June Member Monday Recap
Meet Sky Starling of Reprise Activewear
My name is Sky Starling, and I am a recent graduate from the University of Georgia. I have a degree in Fashion Merchandising and have a passion for marketing and helping brands grow. While in school, I worked hard to begin building a strong and broad base of experience by working with successful companies like Emily McCarthy, LOFT, Colquitt Regional Medical Center, Reprise Activewear, and California Pictures at the Cannes Film Festival. In my free time, I love to draw, travel, and bake.
https://www.repriseactivewear.com
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I joined TSC to meet like-minded women and make connections. One of my former bosses recommended the membership to me and I was very excited about it. I am almost a year out from college graduation and at the beginning of my career. I am thrilled to be able to learn from so many experienced women!
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
Of course, I have to plug where I work. I am returning to Reprise Activewear after having worked with them while in college. I am ecstatic to be back with such a great team! Reprise creates nontoxic activewear and focuses on sustainable production. As for other small businesses I love – I am based in Athens and frequent Athens Cooks and Independent Baking. You’re doing yourself a disservice if you haven’t been! I am also a big fan of Georgia Stockton’s SZN. She is killing it!
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
I am inspired by many things around me daily. I love following brands who are successful and creative. They help keep me thinking about ways to reach people authentically. I also really love hearing about female founders and their stories. I have seen women light up when talking about their brands and how they want to help other women succeed. Two women I think of immediately are Georgia Stockton and my boss Mary Bemis. I love hearing them speak about their companies. It’s not hard to see that they truly love what they do and are passionate about improving the lives of those that support them.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
Getting to know people in your community is incredibly important. Even if you are not extremely social, it is vital to get out and meet those around you. You never know what could come from a relationship that you’ve built.
Meet Lisa Pearlman, Fine Art Floral Photographer
Hi, I’m so happy to be here—it’s wonderful to meet you all. I often feel like the token Northerner, originally from New York City and now living in Palm Beach.
I’m a fine art floral photographer, and I think of my work as floral portraits—many of the flowers feel as though they’re posing. I shoot in my home studio and am endlessly inspired by the elegance and personality of each bloom.
I grew up in Short Hills, New Jersey (so I have a soft spot for all things preppy), and graduated from Brown University. I have two adult children living and thriving in New York City.
My work is currently featured at The Well Made Home and C&C Photography Gallery, and I’m in the process of expanding with an e-commerce site that will include a wider range of pieces—possibly even handbags and trays featuring my imagery.
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I’ve only been part of The Southern Coterie for a short time, but I’m already so impressed by the quality of the programming and the level of connection. It’s an incredibly inspiring group, and I’m genuinely excited to be part of it.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
I always try to support small businesses, especially in places like Palm Beach and New York where they can be harder to find.
One of my favorites is The Well Made Home, which carries my work. It’s beautifully curated with everything from art to home décor, and it’s a wonderful resource for designers.
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
My greatest inspiration is, quite simply, flowers.
I’m drawn to their color, their vibrancy, and their quiet sense of grace. I still feel a childlike excitement wandering through a flower market. They may be fleeting, but they make a powerful statement—and capturing that balance is what I love most.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
Follow what genuinely excites you—it shows in the work. And don’t be afraid to evolve as you go. Building something meaningful takes time.
Meet Amy Shippy of Blue Poppy Designs
Hi, I’m Amy Shippy, the founder of Blue Poppy Designs, a Savannah based brand where I turned my original watercolor artwork into products for boutique gift shops across the country. In 2025,I launched my new needlepoint kits, specially designed for gift shops, the response has been amazing as the trend to disconnect from the screen and find time to turn off the noise. I’ve been an entrepreneur for over 30 years, raised three amazing sons, and have been married to my husband Robert for 27 years. Blue Poppy is my creative outlet, blending art, product design, and storytelling into something that feels both beautiful and approachable. Everything I create is designed and produced in my Savannah studio, with a focus on small minimums and helping retailers carry something truly unique.
Why did you join TSC Membership?
I joined TSC because I believe in being in rooms where people are building, growing, and thinking bigger, it keeps me sharp. The best part for me is the opportunity to be part of the conversations and connections with other business owners who understand the highs, the pivots, and the realities of scaling a product-based business. It’s a space where I don’t have to explain the journey—I just get to move forward.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
I’m always drawn to small, independent women-owned businesses, especially the ones that really approach their business with intention. Those are the businesses and business owners that I’m inspired by. I also love supporting fellow makers—people who are still hands-on in their business and care deeply about what they’re putting out into the world.
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
A lot of my inspiration still comes from my surroundings, Savannah has a way of slowing you down just enough to notice color, texture, and detail. But honestly, inspiration also comes from my customers and retailers, seeing what resonates with them, how they merchandise, and what brings their customers joy. I’ve learned that inspiration isn’t just creative—it’s also paying attention.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
The best advice I’ve ever received is to build a solid foundation before chasing growth. It’s easy to get caught up in big numbers or big opportunities, but if your systems, pricing, and processes aren’t right, it won’t hold. I’ve always believed that if you build it right, the growth will come—and it will be sustainable when it does.
Meet Heath Flood of Caroline’s Cakes
My name is Heath Flood, and I am the Customer Experience Manager for Caroline’s Cakes! I was born and raised in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where I now live with my husband Matt, daughter Mollie Parker (5), and son Jack (3). Nothing in this world brings me as much joy as making people laugh. I watch way too much Bravo TV and play tennis to relax.
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
I joined TSC because it has been a huge part of Caroline’s Cakes. I also love being surrounded by like-minded people who support each other. Rising tides!
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
I get my inspiration from all kinds of places. Will Guidara has been a huge source of inspiration for how I approach any given situation. His words apply to any area of life and industry. I truly want to make people’s days brighter and lighter.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
“You will learn more from what you don’t get right than from the things you do.”
Meet Rachel Mays of Right Hand Concierge Co
Rachel Mays is a dedicated virtual assistant based in the Richmond, VA, area and the founder of Right Hand Concierge Co. Her journey into this work started with something simple: a deep satisfaction in checking off a to-do list. Rachel has always thrived on organization, efficiency and helping others stay on top of their goals.
As a virtual assistant, Rachel brings trustworthiness, strong multitasking abilities, and sharp prioritization skills to every project. Whether it’s managing schedules, handling administrative tasks or keeping everything running smoothly, Rachel takes pride in ensuring her clients can focus on what matters most.
Outside of work, family is at the heart of everything Rachel does. She understands the importance of balance, which is why she loves helping others create more time for their own priorities — whether that’s growing a small business or simply enjoying life a little more.
https://www.righthandconcierge.co/
What is a favorite small business you like to shop or support?
I love supporting small businesses on Etsy—it’s such a great platform for discovering unique, thoughtfully made items while directly supporting independent creators.
Where do you go to get your inspiration now?
I find inspiration through a mix of everyday life and digital spaces. Platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are great for staying on top of trends, but I’m just as inspired by my clients—their needs, lifestyles, and the ways I can make their lives easier. A lot of my best ideas come from solving real, day-to-day challenges.
What is the best business advice you have ever given or received?
The best advice I’ve received is to become indispensable by taking things off people’s plates before they even have to ask. Anticipating needs and reducing someone’s mental load is what turns a service into something truly valuable.
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