Building the Perfect Swimsuit

Lindsay Pinchuk is re-launching her newsletter, The FoundHer Files on Substack! No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works… because we’re better together. Make sure you subscribe for simple business and marketing tips designed for actual growth. SUBSCRIBE HERE.  Two former Lululemon insiders took a conversation in a Vancouver hot tub and turned it into a multi-million dollar DTC swimwear brand built on real product expertise, trust in their partnership, and a clear vision of what women actually need in a swimsuit. In this episode, Lindsay Pinchuk talks with Laura Low Ah Kee and Shannon Savage, the co-founders of Left On Friday, about how they pulled from over a decade of product experience at Lululemon to rethink what swimwear could be. Why were there still no suits that worked for movement and looked good too? What would happen if they applied everything they knew about fit, fabric, and function to a category that had barely evolved? That spark of an idea eventually became a focused product line, a growing team, and a brand that’s now seen on Olympic athletes and Gwyneth Paltrow alike. Laura and Shannon share what it looked like to build their DTC business from the ground up using their own money, the value of starting small and negotiating smart, and how they’ve stayed committed to growth that’s intentional and sustainable. You’ll hear how they used their own networks, leaned on past experience, and figured out what to outsource along the way. They didn’t just chase hype. They built something they wanted to last. If you’ve ever wondered how to turn deep experience into a brand with staying power, or how to balance vision with execution, this is the kind of conversation that makes you stop and think. What would you build if you fully trusted what you already know? Episode Breakdown: 00:00 Meet the Founders of Left On Friday 03:22 The Hot Tub Conversation That Sparked a Brand 07:48 From Lululemon to DTC: Using Experience to Fill a Market Gap 15:15 Bootstrapping with $150K and Building for Longevity 22:24 Profitability, Growth, and Staying Power in DTC 33:35 Advice for Female Founders Ready to Start Connect with Laura Low Ah Kee & Shannon Savage: https://www.instagram.com/lowaks/ https://www.instagram.com/shansavage/ https://www.instagram.com/leftonfriday/ Subscribe to The FoundHer Files: No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just what works… because we’re better together. Join our online networking community, the Dear FoundHer... Forum: https://www.dearfoundher.com/dear-foundher-forum Follow Dear FoundHer on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dearfoundher Don't forget to follow Lindsay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindsaypinchuk Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.