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The Tea: Working With Your Sister

3-minute read

By: Justine Barber, Poppy Barley Co-Founder

 

In 2012, I started Poppy Barley with my sister, Kendall. People are always so curious about running a business as sisters. Almost every journalist asks, “What’s it like working with your sister?” So, here’s what it’s really like to share a childhood and a professional space. 

I was in Bali on vacation when I got the idea for the initial concept of Poppy Barley. I immediately reached out to the one person I wanted to make it happen with, my sister Kendall.

Growing up, Kendall and I were extremely close. We are only 18 months and one grade apart which gave us a collective childhood and high school experience. We shared the same friends and teachers, often played on the same sports teams, and over the years dated brothers and best friends :) As kids, we moved a lot (I lived in 6 places from birth to 18). We frequently had the experience of starting at a new school together and knowing only each other (this is the single biggest reason why I think it works for us to be entrepreneurs navigating uncertainty together).

At 17/18 we went our own directions for a while, living in different cities for university and our early professional lives. By our late twenties, we were both back in Edmonton and seeing each other multiple times per week, playing soccer and running together, and sharing friends and nights out. 

When I first approached Kendall to work on my big crazy idea with me, she turned me down, but like a true sister, she offered to help me any way she could. 

Thirteen years later, we are still building Poppy Barley together and overall it is going very well, though, like a decade-old marriage, we’ve had our ups and downs.

Here is the tea on working with my sister:

  • We’ve had some big fights. Stress, like navigating the business through COVID-19, increases our conflict. Over the years we’ve gotten better at fighting and learned how we are different to help us understand each other’s perspective. Once we had to bring in a coach to repair our relationship. 

  • We now start multi-year company planning by sharing our 3-5 year goals for our personal lives. This helps us know what is driving the other person and ensures alignment with our business goals. This year, for me, it’s picking my kids up from school every day at 3:30 pm. I'm also hiring a tutor to teach me Spanish (for work and life), and joining a governance committee. I will continue to mentor other entrepreneurs through ThresholdImpact Venture Mentoring Service. And, I'm keen to improve my tennis game.

  • Like most of our lives, Kendall and I are extremely close and have a ton of overlap in our lives, but we live in different neighbourhoods. I am glad we do because occasionally after a heavy day at the office, it is nice not to see Kendall again at school pick-up :) 

  • The foundation that makes it work is respect for each other and our belief in the other’s commitment and contribution to the business.

In the end, my instincts were right. I can’t imagine building this business with anyone better than my sister, Kendall.

 

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The Harley Heeled Sandal Ankle Size Guide

How To Measure:
The Harley Heeled Sandal: Take a tape measure and wrap it around your foot, right below your ankle bone as that is where the strap will sit (see product imagery and fit video for a visual demonstration). This measurement is based on the last adjustment point on the strap.

Size Strap length will accommodate an ankle measurement up to the size below
5 26 cm
5.5 26.5 cm
6 27 cm
6.5 27 cm
7 27.5 cm
7.5 27.5 cm
8 28 cm
8.5 28 cm
9 28 cm
9.5 28.5 cm
10 28.5 cm
10.5 29 cm
11 29 cm
11.5 30 cm
12 30 cm

The Camille Mary Jane Ankle Size Guide

How to Measure:
The Camille Mary Jane: take a tape measure and wrap it around your ankle, above the ankle bone, as that is where the strap will sit (see product imagery and fit video for a visual demonstration). This measurement is based on the last adjustment point on the strap.

Size Strap length will accommodate an ankle measurement up to the size below
5 22.3 cm
5.5 22.6 cm
6 23.0 cm
6.5 23.3 cm
7 23.7 cm
7.5 24.0 cm
8 24.4 cm
8.5 24.8 cm
9 25.1 cm
9.5 25.5 cm
10 25.8 cm
10.5 26.2 cm
11 26.5 cm
11.5 26.9 cm
12 27.3 cm

The Esther Heeled Sandal Ankle Size Guide

How to Measure:
The Esther Heeled Sandal: take a tape measure and wrap it around your ankle, above the ankle bone, as that is where the strap will sit (see product imagery and fit video for a visual demonstration). This measurement is based on the last adjustment point on the strap.

Size Strap length will accommodate an ankle measurement up to the size below
5 23 cm
5.5 23 cm
6 23 cm
6.5 23 cm
7 24 cm
7.5 24 cm
8 24.5 cm
8.5 24.5 cm
9 24.5 cm
9.5 25 cm
10 25 cm
10.5 25.5 cm
11 26 cm
11.5 26 cm
12 26 cm

Belt Sizes

Natural Waist Measurement Typical Jean Size Belt Size for High‑rise Pant Belt Size for Mid‑rise Pant Infinite Belt Size
23-25" 23/24 26" 28" 1
25-26" 25 28" 30" 1
26-27" 26 30" 32" 1
27-28" 27 30" 32" 1
28-29" 28 32" 34" 2
29-30" 29 32" 34" 2
30-31" 30 34" 36" 2
31-32" 31 34" 36" 2
32-33" 32 36" 38" 3
33-34" 33 36" 38" 3
34-35" 34 38” 40" 3
36-37" 36 38" 40" 3
38-39" 38 40" 42" 4
40-41" 40 40" 42" 4
42-43" 42 44" 46" 4
43-44" 43 44" 46" 5
44-45" 44 46" - 5

Sizing Note: For the most accurate fit, measure around your body where you plan to wear the belt. Choose the closest belt size to that measurement.

Belt Diagram Accent Belt and Complement BeltThe Accent Belt, The Polished Belt and The Complement Belt size measurements start from the beginning of the leather to the middle hole.

Belt Diagram Infinite BeltThe Infinite Belt size measurements cover the entire length of the leather.



Belt Measuring Guide

Belt Measuring Guide

A - High-rise style:

If you plan to wear your belt around your natural waistline, wrap a measuring tape around the narrowest part of your midsection. Then, add 3” to determine your high-rise belt size.

B - Mid-rise style:

If you plan to wear your belt lower than your natural waistline, you will require a dierent size. If you have a particular pair of bottoms you intend to wear your belt with, wrap a measuring tape through the belt loops while in a relaxed position.

When wearing your belt in your preferred style, it should fasten in the middle hole. The belt will relax with wear allowing you to cinch it tighter, as needed.

If you plan to wear the belt in both the high and mid-rise styles, you have two options:

  1. Select your high-rise style and fasten it more loosely when worn in the mid-rise style.
  2. Select your mid-rise style and fasten it more tightly when worn in the high-rise style.