Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenny Livits.
Hi Jenny, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started my career in retail as a sales stylist at Nicole Miller in La Jolla and later worked at Fred Segal in Los Angeles after college. I was a communications major and originally thought I would pursue a career in journalism or broadcasting. However, I caught the retail bug early on—it was how I made extra money throughout college, and I absolutely loved it.
I worked a variety of retail jobs over the years, which gave me invaluable hands-on experience and a deep understanding of the business from the ground up. Later, I transitioned into PR and marketing, and that experience inspired me to create my own brand and concept in the retail space. Combining my love of storytelling, merchandising, and building relationships ultimately led me to open Pink Lagoon.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like any entrepreneur, there have been plenty of challenges along the way. At one point, I expanded to two stores. While I’m not ruling out doing that again someday, I realized I expanded too quickly and found myself spending more time managing people and HR than doing the parts of the business I truly loved. Looking back, I also don’t think I had the right team in place at the time, but that experience taught me so much.
The 2008 financial crisis hit shortly after we opened, which slowed our growth, and then COVID brought an entirely different set of challenges. I still think of the business in terms of pre-COVID and post-COVID because it changed so much about retail and consumer behavior. As difficult as those periods were, they gave me and the business tremendous clarity about how I want to move forward. Some of the most valuable lessons come through the hardest times, and those experiences have shaped how I continue to navigate and grow Pink Lagoon today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am most proud of how we have curated Pink Lagoon and built the fine jewelry department we are so well known for today. Jewelry is one of my greatest passions, and I love working with the incredible designers we feature. I’m also proud that we help women feel confident through the art of fashion and styling. Above all, I’m incredibly proud of the community we’ve built over the last 19 years.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is my family, the incredible team and community we’ve built at Pink Lagoon, and continuing to grow both personally and professionally. I feel so grateful that our business has become part of so many people’s life stories. We get to celebrate incredible milestones alongside our customers, and it’s truly a blessing and a privilege. Being able to do what I love every day is something I never take for granted.
I’m also deeply committed to personal growth. I believe that if we aren’t growing, we aren’t truly living, and I strive to embody that mindset and encourage those around me to do the same.
Most importantly, I’m the proud mother of two beautiful daughters. Making them proud and showing them that with hard work, resilience, and a strong vision, you can turn an idea into reality means everything to me. I hope to model for them that dreams are possible when you pursue them with passion, perseverance, and purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pinklagoon.com
- Instagram: @pinklagoon
