Gaby Bayona is a force in the bridal and modeling industries. The humble entrepreneur has been building her empire since her teens and is now the owner of multiple businesses. After starting out as a seamstress in her mom’s bridal business, Gaby discovered a passion for the industry. By the time she graduated high-school she knew she wanted to own her own business. Now, she owns 3 bridal dress brands and a boutique with multiple locations in Canada, as well as a modeling agency based out of Vancouver, BC. We talk with Gaby about what inspired her to take on such an ambitious lifestyle and what moves she’s making next. Gaby shares her career journey, explains the strategic reason behind why she created multiple dress brands, how she manages it all and what she thinks is next for the bridal industry. 

Learn more about Gaby and her companies:

• Gaby’s Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/gabybayona/
• Gaby’s TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@gaby.bayona
• Truvelle Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/truvellebridal/
• Laudae Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/laudaebride/
• Aesling Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/aeslingbride/
• Lovenote Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lovenotebride/
• Stranger Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/strangeragency/

Subscribe to Arcade’s Newsletter, SCAN 👀 CLUB: https://www.arcadearcade.ca/scan-club 

Show Notes - Gaby Bayona

1. 01:00 - Gaby’s story of growing up in the bridal industry.
2. 03:30 - Lessons Gaby learned from her mom’s business. 
3. 09:00 - The rundown on Gaby’s businesses: Why start multiple businesses?
4. 14:00 - How to keep a personal connection with your customers as your business scales. 
5. 15:50 - Advice for someone looking to start a bridal business in today’s noisy digital environment.
6. 17:40 - Digging in the branding and marketing side of Gaby’s businesses. How she was able to explode on Etsy and Pinterest early on and what is she doing now? 
7. 19:00 - Building publicly from a place of vulnerability. 
8. 26:40 - Has Gaby ever wanted to quit?
9. 30:00 - How does Gaby manage her time and energy between the multiple brands and companies?
10. 39:00 - Trends to watch for in the wedding and bridal industries. 
11. 41:15 - Who is making Waves and why?

Mentioned in this episode:

1. Sara Blakely, from Spanx: https://www.instagram.com/sarablakely/?hl=en 
2. Boheme Goods: https://www.bohemegoods.com/ 
3. Field & Social: https://www.fieldandsocial.com/ 
4. Mirror Palais: https://www.instagram.com/mirrorpalais/?hl=en 
5. House of CB: https

Waves with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

S6 - present Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Harrison Neef.

This year, it seems like every company is trying to get involved in sports. It had us wondering, is there really an increased interest in sports or is this a perceived growth we’re seeing on our own feeds? We brought in sports marketing expert and Director of Content Strategy for William Raymond Communications, Shahob Mehr, to answer our questions. 

Shahob shares his journey from being a student, to getting a seat at the table in this incredibly competitive industry. He unveils the hidden layers of the sports industry, exploring topics like: the art of creating compelling social media pathways for athletes and how to build rock-solid relationships. And, he answers our big question: Do all companies need a sports partnership?

Learn more about Shahob:

1. Follow Shahob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shahobmehr/ 
2. Follow Shahob on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shahobmehr/ 
3. William Raymond Communications: https://www.william-raymond.com/ 

Subscribe to Arcade’s Newsletter, SCAN 👀 CLUB: https://www.arcadearcade.ca/scan-club 

Show Notes:

1. 02:50 - How Shahob got started in such a competitive industry. 
2. 06:28 - What it’s like being in the room with such elite athletes. 
3. 07:15 - Going from green in the industry to running the NFL’s Snapchat early in Shahob’s career. 
4. 08:30 - Getting the fear out of the way early in your career. 
5. 18:10 - Is Shahob noticing a growing interest in sports? What opportunities should marketers be paying attention to in 2024?
6. 20:22 - How Shahob and his larger team help athletes figure out what their digital footprint should be. 
7. 25:03 - What does the content cycle look like for athletes? How involved are they?
8. 26:30 - Why LinkedIs is one of Shahob’s favorite platforms right now.
9. 33:35 - Advice for brand managers looking to build relationships with athletes. 
10. 34:51 - Who is making waves and why?
11. 35:50 - Athletes that left a lasting impression on Shahob. 
12. 38:20 - How to connect with Shahob. 

Waves Podcast with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi). 

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

Waves with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

S6 - present Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Harrison Neef.

Subscribe to Arcade’s Newsletter, SCAN 👀 CLUB: https://www.arcadearcade.ca/scan-club 

Mitzi and Mike are back with another solo episode. This week, they’re talking through the top 3 news stories (signals) that they’re following. We break down what each signal could mean for the future of digital marketing. First up, Chipotle renames one of their locations after a Travis Kelce tweet resurfaces. Then, we talk about the rise of print with NYLON relaunching their physical magazine for the first time since 2017. Last, we talk about Kendrick Lamar’s “anti-smart” phone and what it might mean. We wrap things up with a listener question about getting through the busy Q4 season as both a marketer and business owner. 

Show Notes:

1. 00:00 - We’re pivoting! 
2. 02:08 - How we’re prepping for December with a business and two kids. Plus, Mike learns a lesson about Elf on the Shelf. 
3. 05:13 - Diving into our first news story (signal): Chipotle made a hilarious move after Swifties dug through Travis Kelce’s old tweets. 
4. 09:33 - NYLON is bringing back print. They’ll be launching their inaugural issue spring of 2024. Is print making a real comeback, or is it a gimmick?
5. 13:06 - What other analog experiences we want to see come back (roller rinks, piano bars and award show parties).
6. 18:39 - How magazine culture influenced Arcade’s marketing agency name.
7. 21:03 - Kendrick Lamer’s “anti-smart” phone sold out in minutes. People are buying Nokia flip phones. Is there going to be a resurgence of simpler tech? Who is this a best fit for?
8. 25:44 - What games we’d wake up in the middle of the night to play on our old devices.
9. 28:35 - Listener question: How do you get through a busy Q4 season with your team? Both as business owners and marketers. 
10. 31:00 - How to change your perspective around feeling “busy.” 

Mentioned in this episode:

• Chipolte prank: https://www.today.com/food/restaurants/chipotle-kansas-city-changes-name-travis-kelce-rcna126238 
• NYLON is bringing back print: https://www.nylon.com/life/nylon-print-return-april-2024
• Kendrick Lamar’s “anti-smart” phone: https://www.euronews.com/culture/2023/11/07/kendrick-lamars-limited-edition-anti-smart-phone-sells-out-in-a-day 

Waves with Mike (@mmmiiike) and Mitzi (@mmmitzi).

For more from Arcade, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @helloarcade. https://www.arcadearcade.ca/

S6 - present Production by Morgan Berna, editing by Harrison Neef.