background of women, and I am very proud to be surrounded by them as they are a big source of inspiration to me and the company. Additionally, I think we are living in an era – specifically when it comes to digital, where we can learn and educate ourselves to become better in what we do and how we do it. Education, knowledge, and self-growth are key components for any success. How do you approach scaling without compromising on quality? Quality means everything to me and the brand. Today I can proudly say if we did not have the confidence that we can deliver beautiful creations to our customers without compromising on quality, I would not have created the Marli brand. Have you had any mentors along the way and if so, what knowledge did they impart? My father, my uncle and my two brothers. Today the values that we have in our organization and the business methods we adopt are all part of the lessons I have learned from them. Value, respect, and compassion towards others. Integrity in business, and most importantly never compromising quality for design. What advice would you give to your younger self? Don’t be afraid of failure, it’s part of growth. Enjoy the process and don’t take life too seriously. This is The Entrepreneur Issue – what does this mean to you? As an entrepreneur, first you need to believe in your vision and your offerings, so others believe in them too. Building a successful business is not about coincidences or luck. Yes, they play a role but in the end it’s the hard work that pays off, and it helps open doors to many opportunities and bring the right opportunities your way. Professional and personal growth are essential parts of life. We need to embrace them and understand that there will be good days and bad days and it is important to enjoy both and process and learn from them to become the best versions of ourselves.