· 12/19/2012
Elise Joseph, a Nashville Native
We didn’t have to spend too much time in Nashville to notice the tight-knit community of artisans and creatives. While in town, we spent time with a handful of Nashville characters in their local businesses—Barista Parlor, Third Man Records, Sideshow Sign Co., Parlour and Juke, and Imogene + Willie—to get to know the people behind the burgeoning Nashville brands.
We had assumed that the people in Nashville would be nice, but we didn’t realize just how nice until we arrived. And simply calling them “nice” doesn’t do their temperaments justice. They’re welcoming, hospitable, accommodating and warm. We found it to be the kind of place where you’d receive a hug from someone who had been a stranger just a few minutes before. Of the people that we met, one that’s really stuck in our minds has been Elise Joseph.
We knew all about her blog, Pennyweight, and her impressive Pinterest following before knowing anything about the girl behind them.
Most of her time now is dedicated to acting as the Media Director for Imogene + Willie, where business is really taking off. She oversees all things social and all online media marketing. This includes writing copy for the website and newsletters, styling for shoots and handling in-house PR.
A born and bred Nashville resident, Elise has only left the city briefly to spend a few months in New York. Even though she has more ties to New York now through blogging, she has no plans to leave Music City, where she thinks that creativity is at an all time high. It’s where she feels at home.
And understandably so! We met Elise for popsicles at Las Paletas, a small gourmet shop just down the street from Imogene + Willie. She talked to us about spending more and more time at the store, even on days when she doesn’t need to be there. From how she described it, the team at Imogene + Willie sounds more like a family than a group of colleagues.
It seems that everyone is willing to pitch in, and that no job is too small, whether than means driving their dog Lale to and from the store, or picking up groceries for a team lunch.
We finished our popsicles—a chai for her, and pistachio and cookies and cream for us—and made our way up to the store with her. She sent us off with a list of places to visit while in Atlanta, and some advice about finding the perfect pair of jeans!
The bus has left Nashville, but if you’re in town, you can check out our frames in our showroom at Imogene + Willie!
Photos by Collin Hughes