Meet Tamar Razavi | Founder and Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tamar Razavi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tamar, what role has risk played in your life or career?
To be quite honest, I never thought of myself as a risk-taker in the traditional sense; however, if it wasn’t for taking certain risks, I wouldn’t be where I am today. As I began my journey into the career world, my professional trajectory was pretty cut out for me. While I attended college, I worked as a Teacher’s Assistant; I then further pursued my Master’s Degree in Education and became an English and History teacher upon graduation. It’s really all I’d ever thought I would do…teach.

Then, about three years ago, some exciting life changes come into play – I got married, we bought a house, and the excitement to decorate and give our home a bit of our personality set in. Unfortunately, that excitement was short lived as I found it impossible to find home décor that was accessible in both price and unique aesthetic.

This is when I had my light bulb “ah-ha!” moment and the risk taking began! I was certain there were others who also struggled to find affordable and unique home decor. Why not create a shop that encompassed all I was seeking? Navigating the logistics and funding was a challenging endeavor, but with the help of my husband (who took on all the shipping challenges) and my family, Lilah Lifestyle Co. was off the ground in my parent’s garage! Everyone in our lives assumed this was a “side hustle” to bring in extra income, but with each passing month, I took bigger risks…all of which I hoped would lead to the ultimate risk – to quit teaching and focus on becoming a full-time business owner.

I took significant financial risks (and still continue to) with Lilah. I poured my income into growing the business, placed larger and larger orders with vendors, and eventually moved into an actual warehouse space. Although each step was a risk, I walked into it confidently, and it always pushed us further towards Lilah’s success. I am in no way encouraging reckless choices; everything should be thought through, but it is clear to me that without risks, there is no growth! Before making any significant decisions, I always carefully examined all possible options and scenarios. Not all options had happy endings, so I always ensured there was a Plan B in place. Sometimes, Plan B was a gamble too!

In June of 2021, I took the biggest risk of all – I quit my job (leaving behind a steady income) and decided to pour all my energy and time into Lilah full-time. At this point in my life, and in the life of Lilah Lifestyle Co., I’m fully prepared to take on more risks, because without them, I’d still be teaching and not reaping the rewards of personal freedom.

Always remember that if something gets your heart is beating and your blood moving, you’re doing it right. Don’t be afraid to take risks and fall, as you will find that you might be stumbling towards what holds your happiness and destiny…

What should our readers know about your business?
Lilah Lifestyle Co. is an online shop that features hand-curated homewares (including decor, kitchen, books, stationary, and apothecary items). We aim to bring unique, fair trade items at affordable prices. I am proud to say that what sets us apart are our prices – we always want to keep our price points fair and accessible for everyone. I am also personally proud of the curation of products. I always try to stock the shop with items that excite me. I never buy with the mindset of making money, but rather just truly enjoy stocking the shelves with items that I would put in my own home.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The beauty of Orange County is that the beach is RIGHT there! For starters, we’d go grab a lavender coffee and breakfast burrito from Work in Progress in Costa Mesa(the cutest coffee shop with delicious offerings!). We’d then go for a scenic oceanside walk along Back Bay in Newport Beach. After working up a sweat, we’d go to Lido Marina Village where we can grab a light lunch at Zinque and then walk around for some shopping. I’d close the day with a sushi dinner at SeaButter in Laguna Beach. I’d also be sure to check out all the small shops in Laguna and most likely squeeze in a massage at Sycamore Spa at The Ranch hotel.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be able to do any of this without my husband, mother, and sister. Each of them plays a pivotal role in my day to to day operations and without them, the company wouldn’t be thriving or flourishing. I’m very grateful and lucky to have their unwavering support and love.

Website: https://lilahlifestyleco.com

Instagram: @lilahlifestyleco