Meet Carly & Jessie Taylor | Co-founders of High Pile Designs

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carly & Jessie Taylor and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carly & Jessie, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
Carly: I’ve learned I can do anything. Before starting a business, I didn’t know so much about SO much. Over the last year, I’ve taught myself more than I ever thought possible – SEO, taxes, social media…the list goes on. I’ve always been resourceful but I’ve become even more so and that skill to me is priceless. I’m so proud!

Jessie: Be confident and trust your voice. Early on in my career, I kept ideas/opinions to myself because I thought other more tenured peers/coworkers would bring them up. I quickly learned that wasn’t the case, so I started being more confident in asking the questions that others weren’t asking and taking up space in meetings. This taught me that my voice matters and to be confident in what I bring to the table.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
While in Türkiye on vacation, during one of the coldest months of winter, the only place to keep warm was inside a rug shop. We stumbled in and met a lovely man named Ibrahim. He taught us about the cultural and historical importance weaving has played in the region, and also how it’s becoming obsolete. Women (who are the traditional weavers) are now choosing to go to school vs. pursuing the traditional craft. It’s amazing – but once the weavers in Türkiye cease to exist, the art will be lost forever. The only thing that will remain are the rugs and carpets made in years past.

We made our first purchases purely for ourselves. But before we arrived back in the States, the product was at Jessie’s house. That level of organization and speed was important. We knew if the logistics were easy, the scalability could be too.

After our trip, we started researching potential competition in the Denver area and didn’t find anything that was of the same quality, design, and price point. When people think of authentic, vintage rugs, they think of an item they can’t afford. And our goal was (and is!) to change that. With the rise of fast-fashion and fast-home goods, we’re also aiming to educate the general consumer on why a handmade, authentic rug is, in the end, not only a better purchase financially but better for the environment.

When we started High Pile Designs, it was important for us to give back to the artisans responsible for this beautiful art. Our partner, KEDV, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Türkiye. They aim to support education, entrepreneurship, and other services to empower women creatives and we donate a portion back to them from every purchase.

There have been many challenges along the way. Neither of us are majored in business and no one in our family has ever started a business. We’re competing with Amazon and Target for cheap, easy, and fast home decor items. But we’ve learned so much and are excited about everything we’re continuing to learn to propel High Pile Designs forward.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are too many good spots in Denver these days! Here’s an example of what we’d do with our best friends!
Eat/Drink:
– Rosenberg’s Deli
– Call Your Mother Deli
– Linger
– Hey Kiddo
– Safta
– Hop Alley
– Improper City
– Ratio
– Barcelona Wine Bar
– The Bindery
– The Family Jones
– Himchuli Indian
– sắp sửa
– Post Oak Barbecue
– Denver Central Market

Do/See:
– Denver Art Museum
– Botanical Gardens
– Red Rocks Show
– Mission Ballroom
– Workout @ Crossfit Wynkoop
– Hike in Morrison/Golden
– City Park Picnic
– Day trip to Boulder for a hike a Chautauqua and lunch on Pearl Street
– Day trip to Breckenridge or Vail for hiking and lunch/dinner
– Any and all weekend festivals/markets!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Carly: As soon as we started sharing the idea of High Pile Designs it was met with so much support and enthusiasm. Family, friends, and other business owners in Denver. We feel so fortunate our community has embraced High Pile by sharing, introducing us to their network, and putting us in touch with others who might be helpful. From help with photography, and markets, to sharing on social media – the list goes on. And we’re SO grateful for all the love and support we’ve received so far.

Jessie: Outside of our community, High Pile Designs wouldn’t be here without the kindness & trusted partnerships with our vendors. The fact that two young Americans who don’t look the part, can walk into a rug shop in the middle of Turkiye (in the dead of winter), and create an international relationship in 4 hours is pretty once-in-a-lifetime.

Website: https://highpiledesigns.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highpiledesigns/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560208143286

Image Credits
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