CdM Exclusive: Simply CEO Sarah Boyd launches Simply LA in style

“It’s really just one handshake or one introduction that you need to really change your career.” -Sarah Boyd Simply founder and CEO

Photo via Instagram @sarahpboyd

Simply common sense is the best way to describe Saturday’s fashion and beauty conference held on the rooftop of the Grove shopping center in Beverly Hills. The event, powered by Nylon Magazine was full of informative panels, innovative brands and fun networking opportunities, exactly how Sarah Boyd, the Simply founder and CEO, pictured it 5 years ago when she first came up with the idea.

“I was doing PR at the time and I really saw a need for in person connection and to do it in a kind environment.” She told me of her inspiration for the company.

The event was filled with experts and digital influencers from the fashion and beauty industries as well as editors and businesswomen from traditional media such as Gabrielle Korn Nylon editor in Chief, actress Ashley Greene, blogger Becca Tilley and more. Fashion lovers and young stylish consumers were invited to experience the brands that were showcasing their products and get the latest updates on the new and exciting companies that are making waves in the industry including popular names like Planet Blue, BeGalmmed, New Beauty Magazine, BlessBox, Shoedazzle, and more. For the VIP attendees exclusive access to panels with celebrities, digital influencers, and successful entrepreneurs was the highlight of the event. Topics like the business of blogging, starting a brand, and how to kill it on social media were just a few of the insider tips that were discussed.

She told me about her idea saying, “It’s really just one handshake or one introduction that you need to really change your career because you have that one person who believes in you. So, I wanted to make that happen here in person.”

Organizing the scattered and confusing landscape of social media influencers and publishers within the fashion and beauty industries is a challenge that few people have wanted to take on, and it is often regarded as a separate business altogether.

“A lot of this stuff, I never thought it would ever happen.” She continued.

However, providing a conference for consumers who are looking to experience their favorite companies and, industry leaders in social media and digital content, to connect with up and coming digital and traditional brands (and plenty of Instagram worthy photo-ops) was the perfect way to highlight all the things they have in common.

Not one to give up, Sarah told me about getting her ideas from her vision board to a real-life conference at The Grove saying, “You just gotta hustle and persevere and never take no for an answer and it can happen.”

“I network a lot. I always tell everybody at my events you have to network.” She added.

As for her process of finding the right brands to work with at the Simply conferences she said, “It’s people that have a big heart and are kind and share their knowledge. Not a lot of people do that in the industry so I personally handpick a lot of them…I think it’s just through meeting people and if I really feel like they can bring something to our audience that’s how I choose them.”

And she still has more she’s looking to accomplish for the future of Simply.

 “I see doing more cities, more countries. Potentially retreats in the future. Just building the community.” She told me. For now, she’s just been celebrating the success of her LA conference saying, “It’s incredible…A pinch me moment.”