YAY for 100K!

Sunday, April 22, 2018
I can't believe we already reached 100k on Instagram!?! You guys are the absolute best- I couldn't do any of this without you! 

I was SO nervous to take the leap to start Collectiv Co.  I spent more than a year dreaming about it, researching and planning and plotting, and wondering if I should take the risk.  I went to Turkey and fell in LOVE with the people, culture, and of course, the textiles.  I bought 60 Kilim pillows my second day there and lugged them around in my suitcase and carry-on for the rest of my two week trip (which was NOT easy to do hah!) and when I got home, I thought, "well...I guess I just took the leap!"

Still, it took me months before I gained the courage to fork over a large sum of cash to buy my first batch of vintage rugs. I'll never forget that day!  After that, I knew there was no going back.  I got to work and purchased thousands of dollars of inventory, started photographing and styling and working out all the little details. Only one thing remained, and it was the thing that scared me the most. 

Instagram.

I was terrified to start my Collectiv Co. Instagram account! What if nobody followed? What if nobody was interested in my brand or my products?? I knew Instagram was an essential part of making this business a success, and the thought of failure paralyzed me for months.  

I never imagined that I would have the growth and support for this little shop that I've had in such a short period of time.  Truly from the bottom of my heart: I am so, so extremely grateful to each one of you that follows along, that likes our photos, tags your friends in posts, leaves kind comments, purchases our products, or does anything in any way to support Collectiv Co. 

Starting your own business is no joke- it's a LOT of risk and work. I've had some of the highest highs and lowest lows over the last year and a half, but YOU make it all worth it! Which is why I want to make sure we are doing everything possible to deliver on what YOU want!

Please leave a comment and let us know how we're doing! Are there products you'd like to see more of? Something knew you'd like us to add? Your opinions matter and we want to hear them!

Thanks again for allowing me to chase my dreams and help me support my (growing) family! 

xoxo,

Ally





57 comments

  1. I’ve been following your store for a while and I love your curation! I’d love to hear more stories of your travels and of the artisans whose work you sell on your blog/insta - Morgan Peterson

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  2. Love everything about Collectiv Co.! ��Your style has everything that I admire in home decor. I would love to watch your styling and design process- possibly through live Instagram videos or stories?! ��

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  3. You are doing great! I love that you show the items styled. It helps people like me who are style challenged know what to do.

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  4. Hi there! Love your shop, style and insta channel. Everything is beautiful. In the spirit of Earth Day I think it'd be great to see a post dedicated to the slow design movement and how sustainable the products are from an environmental standpoint.

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  5. I love the rugs, prices and seeing items styled in different spaces. You’re doing a great job! - @five.by.five on Instagram.

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  6. Hi! Thanks for sharing your story! I’m on the verge of starting up my own business and it’s exciting/terrifying to hear about the high highs and low lows...! I love your shop, your philosophy, and you’re rocking it on Instagram (that’s how I discovered Collective Co)!

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  7. I found you guys on Instagram, so you’re definitely doing it right. I would personally like to see more direct links to products in photos, so i can click it, see the price, and buy it. (I don’t know how it’s done but i know other companies do it!)

    I would also love to hear more about your stories and travels! I really enjoyed reading your blog ��

    Thank you for sharing!
    @rubiacaelin on instagram

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  8. Love your shop and can't wait to make a couple pillow purchases for our new place! I'd love to see more full-size quilts and blankets in the shop also.

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  9. I’ve been following Collective Co. for a while now. I love the ideas that your company is founded on, that means a lot to me in a brand. I just remodeled my first home and will be a frequent buyer in no time at all. Honestly though, you have one of my absolute favorite Instagram feeds and your styling is spot on. I can’t wait to display some of your beauties in my home - keep up the amazing work!! ☺️

    -kateoverly on Instagram

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  10. Cute stuff. More about rugs, please!

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  11. i love the diys!!! - @paigeknight53

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  12. I am a newer follower and I am OBSESSED with these beautiful cozy home goods. Can’t wait to make my first purchase!

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  13. Congrats! I love your Instagram account!
    -sweet_image(Instagram)

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  14. Love the vibe of your page! I love the inspiration I get for decorating our home! 💜

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  15. Love love this look-the wood and the rug!

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  16. I love the mud cloth pillows the most! The different colors are great- saw goes for the rugs. Would be cool to see some baskets similar to the totes. Your IG is a great source of home decor inspiration. -313incle

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  17. Hi Ally, As a former small business owner, I’d like to say congrats on your success. Your shop is curated amazingly and I enjoyed reading your post. It does take a lot of guts to take that leap and it’s so much hard work. I’m happy that’s its paying off for you at the end of the day!!! My feedback for IG is that I’d love to see your posts with shopable links for each product. It makes it so much easier when you can tap a photo and not only see a price, but also be able to be redirected to shop for it. �� My best wishes for continued success! Thalita (@styledictatornw)

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  18. You're amazing! I love your stuff. And I get it. I do a small business and it's so daunting -/ insta is the most painful part.

    -@jordynstratton

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  19. I love following you on Instagram, congratulations on the success of your business! Inspo for days !!
    I’d love to see more price points available to consumers, knowing that’s likely a hard thing to accomplish. Also, diversity in rug sizes- specifically runners :) thanks for asking for feedback! Keep rockin this thang!

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  20. Love your Instagram, each image is styled so beautifully, I gave one of your pillows as a gift to my aunt and she tells me all the time how it is the first thing she looks at whenever she walks into her living room. I can’t wait to get some pillows/rugs/accessories for myself and my new condo (I just moved)!! Thanks for all the ig inspo :)
    - @lovemel52

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  22. I really love some of the products I see in alot of the Australian shops but cannot find any stateside dealers. Would love to see some of the large salvaged wood baluster candlesticks and stuff. Love all your stuff

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  23. I love your posts on Instagram. I am moving soon and need to update every room. I am looking for inspiration since I am going from newly married we-will-take-anything to an actual style.

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  24. The rugs are beautiful! Anything with pink and red is a winner in my book. Plus, your Instagram is so dreamy. I MUST have a pom pom pillow. So dreamy!

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  25. I’d also like to see more of a range prices! I follow several accounts like yours and this one is the most expensive! I love the inspiration though. I’m always looking for navy blue rugs!

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  26. Before I saw your collection, I was so scared of color in my house. I thought I just wanted everything in my house to be super neutral. Then I realized I need color!!! I’m moving into a new house soon and I can’t wait to start buying some beautiful pieces and redecorating to add a new touch. I love everything you carry!

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  27. When we moved into our house I had zero vision or even a clue of how to decorate it and it was a paralyzing terrifying feeling for whatever reason. I bought a few pieces (and with the second hand furniture we brought along), but it wasn’t until you opened your shop and I bought some pillows from you that I started having a vision and could see hope for my poor little house. I know this sounds idiotically dramatic, but it’s true! I love the way the bright colors and textures bring a room together and make it feel like a home!!
    Someone earlier mentioned hearing more about your travels and how you connect, and I second that motion!
    The one “product” I can’t wait to see is your little bun in the oven <3

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  28. Your style is incredibly inspiring! I would love to see some lower cost item occasionally. Do love your posts and now the blog!

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  29. I’m so happy I stumbled across your IG account and I’m proud all of your success! I’m just so in love with your style and products. As I know handmade and vintage items can be expensive my only want is to maybe see more affordable textiles!

    Again, so excited for you and here’s to continued success!

    -@alexnmartins

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  30. I just came across your Instagram in my explore page and I absolutely adore your feed! Even came across some pictures I want to use as inspiration for my new room! As a poor college student, I would love to have a larger variety of prices.

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  31. Your products are GORGEOUS! However, I’d love to see more simple rugs for the people who are not as bold in their interior decorating. Simple pattern, neautral colors.

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  32. You sense of style is something we'd all like to replicate. Thats what makes purchaseing from you so exciting. The oppprtunity to recreate the look at our own homes. Love hearing about your travels. We too fell in love with Turkey and their people.

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  33. Just found you on my discover tab on Insta & so glad I did! I can’t wait to learn & watch you grow through this adventure! I just moved into my first home so I’ll take any & all inspiration for future projects, especially help with DiYs as I tend to overthink the whole process & render myself immobilized. As far as Insta, I love the tags to where things are from & also the “shopping” tags you can add to each picture!

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  34. I love everything about your shop and congratulations on reaching 100k followers! I’m embarrassed to admit I was unaware of the blog side of things but so glad I know! Everything you share from styling, products and your heart. It makes my heart wanderlust for my own little retail space! Your tags are always so helpful and your inspiration has me constantly rethinking old spots in my home. :)

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  35. @juliaelle: i appreciate that you keep your own style but still evolve with the trends. i would like to see one item a month that you are nervous about but really like and think is a risk. its fun to see what people are expecting to be the next trend and i would love to see your take on it - maybe it can be a tab in the shop or a post on intagram?

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  36. I am incredibly happy that I've stumbled upon your page. I just recently started my own Instagram with the intent to help people find great products at great affordable prices. I'd love to feature you on my page. Thanks for taking the risk to start your own business it gives us beginners some inspiration. Love your textiles and products! Thanks again for doing you!

    @petitepocketdesign is my ig handle.

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  37. Congrats! You’ve worked hard to come this far and it’s anazibg how fast things grew! Maybe feature an item once a week/month and talk about styling it on the blog. Also, let me know if you need help with anything!

    Best!
    Rhea

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  38. I loved reading this! I’ve been following and drooling over your items and account for awhile, but hearing the back story makes me love it more. More back stories please!! Also, your styling is gorgeous...maybe tips or videos for the styling impaired like me? ��
    Congrats on 100K and good luck pushing forward!

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  40. I love my Collectiv Co sabra pillow and have my eye on a few more. I'd love to hear more about how the textiles are made, and see a travelog of the places you go to find your treasures. Congratulations on 100K!

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  41. I absolutely love all the pillow selections! I would love to see some western style throw rugs!

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  42. I absolutely love your blog + feed! Being a marketing nerd myself I am always looking at your pages for inspiration! Not only do you offer amazing products but your color layout + photography is perfection. Xoxo, Emma Struwe

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  43. Firstly Congratulations on taking that leap of faith to open your own business, it was a brave decision to make and it's paid off! Well done to you..
    Your products sell themselves! They are beautiful handcrafted individual items that give joy to someone's home. I want everything for my home.. Continue doing what your doing, you can only go up from here!

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  44. It’s always such a big thing to take that leap and we are Oh So Glad you did! I especially love how you style your pieces giving us all such inspiration. ❤️

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  45. Love love love! You inspire and show so many great inspiration pieces. I adore & appreciate your work ❤️

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  46. You’re doing great, really beautiful content and pieces!! Love it! My philosophy is always “more rugs”!! Love them so much!!!! But truly you’re doing amazing!

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  47. I’ve been following your Instagram for a while now and I can’t get over your style! It gives me so much inspiration! I’m so happy that you’re starting a blog so that we can all fulfill our dreams of being as wonderfully stylish as you are :)

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  48. I’m way glad you started this shop! Your killin it! Your product is beautiful and the photos are so creative and honestly I scroll past most shops but the colors and images are so awesome I never pass them up! So excited for you and your growing family!
    -Danielle C.

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  49. I love what you guys are doing! I found you guys through Instagram, so you guys are doing great! I personally would like to see a larger variety of rugs in more styles, color schemes etc. Another things is pillow inserts, that would create the best one stop shopping! Keep it up!!��

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  50. I think you’re doing great! I found you via Insta so you’re finding a way to reach your target market. I’d like easier to click/buy links, and it would be great if there were some pillows available in pairs- even if not exact matches. Personally I’m on the hunt for a set of cool lumbar pillows to go in 2 chairs side by side. ��

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  51. Congratulations - you’re doing GREAT. We lost our home in Hurricane Harvey and are in the process of rebuilding - EVERYTHING in your Instagram feed is inspiration. Thanks so much for all the light you give!!

    Karen (@heychookooloonks on Instagram!)

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  52. Just want to say that though I haven't ordered anything from you yet, I love your product selection! It's awesome to find a vendor selling something outside the typical cookie cutter style I find in the stores. Keep up the good work!

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  53. So proud of you Ally!!!! I drool every day over the beautiful rooms you post. My all time favorite pieces are any pillow with tassels or pom poms and anything with yellow. Looove the yellows!
    ~Emma Zaugg Gillette

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