Shaiyanne Dar
Shaiyanne Dar
Digital Specialist | Ecommerce & Social Media Management | Founder of Dolkii Hawai'i
Los Angeles, CA
www.hishaiyanne.com
instagram: @shaiiiyanne
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“Aloha! I am an Ecommerce professional originally from Hawai’i and currently residing in Los Angeles, with a passion for all things digital.”
I have over 8 years of experience working with large corporations and start ups to build and manage a brand's digital footprint. This includes a range of service from web design to email marketing management, social media management, SEO management and original content creation.
My mission is to help small and mid-sized businesses create beautiful, cohesive online and mobile experiences for their customers, in doing so being a valuable resource to the growth of their business.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
My career began in the fashion industry. I was lucky enough to get hired by True Religion Brand Jeans as soon as I graduated from FIDM and worked on their corporate retail team as an Allocation Analyst. There, I learned the importance of mastering Microsoft Excel to build and manipulate large chunks of data into digestible reports for upper management as well as how to analyze KPIs and turn my findings into strategic business plans.
A few years later I got head hunted to work for Diesel USA in New York and jumped at the opportunity to live in the Big Apple. This was the best life-changing decision I ever made as it gave me the opportunity to step into the world of Ecommerce and Digital Marketing. I worked my way up to become the company's Ecommerce Buyer and Merchandiser, managing the full lifestyle of product from buying to liquidating and even traveled frequently to their HQ in Italy to work with the design teams and provide insights on US consumer's buying trends.
Eventually, I made my way back to Los Angeles where I worked in a few different Ecommerce leadership roles, managing the full direct-to-consumer online channel for a few different brands. During this period of my life, I got a full taste of working in start-up environments and LOVED it. I always wore multiple hats managing every end of the business from online store presence to digital marketing strategy, social media management, email marketing and of course daily reporting. In tandem, I was also connecting with many local businesses in the Los Angeles / South Bay area and became close friends with a few business owners who knew of my work and hired me on retainer to help them achieve their online goals and digital presence. It's what eventually started my move to a consultant, freelance role where I now work with various small business around Los Angeles and Honolulu to support their digital needs... and I absolutely LOVE what I do!
HOW DO YOU STAND OUT IN YOUR FIELD?
As someone who has worked in both the corporate and start up setting, I fully understand the pain points of businesses of all sizes which gives me the ability to create strong roadmaps and strategies for success when working with clients. Along with having small business clients, I own a small business of my own called Dolkii which is my passion project, creating vintage inspired graphic tees that give back to the women & girls of Hawai'i thru our strong partnership with the nonprofit organization Women's Fund of Hawai'i. By running my own small business, I connect on a personal level with my small business clients who are more times than not one-woman shows hustling hard to live out their dreams!
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Currently, I split my time between working on my brand Dolkii, and supporting a number of clients with their online presence. Because it's summertime, I'm supporting a few of my clients with in-store activations to provide unique experiences for their customers. I'm also working on an SEO audit for a client looking to expand their organic reach and clean up their website presence, along doing a lot of influencer activation outreach to grow their social media channels.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
My brand Dolkii strongly represents everything I am from style to taste; a very laid back island girl at heart with an NYC work ethic that loves collaborating with other female entrepreneurs and creatives.
WE ALL HAVE MULTIPLE SKILLS OR WORK IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD FOCUS ON MORE?
I'd love to be a bad-ass web developer. My skills in HTML and CSS are intermediate but I would love to take it to the next level and have the ability to build end-to-end customized experiences for clients' websites!
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
Right now at the moment, my biggest challenge is keeping up with providing reports for clients that recap the different efforts I do for them. It's something that I was very used to doing when I worked full time for a brand, which was manageable since I worked on a team. However, now that I am working solo, a lot of the day to day needs and deliverables take over things like reports and recaps which is something I wish I had more time in the day to do.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
I'd love to have someone support me with my everyday admin work which is a time suck for sure! This includes things like accounting, answering emails, filling orders and writing proposals. To have those few hours a day back and focus all my energy on creative and strategy would be awesome!
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
In college, I wish I studied computer science. I chose the business school route because I honestly didn't know what I wanted to do with my career. But if there is one thing I learned from all my experience, its that being business savvy is something you learn by having real world experience and paying attention to your mentors, not necessarily something you read about in a book. But to have skills in computer science, especially in the world we live in today dominated by technology, and ESPECIALLY in a male-dominated industry, I would have loved to start developing these skills back then.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
I'd love to have consistent conversation with an expert who understands the upcoming generation (GenZ) as this is the next generation of buying power where I feel its no longer going to be about Instagram and Email Marketing. I'd love to learn more about what resonates with this generation, what do they value in a purchase and what influences them?
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I'd love to work on ongoing projects with businesses who need help with creating and maintaining their website (including SEO needs), managing their social media presence and maintaining other forms of marketing fit for their business needs whether it be email marketing, text mailing or creating in-store collateral.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
I love working with clients who have a vision for their business and understand the importance of investing in a strong digital presence across web and social media to achieve their goals. I also love when business owners are truly passionate about what they do, and don't just start companies to make a quick buck.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
My fees range based off the client's needs. I try to be as flexible as possible to work within the means of small business budgets so I have retainers that start from $500/month up to $3000/month. My hourly rate begins at $85 but decreases if purchased within a retainer.
WHO IS A CREATIVE THAT HAS HELPED YOU ELEVATE YOUR WORK?
I look to a lot of brands and women-owned businesses for inspiration and love how their personal values resonate with their brands! Shout out to @jengotch: founder of @shopbando, Joan and Emily Sugihara: founders of @baggu, and @justinablakeney: founder of @thejungalow are just a few of my faves!
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
If their business has an existing website and social media handles I'd love to know that information along with a project budget and a few product goals they are looking to accomplish with my support.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
By staying connected with my local communities... oh and taking "self care" breaks from time to time at the Korean spa!
This member profile was originally published in July 2019.