Today we’d like to introduce you to Verda De Eskinazis.
Hi Verda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, and I moved to the U.S. to go to college. I studied International Relations and Economics at Tufts University, and after a few years of corporate experience in Turkey, I returned to school and completed my MBA at Columbia Business School. It was at CBS that I met and became very close friends with my current business partner, Tania Kooros.
I always loved to entertain and have people to my home for meals. Even in my tiny NYC apartment, I loved to throw dinner parties. Whether planned or impromptu, dining together has always felt like the best way to bring friends and loved ones together. I especially loved sitting around the dining table after the dinner was over and just having endless conversations. Those have always been some of my best memories. After graduating from business school, I joined the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company in the Miami office, leading projects across many industries and functions for clients in the U.S., Europe and Latin America. Later, I found my first business, Favoreat, which was a peer-to-peer marketplace for homemade meals. I was recognized with numerous awards and also did a Tedx talk on the subject. I loved being an entrepreneur, creating and growing a business from scratch. When my current business partner asked me to start Mode Living, it felt an easy decision to say absolutely, as the mission of Mode Living would combine two things I love: being an entrepreneur and entertaining.
Mode Living is a boutique luxury table linen and home decor company with a focus on making entertaining easy and effortless. We started our business six years ago with our joint passion for entertaining. Neither of us had been in textiles previously, so we “tested” out the concept at the most recognized industry tradeshow in America. We received an incredible response from all the buyers, and we decided to go forward with the business! Six years later, Mode Living’s products are available in over 300 luxury home boutiques as well as nationwide retailers such as Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, One Kings Lane as well as on our website www.mode-living.com.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think anyone who says being an entrepreneur is a smooth road is not sharing the full story. It takes a village to make it happen! However, the challenges are also what make it so exciting and rewarding- you truly have the opportunity to grow professionally in every way. You have so many ideas going through your mind all at once, so many things you want to do, and you need to constantly prioritize and re-prioritize depending on the importance, the impact it would make and the resources it would require. Having spent many years in corporate world and as an entrepreneur, it’s an amazing feeling to be able to manage and see every part of the business and make an impact at the same time. There will always be ups and downs, just like life itself, and challenges are a natural part of it! I face all challenges as opportunities for growth and learning- both on a business and personal level.
As you know, we’re big fans of Mode Living. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Mode Living is a boutique and luxurious table linen and home décor company. We pride ourselves with bringing the latest fashions to the table and making entertaining easy and effortless while still creating products with the best workmanship in the market. Every product is carefully designed and manufactured with utmost attention to detail to elevate everyday living and entertaining. We have a very wide offering of table linens, placemats, runners, napkins, napkin rings, different styles, different price points from everyday essentials to holiday tablesettings. Mode Living is a hostess’ dream playground: Everything can be mixed-and-matched to showcase a person’s style.
While we give so much importance to the holiday tablesetting, our mission is really about elevating everyday meals. The way you set the table sets the mood in your family and your home, and it’s also so easy to create a pretty tablesetting even for one, with a nice set of placemats and napkins. The past couple of years of the Covid pandemic showed us even more the importance of creating easy and pretty tablesettings for every day use. Recently we added decorative pillows to our collection that have become very popular. Just by changing the pillows, you can change the entire look of a room! We also partnered with The Laundress and offer some of their laundry solutions that are geared towards our products on our website as well. We continuously expand our collection to bring latest fashions to the table and home décor.
Since we founded our business, Mode Living has become one of the leading names in the luxury table linen industry, and I am so proud to be recognized by industry leaders such as Martha Stewart Weddings. The entire collection is available online on mode-living.com, and I personally help customers when they are trying to choose a product or if they need any help with styling. It’s the best feeling when I receive pictures from our customers sharing their tablesettings!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
I have found that to succeed as an entrepreneur, you truly need to have thick skin and not allow yourself to give up at the first failure. Especially in these times of uncertainly, resilience is so important. I have found that in life and in business, it’s not about having no failures, it’s about learning from mistakes and finding the inner strength to incorporate what you learn, keep going and growing! Also, as the saying goes, patience is a virtue: you’re in it for the long haul!
I have also found that taking care of my own personal health is essential to my overall well-being and running my business. It’s very easy to get caught up in the nonstop work life, and as an entrepreneur, work never ends, there is always something to do. There are no days off. That’s why it’s very important to consciously take breaks, disconnect often, and do whatever that feels good for your own well-being. For me, my morning walks have become my moving meditation. I am also a certified yoga teacher and take my yoga practice very seriously. I find some of the best ideas and solutions for my work life come to me during my walks or while I am on my mat.
Finally, I have found it beneficial to maintain a growth mindset in all aspects of life. I’m focused on the growth of my business, my team, and as an individual. I believe that the success of any business depends on the strength of the team. Because of that belief and my commitment to growth, I am also pursuing a professional coaching certification program. Through this program, I hope to help myself become an influential and inspiring leader while learning the tools to empower those around me to realize their full potential.
Pricing:
- Tablecloths starting from $70, and extra-long sizes available
- Napkins starting from $40 for set of 4
- Placemats starting from $72 for set of 4
- Runners starting from $50
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.mode-living.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/modelivingnyc
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/modelivingnyc
Image Credits
Stellar Media Agency, Deborah Shearer
