Ask Elsie & Emma: What's it like working together?

Elsie and I often get asked what it's like to work together. Since we're like, sisters and all. Working with family or close friends can be challenging. Although Elsie and I have a dynamic that works well together. We've been working together since we were in high school, we started selling handmade accessories at music festivals during the summers. We used to do wedding photography together. I helped Elsie with her first Etsy shop and eventually we became full partners, owning the Red Velvet store and this little website you're reading right now. We recently completed our first co-authored book together too. Here are three reasons why our partnership works in business.1. We don't compete. My success is Elsie's success, and vice versa. I don't want to be better than her; I want us to be better than we could be on our own. And we are. Elsie and I have very different strengths (and weaknesses). She has a stronger artistic vision than me; Elsie's design abilities never cease to amaze me. We both come up with ideas for articles, take pictures, create content; but it's really Elsie who makes our brand so beautiful. I have a better since of administration; I organize, budget and keep our business on track. We both have a strong say in where our business is headed; but it's me who strategically keeps things headed in that direction. It would be easy to get jealous or annoyed by each other's strengths. It's hard seeing your sister be better at something than you. But instead we realized early on that our strengths could compliment and balance each other out. We need each other; and that keeps us from getting jealous or... uh... catty. :)2. We have similar but contrasting styles. I am type A, she is right-brained. I have a messy, 1970s vibe style. She prefers clean lines and bold, well put together pieces. We have slightly different tastes, and this makes us stronger. When thinking about our next business move Elsie can dream big and imagine the impossible, I think about what that would cost and what demographic we could target that to. When creating a new craft project we both come at the project with a slightly different aesthetic; making the design process more full and interesting. Being different is not something we shy away from. Having a different idea or perspective is never something we hide from each other during meetings. We respect each other and listen, even when we don't initially agree.

3. We know each other. We're sisters so we grew up together (duh!) and we've been best friends for most of our lives. We've seen each other grow and change over the years; we've watched and shared in each others successes and failures. And we can anticipate what each other will think about certain things. This gives us a communication edge. We can quickly and easily explain ideas. And we understand where the other one is coming from. In business, this ability to communicate easily is a priceless gift. 

Just a few peeks inside our little family business. xo. Emma

Third photo c/o Float Away Studios.

Comments

[CHICKYTHING]

This is awesome.Thanks for sharing! I love how you build each other and complete each other instead of compete.Lots of sisters will learn from you two.

[tinajo]

I think that´s wonderful and how I wish every sisterhood would be like (I´ve heard different too from friends). That is how I´d hoped it to be if I had siblings, so I´m a little envious. :-)

[Jess Dynarski]

I love how supportive you two are of each other and that you don't compete with each other. Sometimes I wish that I had a sibling who was close enough in age to work together.(My brother's 13 years older than me.)

[Max]

Long may it continue ladies. Whatever you're both doing is working - for now anyway.
My sister and I had a wonderful relationship for 35 years ... or so I thought :(

[Jennifer S.]

This is so insightful. I've always wanted a business partner for my (future) business but I've been weary of the pitfalls. This is really helpful. Thank you for writing it!

[Nicole]

This is really great.
A lot of people can't work together like as they do become very competitive. I think most are that way by nature. But when you work with someone close, you must put all selfishness aside.
And its good that you two pick up where the other leaves off, if that makes sense.
Anyway, thank you again for sharing this. It has helped me and hopefully it will help others to work well together in the future.

[Rebeca Jacuniak Bucholtz]

Thank you for this post! It's very hard to find out people that think in the same way of you...

Kisses, Rebeca
www.multistyle.com.br

[Lily]

It is so refreshing to see siblings get along and actually complement not compete. It can be done.You remind me of my mother and her sister, they complemented each other quite well and worked together beautifully and loved each other deeply.

Thank you for sharing how your strengths work together.

[Inna]

My sis is 11 years older than me (I'm 16), but we're a lot like you two. We're best friends and can really understand each other and communicate well. Our styles are definitely different, but we somehow complement each other.
She has a photography business, and I started working with her this year, too!

[Lucy]

What a brilliant post! I run a handmade business with my sister, so this is very inspiring. We're similar in many ways, but really do have a number of different strengths, so it's important to remember how they can work together. Thank you. x

[Erin]

I really enjoyed this piece. I love collaborative art, but you're right, it is too easy to get jealous, and put our own feelings above the importance of the project. Reading about how you can work with someone who is so close to you in such a difficult industry is very inspiring. I hope some day to be in a position to do such incredible work with the people I hold nearest and dearest.
Also I totally love that last photo, reminds me of how I found out about you guys through Ready Made magazine (a souvenir from a trip my Mum took the states, now there's a lady who knows me well!)
--Erin

[Otter Mei]

This was nice to read. It's easy to think that working with a sibling or best friend is fun, but there are challenged too! Nice to hear a successful story. :D

[Emma]

This is so fascinating, I would love for my little sis to live nearer, I can't think of anyone I would rather work with and who I could trust more x

[Charlotte]

You guys are so inspiring, I have a baby brother and it would make me so happy if we were this close - as it is we only see each other twice a year!

Loving your 'everyday' blogs too, your updates always make me smile! x

[Helen]

sounds like it works great for you two, I guess in any working relationship its partly a case of learning how each other works and you already have a head start by growing up together

http://ahandfulofhope.blogspot.co.uk/

[Katy Clouds]

This is such an adorable post, I think that your partnership is really inspiring, and I love reading your everyday blogs too :-)

http://katyclouds.blogspot.com

[Kat]

What a wonderful post!! Thanks for sharing this!! It's so inspiring to see the love that you two have for one another and the friendship! What a blessing it must be to have your own sister as your best friend and business partner!

[Drey Nicole]

It's like yin and yang! Amazing pair the two of you.
Drey - highdollarhippie.blogspot.com

[Suzanne Miller]

Elsie and Emma, I've just nominated you for a Sunshine Award. Your link is posted today on my blog Suzysomething Thinks Out Loud (http://suzysomethingthinksoutloud.com)

I enjoy your blog so much that I want to share it with everyone. Thanks!

[Sarah Joy]

These are some beautiful sentiments, and very important lessons to learn. I'm going to try thinking this way with my sister :)

Thanks for sharing.