Jeff Laub, creator of Blind Barber: How hustle took one man from beauty school dropout to empire builder

Sometimes you come across creators whose essence and energy so clearly match the products they create. Creative director and designer of fashion brand, The Line by K, Karla Deras is one of those people. She joins Verishop's Alex Barinka on this week's episode of the shoppable podcast to share how she develops her personal style and translates that into her clothing designs.Shop the episode on Verishop with free one-day shipping and free returns. And listen to the episode for  a special discount code for first-time customers.Sometimes you come across creators whose essence and energy so clearly match the products they create. Creative director and designer of fashion brand, the Line by K, Karla Deras is one of those people. She joins Verishop's Alex Barinka on this week's episode of the shoppable podcast to share how she develops her personal style and translates that into her clothing designs.In Karla and her designs, there’s a quiet confidence and effortlessness that makes you both admire and want to emulate them. And you wouldn’t be the only one. After being one of the early fashion bloggers, Karla has amassed a following that totals 150 thousand on Instagram alone. Plus, she's been able to maintain a rare level of true authenticity throughout building her online profile and her business.Hear how she did it on this week's episode. Then shop the looks discussed on the show on Verishop at verishop.com/inspo.

It may seem like a wild ride to go from extreme sports to clean skincare, but for this week’s guest on Verishop’s “Finding Inspo with Alex Barinka,” it was a natural path. Nima Jalali is a former pro-snowboarder and owner of Salt + Stone, a brand that started making non-toxic sunscreen for elite athletes and expanded into skincare and deodorant. On this week’s episode, hear how he channeled his work ethic into success in a new industry. Shop the episode on Verishop with free one-day shipping and free returns. And listen to the episode for  a special discount code for first-time customers.Pro athletes, particularly the extreme variety are very in-tuned with how their bodies are calibrated, and how everything you put on or in them can effect performance. That’s also why Nima Jalali designed Salt and Stone products to do more for your skin than just protect it from the sun.In an exclusive conversation with Verishop's Alex Barinka, Nima shares stories about his pro-snowboarding background and how he channeled that experience and vibe into Salt + Stone. Plus, he gives good reason and tips for guys to create better skincare habits, and the products that can make getting started easier.Listen to the episode, then shop the conversation on Verishop. For more behind-the-scenes content, follow host Alex Barinka on Instagram and Twitter.

The world of art collecting hasn't always been welcoming to outsiders, unless you’ve got a fat pocketbook and the right people on your contact list. And it’s been that way for centuries. But today’s guest on Verishop’s shoppable podcast thinks that more people should be able to get their hands on work from notable or up-and-coming artists. That’s why Kate Hoffman started Spacey Studios -- so folks like you and I can get our hands on a piece from a professional artist with the knowledge that the work is significant.Shop the episode on Verishop with free one-day shipping and free returns. And listen to the episode for  a special discount code for first-time customers.The world of art collecting hasn't always been welcoming to outsiders, unless you’ve got a fat pocketbook and the right people on your contact list. And it’s been that for centuries. But today’s guest on Verishop’s shoppable podcast thinks that more people should be able to get their hands on work from notable or up-and-coming artists. That’s why Kate Hoffman started Spacey Studios -- so folks like you and I can get our hands on a piece from a professional artist with the knowledge that the work is significant.From the ancient Egyptians to the Italian Renaissance, patrons were instrumental in designating certain artists or work as important. To put it simply: Rich citizens or government officials commissioned or sponsored works of art as a display of wealth or power, and the artist gained in stature.Then in the past two centuries, the market has largely been controlled by galleries. They function as a discerning middleman, deciding which artists’ work is in vogue, how much the pieces should be worth and whom they choose to sell them to. So if you wanted to start your own unique art collection but didn't know where to start, you're not alone. It’s a world that’s out of reach for most of us.With Spacey Studios, Kate has been able to take the best parts of the old guard -- an eye for talented artists and a passion for beautiful work -- and combine that with a direct-to-consumer business model that keeps the costs low. So you can get museum-quality, limited-edition art for your home at an accessible price point. And the pieces are stunning.In an exclusive chat with Verishop's Alex Barinka, Kate opened up about how she used her own frustration when trying to buy art for her home and channeled it into starting Spacey Studios. She'll tell you which of the artists whose work is sold on Verishop has blown up in popularity recently -- with their work selling for tens of thousands of dollars.And Kate and Alex have a frank conversation about how opaque industries can unfairly disadvantage the under-represented and suppress talented artists and makers.Listen to the episode, then shop the conversation on Verishop. For more behind-the-scenes content, follow host Alex Barinka on Instagram and Twitter.

Heritage-inspired tableware designer Richard Brendon and acclaimed wine critic Jancis Robinson combined forces to create one glass that suits all types of wine – and the pair succeeded. Richard gave us an exclusive inside look on how The Wine Glass came to be, informed by his history creating luxury drinkware and Jancis’s renowned expertise, on this week’s episode of Verishop’s shoppable podcast, “Finding Inspo with Alex Barinka.”Shop the show on Verishop with free one-day shipping and free returns. And listen to the episode for  a special discount code for first-time customers.In theory, a glass’s purpose is simple: Hold the liquid of one’s choice until it’s ready to be drank. The experts will tell you there’s much more to it than that. For Richard Brendon and Jancis Robinson, they felt that a wine glass should bring out the best of the drink on behalf of the drinker in an elegant, uncomplicated manner. It had to be the right size, shape and material, and it had to be beautifully constructed.While Jancis -- a Master of Wine, multiple James Beard Award-winner and adviser for Queen Elizabeth II’s cellar -- was able to bring unrivaled knowledge on how a glass can best suit the wine, it was Richard’s ability to turn this inspiration into reality that brought The Wine Glass into being. Richard approaches design with a reverence for the past and focus on functionality that’s enabled him to strike the winning balance of modern and timeless throughout his pieces. It’s this instinct that led to a wine glass that’s already beloved by sommeliers and discerning at-home wine drinkers globally. On this episode, host Alex Barinka wanted to started with Richard’s background, and how he smashed onto the luxury table and barware scene back when he was serving drinks in various pubs (and in sub-par glasses, no doubt) to make a living. He expanded his expertise from ceramics to glassware, including the brilliant cut-crystal Old Fashioned glasses sold on Verishop.It was this foray into the glass medium that opened up the door for the eventual designing of The Wine Glass, and the choice to have each and every piece hand-made by glass-blowing artisans. Tune in to the episode to hear the intriguing process by which Richard Brendon’s products are made and how they can enhance your at-home entertaining, plus exclusive details on his partnership with Jancis Robinson. Listen to the show, the shop the episode.For more behind-the-scenes content, follow host Alex Barinka on Instagram and Twitter.

Art meets streetwear at the hand of Laurence Chandler, through the sophisticated menswear pieces from Rochambeau, where he serves as co-founder and creative director. The award-winning brand has successfully mastered the tricky marriage of artistic expression and wearability season after season, and in an exclusive conversation with Verishop, Laurence opens up about the brand’s design process.Listen to the episode, then shop the looks discussed on the show with free one-day shipping on Verishop.Laurence has been able to walk the thinnest of lines, combining art and commerciality, and do it with the highest honors. He’s collaborated with globally respected artists, and his work has graced the galleries of the New Museum -- and the iconic frames of model Cara Delevingne, musician Quavo and NBA star Carmelo Anthony.It’s his ability to absorb disparate ideas and the cultural ethos around him and turn them into the luxe streetwear designs that have earned Rochambeau the prestigious Woolmark Prize and the honor of being a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist.Plus, at the end of the show, catch a special bonus clip taped in front of a live audience of retail insiders at Project Vegas, one of the biggest men’s streetwear and contemporary trade shows. Alex sat down with Karl Kani, known as the Godfather of Urban Streetwear, who’s dressed greats like Tupac and the Notorious BIG, and with Jeff Staple, the man behind brand Staple Pigeon, who brought streetwear collabs mainstream.And just for "Finding Inspo" listeners, first-time shoppers can take 20% off their purchase with the code INSPOPODCAST (expires 4/4/2020).

Fermentation is having its moment with what you put in your body – from kombucha to kimchi. Now, Alison Cutlan, co-founder of biophile, is proving it could be the next big thing you put on your body. Just months after launching her skincare line, biophile’s flagship serum won Indie Beauty Expo’s “Best In Show.” The secret ingredient? Her proprietary fermented mushroom broth. Alison joins "Finding Inspo with Alex Barinka" to talk how science and nature combine for a simpler way of skincare.Alison, the formula’s creator, is an expert in green chemistry and nature-derived biological innovations, having spent two decades working in product development with global brands like Kiehls and Naturopathica. She wanted to create another option from the 12-step routines that some prefer for their skincare. Her three-product line is simple – just an essence, her award-winning serum and a face oil.Well, it’s simple for us. What goes into those bottles is incredibly complex. Each one is packed with only natural ingredients that benefit the skin, many of which are the product of biophile’s signature process, fermentation. Verishop’s Alex Barinka got to visit the biophile lab in Gowanus, Brooklyn, to see the scientific process behind the formulas herself, and was struck by the care that goes into every bottle.Nerd out with biophile's Alison Cutlan and Verishop's Alex Barinka as they talk about the unique science behind biophile and what it can do for your skin. And in a bonus this episode, hear from Jillian Wright, co-founder of Indie Beauty Expo, which awarded biophile the "Best In Show" award. Then, shop biophile's products below.And like every episode of "Finding Inspo with Alex Barinka," this one is also shoppable. Shop Alison and Alex's favorite products at Verishop.com/inspo. First-time Verishop shoppers can take 20% off their purchase with the code INSPOBIO (exclusions apply, valid through 3/26/20).Let host Alex Barinka how you are finding inspo from the episode on Instagram or Twitter and she may give you a shoutout on a future episode. See you soon!

People have been drinking tea for thousands of years. So how do you innovate on a product that’s been beloved for that long? For Par Avion Tea owner and chief creative officer, Alexandra Mysoor, the answer is to make it personal and make it delicious. She joins “Finding Inspo with Alex Barinka” to share how she reinvented the age-old beverage and the challenges she tackled in making something new.Legend has it that tea was first created around 3000 BCE when an emperor in China witnessed a leaf flutter into a pot of water his servant was boiling. Since then, it’s become an integral part of the cultural fabric in many Asian countries. India is one of the largest tea producers in the world, and the country consumes most of what it grows. The United Kingdom got tea by way of the storied East India Company in the 1600s. Then there was the Boston Tea Party, the iconic destruction of the natural beverage that helped spur the American Revolutionary War.This mini history lesson is to emphasize that tea has been around and at the forefront of peoples’ consciousness for a long time. That’s why podcast host and Verishop head of external affairs, Alex Barinka, wanted to talk to the woman behind Par Avion Tea. Alexandra has been able to take something so steeped in tradition and kept the heart of what tea is all about – the ritual and the comfort – and revamped it for today’s world with some delightful new elements and personality."I felt there was this huge opportunity to have luxury tea that was really fun," Alexandra said. "And I didn't quite know what that was going to mean yet because I felt kind of nervous about pushing the boundary of tea."Not only did Alexandra get real on this episode about the challenges in growing her business, she also shared the best tips and hacks for when and how to enjoy each and every tea sold on Verishop. Whether it's ways to make sure you're the hostess with the mostest, or the best beverage to wind down after a long day, she'll help you master making tea luxe and fun.And like every episode of "Finding Inspo with Alex Barinka," this one is also shoppable. Shop Joanna and Alex's favorite products at Verishop.com/inspo. First-time Verishop shoppers can take 20% off their purchase with the code INSPOTEA (exclusions apply, valid through 3/18/20).Let host Alex Barinka how you are finding inspo from the episode on Instagram or Twitter and she may give you a shoutout on a future episode. See you soon!

Julianne Moore, Elizabeth Moss, Rachel Brosnahan, Mindy Kaling: These are just a few of the celebrities that have trusted aesthetician Joanna Vargas to get their faces ready for events like the Oscars. On this episode of Verishop's shoppable podcast, “Finding Inspo with Alex Barinka,” Joanna divulges the key to red carpet-ready skin and how she turned her business into the preferred skincare spa to the stars.It’s a glam, glam world that Joanna works in, seemingly unreachable for most folks. It’s filled with tiny pores, porcelain skin and that lit-from-within glow. But she will be the first to tell you can’t get camera-ready skin with a facial alone – though they sure do help. Joanna takes a holistic whole body approach, what you eat, how stressed you are, what your consistent skincare routine is – not just visits to the experts at the spa.Joanna took a break from her busiest time of year to sit down with Verishop head of external affairs and host of the "Finding Inspo" podcast, Alex Barinka, at her lovely treatment center at the Sunset Tower Hotel in West Hollywood. She dishes on how she built her business and dishes on tips to up your skincare game.And like every episode of "Finding Inspo with Alex Barinka," this one is also shoppable. Shop Joanna and Alex's favorite products at Verishop.com/inspo. First-time Verishop shoppers can take 20% off their  purchase with the code INSPOJV (valid through 3/12/20).Let host Alex Barinka how you are finding inspo from the episode on Instagram or Twitter and she may give you a shoutout on a future episode. See you soon! 

Welcome to the first-ever shoppable podcast, brought to you from Verishop. These are the kind of folks whose brains we’re all dying to pick, and pick them, we will. You’ll hear from award-winning designers, fabulous first-time founders and even the conversations from live-event tapings. They’ll sit down each week with host Alex Barinka, head of external affairs and executive team member at Verishop, and former national TV and print journalist.Think of this as your audio inspo board -- a place to discover new brands and products, as well as new ideas to use in your own life. Because let’s be real, there are so many products out there and sometimes we want to know more about what makes them special. The guests’ expert backgrounds and the inspiration they harness are what help make their creations fabulous, and maybe even worth opening up your pocketbook for. And every single episode will be shoppable, with items selected by Alex and the guests based on their conversation.In season two, you’ll hear from guests like celebrity facialist Joanna Vargas, who took a break from awards season to dish on how she gets stars like Julianne Moore and Elizabeth Moss looking so fresh, and what you can do at home to get that movie star glow. We’ll have award-winning designer, Laurence Chandler, will take us behind the scenes on where he is finding inspo for his streetwear brand Rochambeau.You’ll also hear from a former pro snowboarder-turned skincare founder, an award-winning beauty brand maker and the Grandfather of Streetwear himself, in conversation with me at Project Vegas, one of the biggest men’s streetwear and contemporary fashion trade shows.Tune in every week, and we’ll make sure you’re finding inspo on what you should buy next. And shop every episode at Verishop.com/inspo.

Jeff Laub dreamt up the barber shop-bar combo, Blind Barber. If you haven’t been to one of the many locations, it’s the coolest concept. Walk in the front door, and you’re in a slick, fully operational barber shop with its own product line. Head on through the door in the back of the shop, and you’ll be welcomed into a bar that serves a mean negroni.But Jeff’s career didn’t start out a smashing success. Hear how he went from being a beauty school dropout to creator of the singularly successful Blind Barber on this week's episode. Then shop Jeff and Alex's favorite products.Every episode of "Finding Inspo with Alex Barinka" is shoppable through e-commerce company Verishop. Jeff and host Alex Barinka have curated their favorite products in the Finding Inspo store at verishop.com/inspo.New Verishop customers can take 20% off their first purchase with the code INSPOJL (exclusions may apply; code expires 30 days after episode publication and cannot be combined with other promotions).Follow the podcast on Twitter and Instagram at @inspopodcast and Alex Barinka on Twitter and Instagram at @alexbarinka.Tweet or comment to Alex on social media, or write a podcast review, about where you are finding inspo from this conversation, and she may read your takeaways on the next episode.This podcast is hosted and executive produced by Alex Barinka, who also serves as head of external affairs at Verishop. Special thanks to Wonder Media Network for editing and production support. See you soon!