When Zara Terez Tisch launched her namesake brand Terez in 2008, right before the recession, her main goal was to find her light in a sea of darkness. The New York City-based brand, which initially sold leather handbags, quickly grew from operating out of her parents' basement to selling through wholesale partners.  In 2012, Terez expanded into apparel and updated its mission to center on spreading happiness and positivity through clothes. While a kids' line marked the move into the new category, the overwhelming demand for the hero product led to Terez launching colorful leggings for women. That's now the brand's most popular category, according to Terez Tisch. But it's seeing competition. "I am a big kid at heart, and … kids are a huge part of our brand's DNA," Terez Tisch said on the latest episode of The Glossy Podcast. "Since launched our first store this past fall, our kids' business has been rising once again."  The flagship location, which opened in NYC's Upper East Side in September 2022, is a physical manifestation of all the best parts of the brand, she said, citing its bright decor and welcoming energy.

For a company to grow, big changes must often be made. Such has been the case for Lively, a digitally native lingerie brand founded in 2015 by Michelle Cordeiro Grant. Since its inception, Lively has had much success navigating the crowded undergarment space, thanks in part to its prioritization of inclusion, community and connection, according to Cordeiro Grant.  A few years into the brand's existence, Lively was acquired by Japanese lingerie company Wacoal in 2019 for $105 million. In August 2022, Cordeiro Grant announced she was stepping down. Kristin DiCunzolo, previously vp of marketing and direct sales at Wacoal America, was appointed Lively's president and CEO.  In her new role, DiCunzolo has ambitious plans to catapult Lively's steady growth. That includes expanding the brand into new categories, diversifying its retail channels and launching it in international markets. Lively is launching e-commerce in Canada later this year.   "Our community has grown with [Lively]. They've aged with us also. But what [the customer] liked when she was 25 might be different almost 10 years later. So we want to be sure [our products] continue to [excite her] while also igniting a new fresh audience," DiCunzolo said on the latest episode of The Glossy Podcast.