Meet Taylor Hollingshead | Mom & Entrepreneur

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

Hi Taylor, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Oh man, I don’t think any business owner can say they have perfect work-life balance. And if you find that person, I’d love to chat. The amazing and totally brutal part of being a small business owner is that it can consume your whole person, partially because you love it and you’re always dreaming of the next step or product and partially because you are IT, it starts and ends with you (and hopefully your awesome staff in-between!)

In our home and business, balance looks different in different seasons. While staying home for eight years and raising four babies (now 8, 7, 5 & 2.5) with a husband who travels frequently there was no balance, by choice. It was an all-encompassing, you have one shot at this thing type of season and it was the hardest and best thing I’ve ever done. My outward-facing career took a back seat to being present in the chaos of our home. Now that our kids are just barely self sufficient, my capacity and brain space allow for more creativity and I am leaning into that hard. Starting The Hill Coastal Co. brought me back to the newborn days, working all and odd hours, never being able to turn your brain off and excitedly freaking out over every little milestone, except instead of your baby, it’s your business. In this season, balance looks like our kids getting less of me during the day, but also getting to watch their mom work really hard to build something she loves and is proud of. Grit and grind are caught, not taught, and my kids are getting to see and experience that firsthand in this new season we are in.

How do I think about balance? It’s seasonal, fluid and sometimes an illusion. Determine your top priorities in life and divy up your time accordingly. For me, that’s 1) growth and joy in our home, 2) friendships and community and 3) growth and joy in creating for The Hill Coastal Co.. As long as you are spending a majority of your time doing the things you feel called to do, you’ll never regret it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I run a small business that creates Palos Verdes (or PV) inspired apparel. Our niche is neighborhood specific clothing that is unique, cozy and classic. What sets us apart is our classic designs, but mainly it’s that we are deeply involved in the community we represent and so we can make apparel that resonates deeply with our customers. What do I want the world to know? Oh man, I want the world to know that everyone needs community, lean into yours or build it if you don’t have one. And that you can find your new favorite sweatshirt at thehillcoastalco.com!

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 Palos Verdes Peninsula is famous for its trails and views. I’d take them on a little hike and then tidepooling at the Ocean Trails Reserve then pop down to Colossus and Choriman in San Pedro for iced coffee and breakfast burritos. I’d spend a few days laying by the pool, getting massages and doing more hiking around Terranea. The last few days we’d spend at the beach, probably Torrance and Redondo Beach, cruising up and down the Esplanade by bike, stopping at all the fun coffee shops and cute retail the South Bay has to offer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Our community! Mainly in the Palos Verdes area, but we’ve got rich friendships all over the country that I can’t leave out, The Hill Coastal Co. started because I was inspired by the beauty of the place we live, but what’s true is what makes a community is the people, not the place. From the small general stores (ie. Kelly’s Korner, try it!) where we grab coffee regularly to the incredible friends we frequent the trails and beaches with, to the preschool teachers who stop us in the grocery store to ask how our older kids are doing, this place is special. Community and connection are the foundation and inspiration for our brand and it is because those things are found in abundance in the amazing community where we live.

Website: https://thehillcoastalco.com

Instagram: @thehillcoastalco

Image Credits
Photographer: Emma Sharon
https://www.emmagsharon.com/