Meet Alli Baldocchi: Woman Entrepreneur

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

Hi Alli, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
When creating a brand, or starting your own business the most important thing you need to remember is your voice and your vision. I have always been someone who likes to go left when the herd is all going right. I like to be different and do my own thing, keeping true to who I am. I was taught by a very wise young man (my middle son) that being different is AWESOME, and while that is true, being different also comes with risk and uncertainty. If you believe in yourself, your passion and your vision, you will succeed in anything you do. It is my passion that keeps me going and sets me apart from others. Supporting small artisans, and other companies with a mission to help others, including animals, is a huge part of my business. I hope to get to a place financially where I can start giving back to causes that are close to my heart someday soon.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My first official job was when I was 13, at a local boutique downtown Manhattan Beach. I have always worked. I loved the responsibility and feeling that I was mature enough to handle it, and I was. I was always wise beyond my years, (now I know where my youngest son gets it from). After living in London just after graduating college, I found myself working in the fashion industry. Having a business degree, this was not something I thought I would be doing, but my eye for design and family history in the world of fashion, I jumped in. Career after career came from teaching elementary school, having a successful boys clothing line, writing and publishing a book, owning and operating my own business as an Interior Stylist, becoming a Life Coach, Realtor, and not to mention wife and mom to three boys, one having Autism and always advocating and fighting for special needs. All of this has lead me to where I am today. I still do real estate, and am a wife and mom of course, my most important job, but now I am a store owner of an amazing little place. I have always, wanted to own a store, especially in my hometown where I am lucky enough to still live. I am a third generation local, my boys the 4th. My husband is from here too, so we have extreme pride in our town. I knew my dreams of owning a store where never going to happen, being in real estate, I knew to well what the cost of leasing something would be and it was never going to happen in my lifetime. Over COVID, spending time with our close family friends, an opportunity presented itself and I jumped…once again.
My girlfriend who owned a salon in town, had two spaces that were open in the back of her shop (previously used by an eyelash and massage space)… They had been sitting vacant and that is when we decided to open a store in her salon. The concept was very simple, almost like a shop in a spa…
Timing of course is never right, but I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. With little to no money, I somehow created the space and got enough inventory to open. It is still a work in progress, but I am getting there. The Salon has been shut down twice due to COVID and things have not been easy, but knowing I have customers who are learning about my shop and love what I am doing, makes me so happy.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
HMMMM this is a good question. You are asking this to someone who was born in this so called “bubble”. I normally don’t go north of Rosecrans or south of the Redondo Pier. Us locals would say, “if you can’t bike there, we aren’t going.” Number one of course I would take them to the beach to experience an amazing day in the sun and beautiful water we have. We would no doubt go on a bike ride and I would take her to all my favorite dive bars, the usually Ercs, Shellback, Critters, and The Crows Nest of course for sunset. I would tour her around and tell her about all my favorite places that no longer exist, 12th street, The Cookie Post, Sangria, and Cal Beach. Driving up the coast and through Lunada Bay, I would take her on a drive with the best views, and we would head up to Nelsons at Terranea for an overnight stay. Getting out of the bubble, I would take her up to Abbot Kinney for the day, and onto Montana for some great shopping. But mostly, we would spend each day at the beach with all my friends and people that I grew up with … that is how I love spending my days.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My story is long and most people can’t believe all the careers and events that have gone on in my life. I truly believe that each and every person that I have come in contact with, and each career I have had, has got me to where I am today. I have taken bits and pieces from each moment in my life, all the advice and lessons learned to help me grow and find the path that has lead me to where I am today. I credit myself for making touch choices when needed and following my instincts to do and try new things. I have made the “jump” more than once, and it is scary. Change is scary, because it is the unknown, but without change, you are stagnant and there is no growth. I knew there was more for me n life, and at every fork in the road I came too I had to make a tough decision. My journey is still far from over.

Website: http://www.theshoppemb.com

Instagram: THESHOPPMB.COM

Other: www.allibaldocchi.com https://southbay.goldenstate.is/this-manhattan-beach-mom-is-encouraging-an-open-dialogue-between-the-parents-of-kids-with-special-needs/

Image Credits
Katherine Elaine Photography