Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Parker & Rain Giveaway!

Happy Wednesday! 
To get you through this week, Alex from Parker & Rain is giving away one of her trays! Alex emailed me a while back telling me about her new business, and I loved her and her trays so much that I wanted y'all to get to know her too so we did a little Q&A. 

I love the name Parker & Rain! Where did it come from?
I was hellbent on having a two word brand name...with an ampersand.  Ilove ampersands! For well over a month I was stuck creating a name. Ihad my product vision, my product plan, everything - except the name!It was frustrating.  Parker & Rain was one of the names that came tome during many restless nights & ended up being the winner!




How did the idea for Parker & Rain come about?
For years my family & closest friends have told me to abandon my
career (then in banking, now in health care technology) & utilize my
bold creative side to develop a brand.  I always knew I had it in me,
knew I eventually wanted to work only for myself, but could never
choose a direction. Choosing a product to start with was an incredibly
difficult choice, one that truthfully I stumbled upon. I packed up my
teeny Gramercy apartment in NYC and moved to Cape Cod, MA & began
decorating what is now my EIGHTH apartment in four years.  Searching
for the perfect bold pattern in a catchall tray, I couldn't find much
in the market.  That was the "ah ha" moment in which Parker & Rain was
born!




What was the final push that made you take the leap into becoming a small
business owner?
Someone asked me a simple question that truly stumped me, "what are
you waiting for?" The truth was there would never be a perfect time or
place in life to start, but I quickly realized now is much better than
later, or worse - never.  I'm lucky to have incredible people in my
life who not only want me to succeed, but offer honest truthful advice
& most of all - inspiration!



I love the trays so much, what's next for Parker & Rain?
There are so many directions I'd like to take Parker & Rain. My styleis very much old mixed with new, so my next direction will hopefullybe in the vintage arena! I'd love to have a small shop of revampedfurniture & selectively curated vintage finds for the home.  One neverknows what my next "ah ha!" moment will bring!



How to enter:
1. Leave a comment on which tray you would pick! You can pop over to her Etsy store to see more designs!
2. Follow Parker & Rain on Twitter




100 comments:

  1. The purple and gold ikat is calling my name! Love them all!

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  2. The flamingo tray is too cute but I think the canary yellow bamboo tray would be the most useful. I just followed Parker & Rain ( I love the name!) on twitter (@CouponKitchen). Already "liked" and "followed" Poplin & Queen. Great giveaway!

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  3. Great interview! I love a good life lesson. I am really trying to parent my kids with the follow your dreams mentality. Not always easy coming from a banker and nurse family background;) I would love to send my oldest daughter off to college with the Parker & Rain Union Jack Lucite Tray! Thanks for the chance:)))

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  4. I love these trays. I adore the pink greyhound print. I did all of the steps to enter. What a great giveaway and a great new brand!

    Thanks,
    Gracie

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  5. Love the Canary Yellow Faux one. A necessary pop of color.

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  6. I'm loving the pink greyhound print! It would be perfect on my new bamboo bar cart in my NEW apartment! finally! : )

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  7. Love the green bamboo! Would look perfect in my foyer!

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  8. I love that green bamboo, it would look beautiful in my office. Thanks for the heads up on a new brand...I love supporting women like her!

    Mandymcgreg(at)aol(dot)com

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  9. I love the pink flamingos! So fun!!

    slurfeefrenchie@gmail.com

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  10. Love the silver mums and the green bamboo ones!

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  11. I adore the green bamboo! Such fun trays with unique colors! Love following all of you :) Thanks for this opportunity!!

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  12. I love love love the silver mums!

    Following all!

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  13. I love that Flamingo one! I followed Parker & Rain and Poplin & Queen on twitter.

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  14. I love the green bamboo tray or the pink grayhoud! such a fabulous give-a-way fifi!

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  15. I follow Poplin & Queen on FB and Twitter

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  16. I would pick the canary yellow faux bamboo for my baby boy's nursery :)
    Thanks!
    Gretchen
    gretchengale@yahoo.com

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  17. I love the flamingo tray! It reminds me of college when we used to have a date night called "Flamingo Flock". Now, anytime that I see a flamingo, it takes me back to college! :)

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  18. So funny- Alex and I just started following each other on Instagram last week! I checked out her Etsy store after that because her trays in her photos were so adorable. They are all so fun- I'm still trying to pick between the pink greyhound, bamboo and flamingo...maybe I'll just get one of each. ;) Thanks for sharing with us! xx

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  19. Love the Silver Mums - would love to use it in my kitchen as everything in this house has to be in something, I hate clutter!

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  20. I'm so in love with the Peacock Blue & Gold Ikat Lucite Tray! It would be the perfect way to display my jewelry!

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  21. I follow Poplin & Queen on Twitter and Facebook!

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  22. Also I follow Parket&Rain on Twitter
    @hktinsley

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  23. I LOVE the union jack tray. I spent a lot of time in the UK this summer and have a new effinity for all things Union Jack.

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  24. I "like" Poplin & Queen on facebook

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  25. I follow Poplin & Queen on Twitter

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  26. I follow Parker & Rain on twitter

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  27. Love! I think either the pink or aqua greyhound. Or maybe the canary yellow faux bamboo. So many decisions!

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  28. And I follow Parker & Rain on twitter!

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  29. Love them! Loving the canary yellow faux bamboo one especially!

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  30. I follow you on twitter now, too!

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  31. Oh, and I like Poplin & Queen on FB!

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  32. I love the lobster/crawfish tray!!

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  33. I could find a way to use them all - but I'm partial to the purple and gold...I'm an ECU girl!

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  34. I dont even know where to begin!

    Absolutely ADORABLE trays that I wouldn't mind putting on every square inch of my tiny home :)

    If I HAD to pick a favorite, it would be the "mint flamingo" How adorable and retro at the same time!! Would love to add this little gem to my bar cart!

    Thanks for sharing this adorable Etsy shop, I love adding new to my favorites!

    xo,

    Katie

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  35. oh how fun! I would love the yellow bamboo one. I just followed Parker & Rain on twitter. Already "liked" and "followed" Poplin & Queen. Great giveaway!

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  36. Love the trays! I think my favorite is the green bamboo!

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  37. I would die for the Union Jack tray!!! Love following y'all on twitter :)

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  38. Oh I need a tray bad. Hm, love them all but the flamingos are calling my name. Following you.

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  39. Following Parker&rain on twitter too :-)

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  40. Love love love the green bamboo! I am looking for a bar tray that can couple as a coffee table accessory. I totally agree there is a need for bold patterns... these are so perfect!

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  41. Oooooh, the pink dogs!!! Love, love, love!

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  42. I love the Canary Yellow Faux Bamboo Lucite Tray. :D

    say_wat83@yahoo.com

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  43. following Follow Parker & Rain on Twitter
    @cheeta_kat

    say_wat83@yahoo.com

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  44. I "Liked" Poplin & Queen on Facebook
    FB: Ella C. Parker

    Following them on twitter
    @cheeta_kat

    say_wat83@yahoo.com

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  45. I like the silver mums and would love to win!

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  46. I would love the mint flamingos!

    I follow P&R on twitter and P&Q on facebook and twitter!

    @huddyma
    mcbcarlisle at gmail dot com for facebook

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  47. Love the canary bamboo! Following you all :)

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  48. Yay! Giveaway! I would love to win the Mint Flamingo tray! Its gorgeous!

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  49. Beyond OBSESSED with the flamingo tray!!

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  50. Loving the Mint Flamingos but I know the Yellow Ikat would match perfectly in my bathroom (decisions, decisions!) Parker & Rain started following me on Instagram recently, so I already liked/followed back! So cute!!

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  51. I love the canary yellow faux bamboo lucite tray! Following Poplin & Queen and Parker & Rain on Twitter and Liked Poplin & Queen on Facebook.

    Allison
    inthequeencityblog@gmail.com

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  52. they're all gorgeous, but probably the silver mum!

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  53. following P&R on twitter! (@emwest3)

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  54. I love the mint flamingo tray! They are all great! Thank you!
    saltsnmore at yahoo dot com

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  56. liked P&Q on FB (em west) and follow P&Q on twitter (@emwest3).

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  57. The Green Bamboo Print Lucite Tray is my favorite! Can't wait to see your list of favorite places to shop in Wilmington ~ I'm always looking for new places :)
    Emily

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  58. I follow Parker and Rain on twitter. @justpeachyphoto

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  59. Love the peacook blue and gold ikat lucite tray! Would make the perfect addition to my bedroom to hold my jewelry!

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  60. The peacock blue and gold Ikat is my favorite! It would look perfect sitting on my coffee table with a few great books and a candle!

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  61. The Canary Yellow Faux Bamboo is my fave!! Would look super cute in our house!

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  62. The Union Jack is my favorite! Following you both on Twitter, but not on FB anymore.

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  63. OMG I love this shop...you always find the best items and shops ever! I love every one of them but the mint flamingo pattern the best I think.

    I'm following poplin & queen on FB!

    Thanks so much again for introducing us to this great shop! Keep em coming!

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  64. I love the silver mums tray!! Thanks for the chance!

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  65. I liked Poplin & Queen on FB!

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  66. I love the Flamingo tray esp since I live in Wrightsville Beach! I love Poplin&Queen and the story about Parker & Rain makes me want to quit my health technology career and do what I love the most!!!

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  67. All of these trays are too cute! I am really loving the flamingos though!

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  68. the silverware without a doubt!

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  69. I love the ikat ones and also the silver mums!

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  70. Like poplin & queen on fb and twitter

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  71. LOVE the pink greyhound tray!!!

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  72. follow P&Q on facebook and twitter!!

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  73. follow parker & rain on twitter!!

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  74. Love them all but i am thinking the blue seahorses!!

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  75. Love the Lobster and Union Jack trays!!

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  76. Love the peacock blue & gold ikat one! It would look ahhhhmazing in my bedroom!!

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  77. Love the silverware pattern.

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  78. I liked Poplin & Queen on FB

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  79. Love all the prints! I need some trays for my first apartment I'm moving into this fall!

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  80. I also followed Parker & Rain on Facebook.

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  81. And I follow Poplin & Queen on FB and Twitter.

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  82. loving the peacock blue & gold ikat tray!

    celeste@mail4me.com

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  83. following Parker & Rain on twitter (@swellswag)

    celeste@mail4me.com

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  84. I like the serveware pattern!

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  85. I follow Parker & Rain on twitter!

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  86. The flamingos are so cute!

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  87. I love the lucite and purple chevron tray!
    I follow Parker & Rain on twitter!


    peacelovedecor.com

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  88. OOO these are beautiful! I really would have a hard time choosing just one, but I love the canary yellow faux bamboo!

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