Connect
EMPOWERED WOMEN WE LOVE: THE FOUNDERS OF CON-LO COMMON
Lots of businesses start with a spark of an idea. For sisters-in-law Allison Schultz and Julie Connell, their business idea started with an actual spark.
In January of 2018, Julie took herself on a birthday hike deep in the desert of eastern Oregon, foraging sage, manzanita, yarrow, and juniper along the way. She organized her collection into bundles, topped each with a pumice stone, and tied them together with kitchen twine. That evening Allison and her husband came over to celebrate with Julie and her husband (who also happens to be Allison’s older brother), and the night ended with both couples sitting around the fire pit, burning the bundles.
“As we threw them in the fire, we made birthday wishes, resolutions, and intentions for my upcoming year,” says Julie. “The bundles burned beautifully, they smelled lovely, and we all connected to the experience around the fire with one another. It felt magical. Con-lo Common was born!”
We sat down with Julie and Allison to talk about launching a brand, the biggest hurdles they’ve encountered so far, and breaking the cardinal rule to never go into business with family. Read on to meet the inspirational women behind this special brand.
BARRE3: Let’s start with the name of your company. How did you come up with it, and what does it mean?
JULIE: Con Lo Common comes from the saying in Spanish con lo que tengo, a line my Cuban mother would use frequently when we were growing up. It’s the idea and energy to use what you have to make the best out of something. Work with what you have to make and create something beautiful, to harness that con lo energy and way of life. We came together has a collective family and decided to pull our talents together to start a business, to support and believe in one another on a creative and entrepreneurial level—and this is where we landed!
BARRE3: Jumping into the entrepreneurial world can be scary. Did you have any trepidation around it, or was it a pretty natural leap?
ALLISON: Being an entrepreneur is in my blood. I come from a family entirely of entrepreneurs, including my grandparents, my parents, and my brother. I even married an entrepreneur! It’s a place of operating and approaching life and a business that’s familiar and comfortable for me. After graduating from the Pacific Northwest College of Art, I started my own floral-design company almost 20 years ago. We began Con-lo Common out of a shared desire to collaborate and create together. It’s still very much a side hustle for each of us, but something that we really love to do together. Depending on the time of year, we add some fuel for momentum and other times, we pull back and hibernate. We follow the rhythm of the seasons and what our other jobs require of us.
JULIE: I worked for nearly ten years in the publishing industry, on the sales and marketing side, for a foreign-language publisher. It was a sales position that demanded lots of travel and big sales goals. After having my first son, now 4 years old, I quit that world, as I couldn’t give to the demands of a corporate job and adjust to the demands of being a new mom. Add one more son into the equation, and after almost four years of being out of the work world, the timing felt right to start something.
BARRE3: People are always saying you should never go into business with family, but your partnership seems so strong. Did either of you have any hesitation about embarking on a business together?
JULIE: Yes, I know this all too well. I have two brothers who went into business together and their partnership completely divided my family. These two brothers to this day do not have a relationship. It was very ugly and rough. It’s no joke going into business with family. It’s the best thing ever but can also be one of the hardest things. That’s why it’s 100% important to put what’s important first: your relationship, love, and friendship. Constantly reminding yourself of what really matters. Does it matter to always be right? Money, ego, pride? Or is it more important to stay connected and in line with what’s important?
It’s imperative to have the hard conversations in the beginning. When people start a business, they always talk about the beginning. It’s much more fun and exciting! But it’s important to talk about the end, to flip things and ask, “What will this look like in the end? When things split? When things get tough?” When we started this business, we would have weekly “board” meetings in the reserved conference room of our local library. One of the first things we discussed and put up on the whiteboard were these exact topics. We made a pact to each other to never let business get in the way of the love and meaningful relationship we have for each other as family and friends. And we continue to check in with each other on this leveI constantly, keeping that communication open and clear. It’s work, but like a marriage or parenting or any other important relationship, it’s big, rewarding, and beautiful, and the benefits far outweigh the negatives. I wouldn’t want to work with anyone else.
BARRE3: You even brought your husbands into the mix! Did the four of you put any hard and fast rules into place about roles and duties, or is it more of a collaborative effort?
ALLISON: We’re a really close family! My husband was and is one of my older brother’s best friends. Julie is the sister I always wanted. So as a foursome, we’re really comfortable working, communicating, creating, and navigating together. Open communication is our cornerstone, and we seem to organically fall into positions that speak to our strengths without really assigning a role or putting a label on it. Because this is first and foremost a part-time creative collective (or common), we haven’t put so much pressure on having to perform in a way that didn’t seem comfortable for all of us. When things get stressful or time is short or an order deadline needs to be met, we all step up and do what needs to be done without questioning too much. Inevitably, collective updates come up when we gather socially, but only because we love talking about it! We’re usually thinking or tinkering on a different way of doing something with the business, so any chance to be able to run something by each other is welcomed—even better if it’s over a glass of wine!
BARRE3: You launched Con-Lo Common with the Light My Fire bundles, but you’ve expanded your product line since then. How did you decide what to add to the line?
ALLISON: The product line has evolved intuitively, utilizing elements that we forage and also incorporate into our daily practice. Smudging was an obvious addition, as was introducing a rough-cut crystal and heritage feather (naturally molted) to the smudge sticks. Originality and authenticity is very important to us when we consider our designs. Many companies make smudge sticks and products that are similar to what we offer, but our goal is to make it original to our design aesthetic. We always return to who we are, where we live, and what we love as indicators for our products.
BARRE3: It’s one thing to create products, but another thing entirely to get them out in the world. What are some of the ways you got your products out there early on?
JULIE: I have a piece of art in my office that says, START WITH YES. That energy drives what I aim to do in getting our products out in the world. Don’t be afraid to ask and put yourself out there. We’ve had plenty of NOs, but then you get the YES, and it feels so good and keeps you moving forward.
We have different strengths in our collective partnership. My strengths speak to the sales, marketing, and business development side. I’m not afraid to ask! In fact, this is how we got connected with B3, besides being long-time clients of barre3 Bend and lovers of the brand and community. I reached out to Sadie on Instagram, sharing a bit about our new fire bundles, and suggested that they would be perfect for the Experience B3 retreat at Brasada Ranch last spring in Central Oregon. One thing lead to another, and we got connected with the right people and here we are!
BARRE3: What have been the biggest hurdles in running a business so far?
ALLISON: The biggest hurdle has been time management. Since we’re very much still working to gain some good traction, it always seems like the to-do list is getting much larger with every task that’s checked off. It constantly feels like carving out enough time to foster real growth is fleeting. The rhythm is often shifting unexpectedly. For instance, lately it’s felt like stops and starts, while a just a few months back it felt very fluid. Accepting the constant change and doing our best not to force too much has been helpful. Also, letting go of expectations of how things should be, feel, and go. We remind each other that done is better than perfect, and we repeat our favorite Theodore Roosevelt quote: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
JULIE: To stay focused and keep the momentum, when there are so many other pulls, that’s been the biggest hurdle so far. This business has so far been a side hustle for us—an entrepreneurial, creative, rewarding, and inspiring side hustle that I wish were a full-time hustle. I’m a mom first. I also run a full-time Airbnb. And I’m currently being tempted by the lures of corporate America again. But I love the work that we’ve created at Con Lo Common, and the beautiful intention-based products that we’re sharing with the world, so this is really where the inspiration lies.
BARRE3: What’s next for your business?
ALLISON: In the spirit of allowing, were surrendering to hibernating for a bit—letting new ideas simmer and build as the season moves from winter to spring. We trust that the process will evolve naturally. In the meantime, were practicing an attitude of gratitude for the opportunity to be part of each other’s journey, and really reflecting how damn lucky we are to have people we love so much in our work, lives, and creative pursuits!
Thank you, Allison and Julie! You can find our favorite Con-Lo Common products in the B3 Shop, including the Ceremonial Crystal + Sage Kit, the Crystal Sage Bundle, and the Light My Fire Blue Kyanite Crystal Bundle.
Lots of businesses start with a spark of an idea. For sisters-in-law Allison Schultz and Julie Connell, their business idea started with an actual spark.
In January of 2018, Julie took herself on a birthday hike deep in the desert of eastern Oregon, foraging sage, manzanita, yarrow, and juniper along the way. She organized her collection into bundles, topped each with a pumice stone, and tied them together with kitchen twine. That evening Allison and her husband came over to celebrate with Julie and her husband (who also happens to be Allison’s older brother), and the night ended with both couples sitting around the fire pit, burning the bundles.
“As we threw them in the fire, we made birthday wishes, resolutions, and intentions for my upcoming year,” says Julie. “The bundles burned beautifully, they smelled lovely, and we all connected to the experience around the fire with one another. It felt magical. Con-lo Common was born!”
We sat down with Julie and Allison to talk about launching a brand, the biggest hurdles they’ve encountered so far, and breaking the cardinal rule to never go into business with family. Read on to meet the inspirational women behind this special brand.
BARRE3: Let’s start with the name of your company. How did you come up with it, and what does it mean?
JULIE: Con Lo Common comes from the saying in Spanish con lo que tengo, a line my Cuban mother would use frequently when we were growing up. It’s the idea and energy to use what you have to make the best out of something. Work with what you have to make and create something beautiful, to harness that con lo energy and way of life. We came together has a collective family and decided to pull our talents together to start a business, to support and believe in one another on a creative and entrepreneurial level—and this is where we landed!
BARRE3: Jumping into the entrepreneurial world can be scary. Did you have any trepidation around it, or was it a pretty natural leap?
ALLISON: Being an entrepreneur is in my blood. I come from a family entirely of entrepreneurs, including my grandparents, my parents, and my brother. I even married an entrepreneur! It’s a place of operating and approaching life and a business that’s familiar and comfortable for me. After graduating from the Pacific Northwest College of Art, I started my own floral-design company almost 20 years ago. We began Con-lo Common out of a shared desire to collaborate and create together. It’s still very much a side hustle for each of us, but something that we really love to do together. Depending on the time of year, we add some fuel for momentum and other times, we pull back and hibernate. We follow the rhythm of the seasons and what our other jobs require of us.
JULIE: I worked for nearly ten years in the publishing industry, on the sales and marketing side, for a foreign-language publisher. It was a sales position that demanded lots of travel and big sales goals. After having my first son, now 4 years old, I quit that world, as I couldn’t give to the demands of a corporate job and adjust to the demands of being a new mom. Add one more son into the equation, and after almost four years of being out of the work world, the timing felt right to start something.
BARRE3: People are always saying you should never go into business with family, but your partnership seems so strong. Did either of you have any hesitation about embarking on a business together?
JULIE: Yes, I know this all too well. I have two brothers who went into business together and their partnership completely divided my family. These two brothers to this day do not have a relationship. It was very ugly and rough. It’s no joke going into business with family. It’s the best thing ever but can also be one of the hardest things. That’s why it’s 100% important to put what’s important first: your relationship, love, and friendship. Constantly reminding yourself of what really matters. Does it matter to always be right? Money, ego, pride? Or is it more important to stay connected and in line with what’s important?
It’s imperative to have the hard conversations in the beginning. When people start a business, they always talk about the beginning. It’s much more fun and exciting! But it’s important to talk about the end, to flip things and ask, “What will this look like in the end? When things split? When things get tough?” When we started this business, we would have weekly “board” meetings in the reserved conference room of our local library. One of the first things we discussed and put up on the whiteboard were these exact topics. We made a pact to each other to never let business get in the way of the love and meaningful relationship we have for each other as family and friends. And we continue to check in with each other on this leveI constantly, keeping that communication open and clear. It’s work, but like a marriage or parenting or any other important relationship, it’s big, rewarding, and beautiful, and the benefits far outweigh the negatives. I wouldn’t want to work with anyone else.
BARRE3: You even brought your husbands into the mix! Did the four of you put any hard and fast rules into place about roles and duties, or is it more of a collaborative effort?
ALLISON: We’re a really close family! My husband was and is one of my older brother’s best friends. Julie is the sister I always wanted. So as a foursome, we’re really comfortable working, communicating, creating, and navigating together. Open communication is our cornerstone, and we seem to organically fall into positions that speak to our strengths without really assigning a role or putting a label on it. Because this is first and foremost a part-time creative collective (or common), we haven’t put so much pressure on having to perform in a way that didn’t seem comfortable for all of us. When things get stressful or time is short or an order deadline needs to be met, we all step up and do what needs to be done without questioning too much. Inevitably, collective updates come up when we gather socially, but only because we love talking about it! We’re usually thinking or tinkering on a different way of doing something with the business, so any chance to be able to run something by each other is welcomed—even better if it’s over a glass of wine!
BARRE3: You launched Con-Lo Common with the Light My Fire bundles, but you’ve expanded your product line since then. How did you decide what to add to the line?
ALLISON: The product line has evolved intuitively, utilizing elements that we forage and also incorporate into our daily practice. Smudging was an obvious addition, as was introducing a rough-cut crystal and heritage feather (naturally molted) to the smudge sticks. Originality and authenticity is very important to us when we consider our designs. Many companies make smudge sticks and products that are similar to what we offer, but our goal is to make it original to our design aesthetic. We always return to who we are, where we live, and what we love as indicators for our products.
BARRE3: It’s one thing to create products, but another thing entirely to get them out in the world. What are some of the ways you got your products out there early on?
JULIE: I have a piece of art in my office that says, START WITH YES. That energy drives what I aim to do in getting our products out in the world. Don’t be afraid to ask and put yourself out there. We’ve had plenty of NOs, but then you get the YES, and it feels so good and keeps you moving forward.
We have different strengths in our collective partnership. My strengths speak to the sales, marketing, and business development side. I’m not afraid to ask! In fact, this is how we got connected with B3, besides being long-time clients of barre3 Bend and lovers of the brand and community. I reached out to Sadie on Instagram, sharing a bit about our new fire bundles, and suggested that they would be perfect for the Experience B3 retreat at Brasada Ranch last spring in Central Oregon. One thing lead to another, and we got connected with the right people and here we are!
BARRE3: What have been the biggest hurdles in running a business so far?
ALLISON: The biggest hurdle has been time management. Since we’re very much still working to gain some good traction, it always seems like the to-do list is getting much larger with every task that’s checked off. It constantly feels like carving out enough time to foster real growth is fleeting. The rhythm is often shifting unexpectedly. For instance, lately it’s felt like stops and starts, while a just a few months back it felt very fluid. Accepting the constant change and doing our best not to force too much has been helpful. Also, letting go of expectations of how things should be, feel, and go. We remind each other that done is better than perfect, and we repeat our favorite Theodore Roosevelt quote: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
JULIE: To stay focused and keep the momentum, when there are so many other pulls, that’s been the biggest hurdle so far. This business has so far been a side hustle for us—an entrepreneurial, creative, rewarding, and inspiring side hustle that I wish were a full-time hustle. I’m a mom first. I also run a full-time Airbnb. And I’m currently being tempted by the lures of corporate America again. But I love the work that we’ve created at Con Lo Common, and the beautiful intention-based products that we’re sharing with the world, so this is really where the inspiration lies.
BARRE3: What’s next for your business?
ALLISON: In the spirit of allowing, were surrendering to hibernating for a bit—letting new ideas simmer and build as the season moves from winter to spring. We trust that the process will evolve naturally. In the meantime, were practicing an attitude of gratitude for the opportunity to be part of each other’s journey, and really reflecting how damn lucky we are to have people we love so much in our work, lives, and creative pursuits!
Thank you, Allison and Julie! You can find our favorite Con-Lo Common products in the B3 Shop, including the Ceremonial Crystal + Sage Kit, the Crystal Sage Bundle, and the Light My Fire Blue Kyanite Crystal Bundle.
