As many of you well know, bloggers and influencers are a big inspiration to the Taylor team. We love to get to know them better, and when we have an opportunity to interview someone we’ve been following for a while, we jump at the chance!
Luckily for us, we got to speak with the very successful Rachel Parcell, who has had quite a career journey. She started blogging as a newlywed and after being featured in Utah Valley Brides Magazine, her following on social media boomed. She soon realised that having a presence online, inspiring women and blogging more continually was something she could sustain as a career, and was something she really loved to do. Now, she maintains her blog Pink Peonies and has her very own clothing line, Rachel Parcell, Inc.
We had a chat with the internet sensation about how she got to where she is, the highlights and challenges along the way and what it’s really like to be a blogger full-time.
“I am amazed that so many wonderful women from all over the world choose to follow me and my daily life to see what I’m up to and what I’m wearing. Nothing makes me more excited than seeing one of my blog readers wearing something I designed. It’s an honour to be able to provide inspiration for them every day, and in return, I feel inspired myself.” – Rachel Parcell
Taylor Magazine: First, tell us a bit about you and what you do!
Rachel Parcell: I’m Rachel Parcell, the founder of the blog Pink Peonies and the clothing line, Rachel Parcell, Inc. I started my blog in 2010 and have grown it into a business over the past seven years. I am currently one of the top earning bloggers in the industry and remain in the RewardStyle Top Ten!
Taylor Magazine: Talk to us about your career journey. When did you realise you were becoming successful and how did it feel?
Rachel Parcell: I originally started my blog as a way to document my life as a newlywed. It was more of a life journal for my family and friends to follow. Not long after I started my blog, our wedding was featured on the cover of Utah Valley Brides Magazine and that’s when I started seeing more and more traffic on my little space on the Internet. My wedding photos were being pinned and re-pinned and I started receiving fashion questions from women all over the country. They were more interested in what top I was wearing or what shade of lipstick I had on than what my husband and I were doing that weekend. And that’s really what sparked the idea to change my focus and make Pink Peonies more of a fashion blog.
Taylor Magazine: What is your favourite thing about what you do?
Rachel Parcell: I am amazed that so many wonderful women from all over the world choose to follow me and my daily life to see what I’m up to and what I’m wearing. Nothing makes me more excited than seeing one of my blog readers wearing something I designed. It’s an honour to be able to provide inspiration for them every day, and in return, I feel inspired myself.
Taylor Magazine: Talk to us about your clothing brand! We love it.
Rachel Parcell: Rachel Parcell is a women’s clothing brand specialising in feminine and timeless piece. As the founder of Rachel Parcell, Inc., I have a team of young women who make everything happen. I design the pieces, communicate with manufacturers, make executive decisions regarding the products and prices and strategise the best ways to showcase our products.We are currently in our third year and we are on track to make $4 million this year.
Taylor Magazine: What is it like to be a blogger full-time?
Rachel Parcell: Being a blogger is a 24/7 job that is extremely hard and takes so much more time and dedication than anyone realises. A blogger—especially one in the early phases of starting a blog—has to wear so many hats: creative director, stylist, photographer, model, writer, editor, marketer and the list goes on. The women who have turned a space on the internet into a full-fledged business are brilliant, hard-working businesswomen who don’t get enough credit.
“A blogger—especially one in the early phases of starting a blog—has to wear so many hats: creative director, stylist, photographer, model, writer, editor, marketer and the list goes on. The women who have turned a space on the internet into a full-fledged business are brilliant, hard-working businesswomen who don’t get enough credit.” – Rachel Parcell
Taylor Magazine: Blogging is a really competitive world and career to be immersed in – what challenges do you face and how do you overcome these?
Rachel Parcell: The biggest challenge has probably been balancing my work life and personal life. I am a wife, mother of two babies (a three-year-old and a one-year-old), and I manage two businesses — my clothing line, Rachel Parcell, Inc., and my blog, Pink Peonies. It’s hard to shut off work mode when we are on vacation or even just at our home because so much of my life is shared online with my readers.
Taylor Magazine: Talk us through an average day for you.
Rachel Parcell: I’ve worked out a schedule where I keep all of my work projects, meetings and photoshoots on the same days every week so that when I’m home I can actually be home and focus on being with my children, rather than trying to multitask. I found I was less productive when I tried to juggle emails and bottles. I make time to work so I can focus, get it done and then be present with my children and give them 100% of my attention. I start every morning with a workout with my neighbourhood girlfriends then come home, get my babies up and make breakfast. Then I get ready for either a photoshoot for the blog or a shoot for my clothing line. Afterward, I have meetings (and more meetings), brand conference calls, scheduling calls, and time to plan upcoming projects and collaborations with my team. It’s something new and different every day, but it’s always so busy. If it’s a day I’m home with my babies, we play in the backyard, go on walks, watch Disney movies in bed, or visit my sister who lives across the street.
Taylor Magazine: You have a lot of followers on social media – how do you cope with so many people following your life?
Rachel Parcell: I consider my life and family’s life personal and intimate. And while I do enjoy sharing parts of my life with readers — I feel like it allows them to better connect with me and see that I’m a real person too — there are some things that aren’t necessary to share. Whenever I’m debating sharing something on my blog or social media I always go to my husband any family to get their opinion first.
Taylor Magazine: We’re obsessed with self-care and being the best version of yourself at Taylor Magazine – what do you do for yourself when things get busy and a bit stressful?
Rachel Parcell: There’s nothing better than waking up bright and early before my babies and getting in a good workout to start off my day! It gets me up and going and puts me in the right mindset to tackle whatever lies ahead in my day. Fitness and running gives me an energy and zest for life that I didn’t know existed before.
“Fitness and running gives me an energy and zest for life that I didn’t know existed before.” – Rachel Parcell
Taylor Magazine: Tell us more about family life. We know this is super important to you!
Rachel Parcell: I am married to my husband, Drew. We have two children, Isla Rose (age 3) and Jackson (almost 2) and a pup named Dash. Being a mother brings me my greatest joy and I wouldn’t trade my role as a mother for anything in the world.
Taylor Magazine: What’s your motto or the advice you always live by?
Rachel Parcell: One of my favourite quotes is by Jeffrey R. Holland. “To all mothers in every circumstance, including those who struggle—and all will—I say, ‘Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are.’” I love it because it speaks to all mothers, everywhere and reminds us of our greatness and potential. Even after a hard day, we need to know that we’re doing better than we think we are.
Taylor Magazine: Tell us 3 things you can’t live without.
Rachel Parcell: My family, my phone/camera (love capturing moments of my family and kids) and lipstick!
Taylor Magazine: What are your main interests and hobbies other than blogging?
Rachel Parcell: Growing up my parents encouraged us to try anything and everything until we found our niche, and fashion and designing has always been one of my biggest passions and hobbies. In high school I took a sewing class and that’s where I sewed my very first piece! I have it framed and hanging in my office, constantly reminding me to follow my dreams. Another hobby of mine is fitness and running. My dad loves to run and it has rubbed off on me and all of my sisters.
Taylor Magazine: What is your five-year plan? What should we expect to see from you?
Rachel Parcell: Lots of growth. Growth in both my family and my business. We have big goals and dreams and we are working on some exciting opportunities that my readers and customers will hear about soon.
Follow the lovely Rachel on Instagram, Twitter and keep track of what she’s up to via her blog, Pink Peonies. Fancy some new things for your wardrobe? Why not visit her clothing line, Rachel Parcell, Inc.
