Gifting is an art. BYDEAU creates the perfect gifts making sure that art is alive and well in every flower arrangements + gift boxes!
What’s your story?
I feel like I was wired from birth to be good at gift giving.
I learned from my mother that it’s the small things that make celebrating and gift giving special: the cute note, the unique wrapping, the joy of finding out what’s inside.
I started my entrepreneurial career in California with my event planning company as a certified wedding planner. I took my clients dreams and delivered highly curated events where the details were always the star.
Prior to founding www.bydeau.com, I worked as a creative consultant specializing in: trend forecasting, luxury branding, + strategy/marketing direction. Working with such brands as: Burberry, Seagram’s Ltd, Levi Strauss & Co. ALDO and Teen Vogue. Now at BYDEAU it’s come full circle and I get to help people gift better – just because!
What excites you most about your industry?
We’re taking a very traditional industry (flowers + gifts) and adding all the modern conveniences we have come to rely on: mobile ordering, on-demand delivery + cash less purchasing. It’s exciting to see the shift in customer’s purchasing habits and help shape new habits. It’s growing and changing so quickly and that’s part of the excitement.
What’s your connection to Asia?
I am your classic Expat story…my daughter and I followed my banking husband out to Hong Kong when he was transferred. We have been here for 4 years already and it feels like home for us. When we go back to visit the States we’re all excited to get “home.” We’re always craving noodles and dim sum when we come back. I also love the access to travel we have living here and being able to see other countries and experience their cultures.
Favourite city in Asia for business and why?
Hong Kong is constantly changing, even in the few short years we have been here. Starting a business in Hong Kong has been a great experience. The entrepreneur community is growing and evolving and there are more places to co-work, network and meet other founders. People are very approachable here and it’s been great to be apart of this community. There are always ways to collaborate and synergies to explore.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
If you have an idea just get started and don’t keep talking about it until it’s perfect as things change so fast. In this day and age with social media you don’t need to pay for market research anymore and can quickly get new ideas out, test them and hear feedback in a relatively short amount of time.
Who inspires you?
Jessica Alba is a big inspiration to me. She was told at every point in her career that, that would be the furthest she would go and she kept pushing. She’s a mother, wife, actress, producer, founder, and investor. I love how she supports her friends and other women founders, runs her $1.7B company and still manages to put her family first.
What have you just learnt recently that blew you away?
It’s common sense but I just finished Arianna Huffington’s book about sleep and taking care of yourself, especially as a founder. I have recently made some changes in my life to make sure I’m taking better care of my health so I can be more present for my family and continue to lead + inspire my team.
If you had your time again, what would you do differently?
I tend to look at things as learning experiences and not as regrets. While mistakes happen I believe – make them fast, learn from them and move on.
How do you unwind?
Just hanging out with my daughter and husband on the weekends is a perfect way for me to unwind. Since during the weeks I’m busy and not always home for dinners, weekends are pretty sacred in our house.
Favourite Asian destination for relaxation? Why?
We love heading to Phuket, Thailand to get away. Usually we book our trips so last minute but are always guaranteed to find a direct flight, even last minute notice. We love the beaches, food and of course sun.
Everyone in business should read this book:
The Hard Thing about Hard Things, by Ben Horowitz
Shameless plug for your business:
BYDEAU offers beautifully curated flower arrangements + gift boxes that are designed around what’s fresh, on trend and in-season. From the ribbon tied round each bouquet to the handwritten gift card, BYDEAU’s thoughtful finishing touches make each gift one to remember!
We believe gifting is an art, and here at BYDEAU, we’re making sure that art is alive and well. We are on a mission to create the perfect gift giving and receiving experience. BYDEAU cherishes the old-world tradition of gifting while offering all the modern conveniences you’ve come to expect and love – such as mobile ordering, cashless payments + on-demand delivery.
How can people connect with you?
[email protected]
http://bydeau.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bydeau/?ref=bookmarks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/givebydeau/
Twitter handle?
@bydeau
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This interview is part of the ‘Callum Connect’ series of more than 500 interviews
Callum Laing is an entrepreneur and investor based in Singapore. He has previously started,
built and sold half a dozen businesses and is now a Partner at Unity-Group Private Equity and Co-Founder of The Marketing Group PLC. He is the author two best selling books ‘Progressive Partnerships’ and ‘Agglomerate’.
Connect with Callum here:
twitter.com/laingcallum
linkedin.com/in/callumlaing
Download free copies of his books here: www.callumlaing.com
