In short
Cyndi Ramirez’ glow-up from Queens nightlife/serving/bartending to building Chillhouse, a nail-care and beauty “universe” (massages → manicures → community), plus her pivots during COVID and plans for product expansion (press-ons, long-wear polish, “super tint”).
Guest background
Cyndi Ramirez grew up in Queens (Jackson Heights; formative years in Bayside/Whitestone). She moved to Manhattan at 17 and worked in nightlife/serving, including Scores at 18. She met her husband at a nightclub; they later built hospitality businesses together. She studied at Parsons, left while working, and credits a fashion/tech internship for career momentum.
Key claims
Hospitality taught her quick thinking and reading people. Bravo-style exposure isn’t for her; she prefers purposeful visibility. Chillhouse’s origin was a “trifecta” (monthly massages, weekly manicures, and needing a drink/café vibe). COVID forced a pivot; press-ons hit product-market fit. She frames the store as cash-intensive but essential to brand soul and aspiration.
Notable examples
Pietro Nolita blogger shoot; Teresa flipping the table (she says she couldn’t do that on TV); “Linkin Park After Dark” nail color; plans to launch teen/pre-teen line and “Forever Wear” gel-replacement polish.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VORecollections of Early Days
0:45 to 2:16
Hosts reminisce about their early encounters and shared experiences in the blogging scene.
“I feel like I haven't seen you in fucking years.”
Growing Up and Early Careers
2:16 to 4:24
Discussion on growing up in Queens and the transition to city life, including early jobs.
“Look at us now from bloggers to businesswomen.”
Nightlife Reflections
4:24 to 6:33
Insights into their experiences in nightlife, including dating stories and reflections on past jobs.
“waitressing and bartending to me in New York City in general, I've always given this on the rooftop, I think should be mandatory for everybody.”
Lessons from the Service Industry
6:33 to 8:02
Exploring how waitressing shapes one’s character and skills in life.
“No, I didn't think you were performing, but I was like, even bottle waitressing, I feel like is probably even a darker place to be in.”
Reality TV and Personal Growth
8:02 to 13:33
Discussion on reality TV experiences, personal growth, and the challenges of public exposure.
“We just had the best fucking time and didn't have a care in the world.”
Cyndi's Queens Upbringing
16:20 to 19:26
Cyndi shares her immigrant family's journey and her upbringing in Queens.
“So, you know, back in the day, Colombians kind of like landed in Jackson Heights.”
From Hospitality to Chillhouse
19:27 to 25:51
Cyndi explains her path from hospitality work to launching Chillhouse.
“So what I know you do, you like me have dropped out of college and I know you also said that you wish you had, I mean, I feel the same way where it's like, part of me is like, I wish I had just like seen that through.”
From Hospitality to Chillhouse
26:28 to 29:47
Cyndi explains her path from hospitality work to launching Chillhouse.
“is the Better For You plant protein-based snack made with brain-boosting nutrients to refuel, nourish, and satisfy hunger without the sugar crash.”
From Hospitality to Chillhouse
29:51 to 30:04
Cyndi explains her path from hospitality work to launching Chillhouse.
“So by the way, if you want to get someone a pair of Manolos, they're usually around$75.”
Chillhouse's Evolution: From Services to Product Lines
30:05 to 36:29
Learn how Chillhouse pivoted during COVID and expanded its product line.
“So outside of the physical space, tell us how you came to do your iconic, adorable, very fucking smart press-ons.”
Show all 21 chapters
Building a Community Around Nail Care
36:30 to 40:09
Discover the importance of community and brand loyalty in Chillhouse's growth.
“hang out with all these cool girls that I see.”
Building a Community Around Nail Care
40:10 to 42:34
Discover the importance of community and brand loyalty in Chillhouse's growth.
“And then from there, seeing appetite on the store level and like what that store looks like long term.”
Building a Community Around Nail Care
42:38 to 42:58
Discover the importance of community and brand loyalty in Chillhouse's growth.
“best to get 16 free meals with your risk-free trial.”
Innovations in Nail Care
45:13 to 46:41
Explore Chillhouse's new nail products and their unique features.
“So press-ons, you know, for someone that wants a little bit more of a fashion nail, longer nail, polish.”
Nail Health and Emotional Care
46:41 to 49:25
Discuss the importance of nail health and the emotional aspects of nail care.
“And it was really kind of like poking a little.”
Balancing Motherhood and Business
49:25 to 56:00
Cyndi shares her experiences of being a mom while running a business.
“Talk to me about being a mom and running a business.”
Building a Supportive Family Life
56:00 to 58:26
Learn how to create a supportive environment for balancing entrepreneurship and family.
“Like this works because we took into equation that we were getting family help.”
Reflecting on Past and Present
58:26 to 59:24
Explore the journey from a tiny apartment to a fulfilling family life.
“what's the point of fucking anything up and just take a step back, you know, and breathe through it and like, just talk it, talk it out.”
Self-Care as a Busy Parent
59:24 to 1:00:46
Discover the ebb and flow of self-care amidst parenting and work demands.
“things that you do in your life to stage help oh my god oh that's a good question And there's no one after that.”
Navigating Sleep Challenges with Kids
1:00:46 to 1:03:01
Hear practical insights on managing sleep and nighttime routines with children.
“It's just life being a mother and a business owner.”
Closing Thoughts and Farewell
1:03:01 to 1:03:30
Conclude with reflections on parenting and gratitude for supportive partnerships.
“So yes, date nights, because I can't put them down every night.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00102 miles ago, the oil light came on. 100 miles ago, you noticed. Now, it's time to head to Take 5. This oil change, fall in love with your car all over again. In just 10 minutes, your dream technician will check your tire pressure, top off fluids, change your oil, and verify with Carfax exactly what your car really needs. All while keeping you in the driver's seat. Take five to stay in your car. 10 minute oil change. Save up to 30 % on your next oil change to take five. $15 value. Valid to participating locations. Terms and conditions apply. The following podcast is a Dear Media production.
0:44Okay, well, thank you for coming. Thank you for having me. I feel like I haven't seen you in fucking years. A million years. And I was actually thinking back on when we first met. I don't know if you remember. Where? I don't remember much of anything. Okay, so I had a blog called Taste the Style. No, I remember that. Yeah. And so we met that day, I think, because I had you as like one of my guests as like my Boss Babe series. Yes. We shot at Pietro Nolita. Yes. Those photos are some of my favorite photos of me ever. They were great. You looked fabulous. Thank you. I think you were wearing ref.
1:15You know what was? No, I was wearing LPA because the LPA just launched. Oh, okay. Perfect. Yes. You know what else was funny about that day? Do you remember that Mariana Hewitt was taking photos outside too? No, I don't think I knew who that was until like many years later. This was like, how many years ago? Eight. No longer. I want to say like 11 years ago. Maybe, maybe 10. I think it was 10 because that's when LPA was launching. Yeah. And I had met her at like a Revolve thing. And so I had only met her like once or twice. And this is when she was like full blogger. And that wall, Pietro's, that pink wall was like such a thing for a minute.
1:49and so we were both there like getting our content it was like the pink wall of or like your pink wall LA pink wall of New York and so all the bloggers were taking little pictures there and they're still standing I'm actually pretty impressed I know him yeah I think they just like like I think they just painted over the pink wall rebranded like rebranded it and something else he's like a proper Italian man I mean it was a great little spot oh god that was so funny that really was like a lifetime ago. I know. I know. Okay. So since then, a lot has happened. Look at us now from bloggers to businesswomen.
2:24Where did you grow up? At least trying to be. I grew up in Queens. You did grow up in Queens. Amazing. Grew up in Queens, but I moved to the city when I was still very young, like 17. And I would actually commute, did the reverse commute back to school for my senior year. Oh my God. That's so funny. And I had a, I had a car and I would park it and I had to leave like at 7 a.m. I love driving in the city. Oh, that's how I I never learned how to drive. It's the best. In Manhattan. We rent cars when we go. Like if we're staying in the city. Oh, it's the best. I'll get a Turo to go to like JG Mellon from downtown.
2:53Oh, I mean, I, we like live in our car. Which is so funny because we've always been like little city dwellers. But like we can never get around any other way but a car. So my husband's always had a car. It's like. Well, that now, of course. But even before that, my husband, you know, when he had like a shitty little Jeep that was like super raggedy, like hanging on by threads. And that's what he drove around. the city when I was dating him. And then, you know, eventually we got nicer cars. We met at a nightclub. I feel like you would probably know what it was. The plum. So it's up and down. Like the latest one is like up and down.
3:26So it was like two clubs before that. It was like the Darby before then. Oh, I remember the Darby. Yeah. So that's how long we've been dating. I love that. So yeah, we dated when we were like, I think he was 21. I was 22. Oh my God. And he actually, it's funny, we're reflecting on this too. He was actually leaving for LA for like the entire summer, the day after he met me. So he was like interning that summer because it was like his junior year or whatever. And did he leave or he met you when he stayed? No, he ended up coming back. He was just here for the summer and ended up coming back. And then that's when we went on our first official date was when he got back from LA.
4:04So I always feel like there's like this LA connection with the two of us. I don't know. There's something here. We really love it as a city that like he and I like really like enjoy on our own. Yeah. We haven't been here with the kids really like little things with the kids like don't remember any of it when we've been with him. But yeah, that's so cute. Yeah. So you work as a waitress and at like, you know, which I the waitressing and bartending to me in New York City in general, I've always given this on the rooftop, I think should be mandatory for everybody. Agree. Makes you less of an asshole.
4:39100%. What does it do about people? It's a, it teaches you about everything. You have to think quickly and to manage expectations and to manage your time and to think on your feet and if you're good at it and read people. Yeah. Otherwise you are, you're good at it. Please don't do it because I can't stand a slow server, but yes. Where did you work in New York? I worked everywhere. So my first, actually, my mom's going to hate me for telling this, but my first waitressing job was actually at Scores. I was 18 years old. The one on the West Side Highway? No. Which was... The OG one on 59th Street.
5:17I remember that. Under the Queens Bridge. I was like, listen, this is my first entry into New York. Queens Girl. Scores. Manhattan. And yeah, so I lasted about a month because my mom ended up finding a bunch of matchbooks and she was like, what's going on here? And she just felt it. She knew. like I it wasn't like I was partying till 6 a.m. every night like I was actually she knew I was like something else was happening yeah so yeah she basically forced me to quit which obviously in hindsight was the right decision it was a good thing uh but I actually have a couple of friends that came out of the scores world too I mean it's actually kind of funny like I think women great people yeah well of course and I think like so many my favorite follow on tiktok is like a a stripper.
6:06Oh, really? I want to work at those clubs. Yeah, because they're just, they're so smart and they're just working the system so well. They're hustlers. Watch me go, watch me make my rent check in one night. Hell yeah. It's just like, and then they do whatever else they want to do during, I mean, it's kind of like the most baller thing to do. No, I mean, I still look back at it as like so much of the best money I've ever made was when I worked in the industry. I worked at the box and my parents came and they were like, you're not supposed to be anywhere near this place. And I was like, yeah, probably not.
6:34I didn't know that about you. I did the door there. Oh, okay. All right. I wasn't like performing. No, I didn't think you were performing, but I was like, even bottle waitressing, I feel like is probably even a darker place to be in. I didn't have that. Those are like skilled bottle waitresses there. Those are women that could like, yeah. And that could like, you know, I was like way too immature to even, but I did the door there for a while when it first opened. Like I remember being in the space when they were still building it out and they were like, auditioning people to work there. How funny.
7:07And it was the same thing where my mom was like. It's an iconic place. Of course. She was right because it's definitely, it's a dark place to be in unless you're a performer, in my opinion. You know what I mean? Like, or unless you know how to, you know, navigate your drinking and like you don't kind of fall into like the drug world. The things that they had me do with like celebrity, the stories that I sit on because I'm an elegant, graceful woman who doesn't need to get likes on TikTok for fucking telling people's stories. They're crazy. Of course. I'm here. I'm like, I'll say for the book, maybe, you know, even like, but like, without saying people's names.
7:44Yeah. Because I think like, there's something to be said. I feel so sad when I open my phone and it's like, people are filming other people doing something. Like we lived like, I mean, you grew up in New New York was just like my favorite place on the planet. But you were able to, we had the last moments pre-phone. Yep. And it was best. You just went out. We just had the best fucking time and didn't have a care in the world. And I do think back because I auditioned for Housewives of New York. Oh my God. And I got pretty close. They ended up obviously going with a different cast. But I thought back, I was like, if I would have gone on this show, would I've had people from my nightlife days come out and like say some shit that I did like so I was a party girl you know and I definitely don't need to like have that bleed into my life now it's just so in the past I've thought about that a couple times and I'm also I just want to be like wasn't doing any of that alone exactly like who fucking cares no one cares people are still partying but you know behind closed doors and it is what it is but it is you know no everything would they would have been like one time I was with Cindy or I heard this.
8:53I mean, it's just because people just want people to give them attention for anything. But yeah, I mean, it's it's so interesting how people come out of like the woodwork that would have been. Are you happy that that didn't happen? Kind of a little bit. I'm not mad at the idea of, you know, growing my profile and all that. Obviously, that's why I'm doing podcasts. And like, you know, but I do think that that's like an that's like a place that I don't know if I can handle. Of course. You know, this kind of being exposed to audiences who know nothing about you, have no connection to you and just make assumptions and blah, blah, blah.
9:27And, you know, I guess obviously there is some level to that even now because people may find me through my business or whatever and they know nothing about my background. But like, yeah, I don't know. I don't think I have the thick skin that's required of being like a full-blown Bravo Leopardy. Yeah, I know. It's so real. Like, it's intense. And you have to have fucking thick skin and not let it get to you. And if anything, maybe let it fuel you. Like, I look at, so I'm friendly with Cy Da Silva, who actually I used to work with too, back in my nightlife days. Amazing. And she can fucking handle it.
10:03Like, that girl has no, she doesn't care. I know I meet women that are like, women are talking, let them fucking talk. Who cares? Get your paycheck. Why are you even looking at anything. And I'm like, whoa, that's so cool that you can actually, I'm too sensitive. I'm too sensitive. I actually do take things to heart because I do think I have a good heart. And not to say that people that aren't like that don't have a good heart. No, but when you lead with that, it feels very vulnerable. You feel really misunderstood. Exactly. Yeah. No. So I don't know. I don't think it was for me and it's for the best, but who knows in the future.
10:33It has to be a little bit more directed with a purpose. I don't know that I can be in a setting where I'm like just being, you know, bait and tackle, like who's going to like, you know, cause the stir the pot, cause the drama. Like I was actually listening to your episode with Lexi, new shoes, Lexi. I don't know how to pronounce her last name. I don't either. But we actually just had dinner the other day and she was saying that she did your pot too. I was like, oh, let me listen to it this morning. And so speaking of the housewives, like that moment, like where Teresa flips the fricking table, like I could never, I don't think I have it in me to ever like show that side of me on TV.
11:09What's amazing with her specifically, like in the Manzo family and like they, I mean, that podcast is really cool because she just started being able like through her subsection, like tell her own story of like what the like real family, like really serious drama was there. Like, but it, that's like, Like, I love New York so much. And like, New Jersey, I like, I don't think they're going to like refilm New Jersey because those girls can't be in the same room. And it makes me sick to my stomach because I've been watching it for like 15 years. It's the only one that I watch. That and I know you love like, I feel like you love Italian culture so much.
11:47And like, it makes sense that you love like Northeast Italian culture. For sure. Those women are like, there's no, there's no fake in the funk to get airtime over there. No. They are. That's not a fucking reality show. And these are the women And I grew up with two. And I was like, you guys are crazy.
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16:19Yeah, what was it like growing up in Queens? A little bit like that. So I grew up in Jackson Heights. My parents migrated from Columbia. So, you know, back in the day, Colombians kind of like landed in Jackson Heights. Did your mom still live there? No, my mom actually, so she migrated there when we were, she was like 28 or something. That had me like a couple of years later. No, she moved down to Florida with me, down to Miami. But no, we kind of just moved around. So like as my mom, you know, her goal was always to buy a house. Like she came here with the American dream. She was very ambitious and like...
16:54Did she come here with you by herself? No, with my dad. My dad got here first. He had his visa. He had a citizenship and then he married my mom and then she eventually made her way up. But yeah, they separated and it was just kind of like me and her for basically the rest of my life. We eventually ended up in like a little town called Douglason, which is like right before Long Island. So like great, like right before Great Neck, Little Neck. Yeah, so beautiful. But like it was really pretty. That's like when she bought her house, you know, and like she didn't want to buy a house. Obviously in Jackson Heights, she wanted something like a little closer to Long Island, a little more suburban.
17:27but I kind of grew up, I want to say like my formative years were in like an area called Bayside Whitestone where a lot of Italians, a lot of Irish people. So yeah, like Irish Americans. And I do feel like, yeah. So I have like a mixed bag of friends, but like my core best friends were from my like teenage years of growing up in like Bayside Whitestone. So yeah, Italian, Jewish. fish. Yeah. That's amazing. Yeah. And your mom was an entrepreneur. She was. Yeah. She was a business owner. She had a couple of medispa as I kind of like to call them or like aesthetic centers. Like she did like endermology.
18:05I wish she still had that machine because I would fucking be there every day. It's the best, man. Oh, I need to get some sessions going. And like a lot of, you know, skincare that was a little bit more advanced, not just like facial. She did like microdermabrasion and peels and all that. I was advanced for the time. Totally. Yeah. She was like definitely a little innovator in her world, but it was just for the, like her, like Latina audience that like kind of like lived in Jackson Heights. So I grew up in that world. And I think like, I always wanted more for me, like, but I definitely took a lot of inspiration from it.
18:37And like, I think eventually, obviously that's why I have Chill House. I do credit a lot of my upbringing to the fact that I ended up creating this world that was kind of like looking back was something I wanted my mom to do, but she couldn't do it. She was, you know, immigrant, like didn't know how to use a computer. Of course. Like everything was very manual and she didn't put on any music in the spa. It's just very, you know, it was very clinical. And that's fine because that wasn't she wasn't trying to build a lifestyle brand. Yeah. Like that wasn't a thing. Yeah. It wasn't a thing. She was just trying to pay her bills and do what she loves.
19:11And she did a great job and built a great clientele. And she was like, just like a lot of hospitality 101 and like client building 101, I'd say with her. But yeah, she's, she's retired now. She sold her business and she just like helps us with the kids. So it's really nice. Nice. Yeah. So what I know you do, you like me have dropped out of college and I know you also said that you wish you had, I mean, I feel the same way where it's like, part of me is like, I wish I had just like seen that through. Yeah. And then I'm like, I don't need it, but it's like, I wish you just would have closed the circle.
19:41Where did you go? I went to Parsons. Okay. Yeah. Similar story. I went to LIM, which was kind of expensive. I think it was like 20 ,000 a year and I was paying my own way through. I still have student loans. Yeah, no, I think I paid all mine off, but it was, I think, yes, I paid mine off. But yeah, it fucking sucks to like look back and be like, am I really using my degree? I don't know. I'm not, I'm not upset because it's part of my story. Yeah, of course. But yes, a part of me is like, would I pull a Kim Kardashian and like go back to school and like get some sort of degree and get a master's in something like maybe if I'm if I'm successful and bored enough right yeah like you're like oh nothing's a challenge anymore but when is that really going to happen no and I think we'll also like what's very real is you know you and I are not we're not trying to be like surgeons or engineers or anything that requires a degree and I think once once you start making money and once ideas start flowing I mean I left Parsons at the advice of my college counselor at school because I was working and making money.
20:43And she was like, if you're building up your portfolio, like keep going. If like, if you feel like there's like a lot of work happening, she was like, dive in. You can always come back next semester. Which I mean, for you, you had a skill, right? As a designer. So it makes sense if you started getting work and you were actually connecting with people, which you ended up having a great network, which is like half the job is to like, honestly, to build like a great network for yourself and build up your, your name. So you did it. How did you start Chill House? Oh, it's such a long story. So basically for many years, I wasn't like, we can backtrack to like the hospitality days.
21:23I was kind of in a no, no end road. I had no idea what to do with my life in my 20s because I kind of got stuck in this, I want to call it a little bit of a vicious cycle of working in hospitality, even though I was making good money. I didn't think it was for me long term. Like I didn't see myself owning a restaurant. I didn't see myself being a manager or like really wanting to be in nightlife proper. I think I always aspired to have a traditional nine to five because I didn't see it in my home because my mom worked so like till late, like honestly to like 10 every night, which isn't nightlife, but it's still like she had long hours, you know, and she didn't work a traditional like nine to five.
22:04And so I think I always aspired to have that because I wanted it for myself growing up. And if I were to have kids one day, like it's just something I wanted for me. But like I had no idea where to start because I wasted so much time just working in nightlife, like waking up at, you know, 2 p.m. and just this vicious circle of like that's the only thing I can do because I was so tired to do anything else. and so I eventually I was like okay I should at least get an internship I went to go you know apply for some fashion internships I did have one when I was in school with Stuart Weitzman so it kind of opened up a couple of you know possibilities so I ended up going to Valentino for a job opportunity and they were like it's a full-time internship unpaid classic and this is obviously not legal anymore.
22:54Yeah. But I obviously had to turn it down. So I was like, you know what? Like, I just I just need to eat it and I need to do an internship either way. But it has to be part time. So I found a really interesting opportunity to intern for someone part time. And she was building up her business. It was in fashion and tech, which I thought was really interesting because it wasn't just traditional fashion, which to me was at the time wasn't there was no innovation there. It was just kind of like, you know, you were you were like just as an intern running errands. You weren't learning anything. So this at least I was like, I'm going to learn a lot.
23:24Let's do it. And so I ended up getting a full time job with them after the internship period. And I feel like that was like the pivotal thing in my life. And I credit so much of my career to her and giving me that that shot, you know, and then eventually I got let go from that job because she was downsizing and she that was her high, most expensive employee. And I think that was kind of the kick in the ass. I needed to do something on my own. I applied for a couple of job opportunities and got a callback for one. And then the other one, I ended up basically walking out of the interview because I had a really terrible interview with the owner.
24:00He was basically like trying to test me to see if I knew how to do Excel. And yeah, he like literally pulled out a computer and asked me to type in a formula and to prove that I can do Excel. It was for a project management job in tech. Yeah. But he was like textbook douchebag in tech. That was my moment. I was like, I am not doing this anymore. I can't work for anyone else. And let me just start my own thing. And so fast forward to Chill House. I had a couple of little things before that I tested or not even tested. I did, you know, my own lifestyle blog, which you were part of and kind of did like brand partnerships through that.
24:36So that was kind of my world was like influencing media before that. Simultaneously, my husband was starting to get into the hospitality space. So he had a couple of bars that I was involved in just helping him. And I think we both at one point were like, we want, like, I should do something. And I wanted to some, for it's something to be tangible, physical. Like I didn't see myself as growing a media empire. It wasn't like, it didn't feel authentic to me. I wanted to kind of go back to my roots and like create something that gathered people and did something a little bit more tangible. And I think it was just like an aha moment.
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25:10And it all kind of came together. And the story is that we realized it's kind of stemmed from massages. But then there was a conversation about like, well, it can't just be a massage place. Like what else? I'm like, well, I love massages, but I only get them monthly. So that's not enough to get me coming back to a space all the time. I love manicures. I get them weekly. Like there's a sense of community there. Let's do that. And then I can't relax without having a drink in my hand. So cafe. So it was this trifecta of things that brought the chill house kind of world together. And then obviously it's evolved since then.
25:43And a lot has happened in the past nine years. But yeah, we're about to enter nine years of being in business, which feels like a lifetime ago. Yeah. I mean, it's just like, because also during that time you got married. I mean, you guys are married, yes? Married. You got married and have two children. So, I mean, you just turned into... Moved to Miami. Yeah. A lot has happened. So much has happened. He's opened up many bars since then, closed a couple. It's just, yeah, we've just been in it so deeply in it and it's been a journey.
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30:14So outside of the physical space, tell us how you came to do your iconic, adorable, very fucking smart press-ons. So yeah, that was actually a result of COVID. Yeah. Actually. So we had had the idea before. It was right around the time that you were starting to see a little bit of disruption. Like, you know, people were obviously entrepreneurs were like walking the aisles of drugstores being like, what hasn't been innovated? And press-ons were definitely like ripe around that time, but it was, you know, product market fit, like perfect timing to launch that. And we basically like, it was kind of a, what do you call it?
30:53Like a blackjack moment or not a blackjack moment, like a roulette moment where you just put one chip on. Because COVID was like, you have a physical fucking space. My husband was in physical businesses. He had bars. We had to close everything. We were literally like, you know, it was before loans, you were really guaranteed anything before, you know, the economy was inflated with all this like free money. And we were really like just at the point where we're like, do we just have to completely stop and like close everything and start over? Or are we going to double down and do something and like just kind of pivot and try to stay in business.
31:28And so luckily we did. And we basically just. Did you have any other products before that? We did like candles, like more nothing that we can actually like sell to wholesale. Wow. You know, our margins were super tight with anything we did, like merch, like things like that. Nothing crazy. We had that. We had like a little curated online shop because Chill House was always very like a margin tight business being like in one to one services, you know, which is really, really tight. And our proposition was always like affordable, attainable luxury, like affordable massages, affordable everything.
32:01And so we were always pretty creative and scrappy as to how we monetize the business. So revenue was very, it was always omni. Like we pulled from partnerships. We did our online shop. Yeah. How were you the online shop? Yeah. I mean, our partnerships always drove like nice little business. I ended up turning Taste of Style into a lifestyle site at one point too. So I was able to, you know, sell into like a media kind of world too. And me, and I'd always let myself in there. Like, you know. So funny how many like big brands I know that like, that are just like, fuck, we're not going to hit payroll.
32:35And they're like, we need a partnership dinner really quick. Like, it's just nobody understands. I get so, it makes me so sad and frustrated when I see people make like really judgmental comments on anything because I'm like, nobody actually knows how really dynamic and really smart most people are to pull any of this fucking shit off. Dude, it's so fucking, it's so hard. I mean, I think back on all the times that we almost missed payroll and it's like, yeah, I either had to put money into the business or yeah, I had to get scrappy and think about ways to pull partnerships out of my ass and like leverage my own kind of digital likeness and like all of that.
33:18And I do think that it's important if if you plan on being a little scrappy, if you don't plan on, you know, raising all this money, if you yourself have a platform, I think it's very valuable. And like investors, I feel like, you know, when we talk to investors, I feel like they didn't appreciate that. They didn't see that. Like I'm basically handing free money to the company because these are things I could have done for myself. I know, I never thought about that either. This money I could have brought in for me and my home and my family. Yeah, that could go to my family. Yeah, I know. And I don't do that shit anymore.
33:49I'm too smart for that now, but I did it for my business. But you know, this is money that, it wasn't like I own the business outright 100 % since they won. Yeah, how did you, did you guys raise money for Chill House? We did. We raised like a small friends and family and then eventually a small like pre-seed and then eventually we, you know, lines of credit. We did whatever we had to do. we brought on a strategic partner recently. We're going to discuss that at some point next year. So yeah, thank you. Yeah, no, it's been, it's been great, but it's, it's been, it hasn't been a linear path because it's always been this game of like, it's always, it's felt like a rat race.
34:26Like I always say chill house is like the least chill business in the world for, for me. Like I'm happy everyone in there having a great time. I am so happy. You're all enjoying reaping the benefits of this chill universe I've created because it's been anything but for me. But that's okay. Because I get to, you know, I get to build something really special. And I always had to remind myself that, like the why for me. And the why was like, I just, I wanted to kind of, I guess, fill that little girl need in me, right? Like what I've always wanted for a universe that I always wanted for myself back in the day I created.
34:58And I'm really, really proud of that. And at times, like, you know, we've thought like, okay, we have this like really big product business now, you know it's it's growing like 80 percent year over year amazing and we're almost full chain of target we just got on walmart and we launched polish we're like really growing the nail care empire yeah i'm trying to be a legacy brand but then we have the store and the store is amazing and it like but it bleeds money sometimes of course because it's a very cash intensive business and so I was like I can't I can never let it go it's so important to to me and and just the what I think is the soul of chill house and I actually use this I have it in like a brand deck I'm like if our products are our babies chill how the flagship is the womb yeah so like it really does feel like that like nurturing not only the community but nurturing the create the ideas that are built from it.
35:57I do think it's really important for human beings to be, to have physical spaces together in general. And then I think from a brand perspective, like if this is all coming from a physical place that has a great vibe, you feel it so much throughout every aspect of the brand. And think about how aspirational it is for girls all over the U.S. who can go into Target and buy a chill house. And they're like, one day I'm going to go to New York and I get to go to this space and I get to like get my coffee and like hang out with all these cool girls that I see. And it's like beautiful environment, getting a pedicure.
36:34Like it's so aspirational to create that kind of lifestyle. You know, that's the goal. I always think about that. I always think about the people that are picking up the boxes in the middle of the country and like when they go to New York that they have to stop and visit. And so So and kind of getting them involved in our universe beyond just the product. Right. So what is that kind of community loyalty flywheel? And so, yeah, we're working through all of that now as we grow or like retail footprint, because it is a little scary. You know, people like don't know you from a hole in the wall. They just pick up your product and they just kind of go about their way.
37:07That's scary. Like, it's fine. Like you can totally engage with our product like that. We have people that are so obsessed with our product, probably don't even know we have a store. Yeah. but once they actually dig in a little deeper and they find out and they go like they'll be even more brand loyal on both sides right because it's like you want people to be obsessed with the product and then yeah when they can peel back and be like oh my god this is like a part of this whole universe and then these are like your loyal customers forever I mean when I was like 12 is when hard candy nail polish came out yeah oh my god uh Urban Outfitters uh-huh it's so funny because the woman who started it's from Pasadena and she's fucking awesome.
37:46And one of the most beautiful women and she has three daughters. And remember they had like the little rubber ring on top of the nail. Such a special brand. You know, and I'm like so happy that so many, I know everyone's like consumerism and blah, blah, blah. I'm like, I don't give a shit. Like products have always been like benchmarks for like little moments in my life that like made me feel wonderful. I loved having a pastel pink fucking manicure when I was 12 and being able to like my mom being like that table is just$12 that's crazy me having to like you know babysit or do something extra to like get the thing to like feel really girly oh my god I mean I know we have little like young girls buying our press-ons so much so that I'm like I feel like they're gonna get even younger so we're actually working on a teen line that's gonna come out or like a pre-teen like it's like an eight, eight to 12 year.
38:39When I was a preteen, it was my dream to have long nails. Yeah. I was buying adult press-ons at that age and like super gluing them. Yeah. Yeah. Like bad, like should not. No, no, no, no. We have, we have good glue. We have clean glue and you know, we'll have stickers in them as well. So you can have the option. I do think our glue is like better in the sense that I don't love like a, like a sticker tab personally, cause then my hair kind of gets caught sometimes and it's kind of annoying, but no, we're excited about that. It's going to launch into Target first and then we'll expand it eventually and see how it goes.
39:10But we were seeing so much of that already, which brings me so much joy. But yeah, to your point, it's like, I remember that too. And that was another reason I really wanted to launch Polish because I remember we, when I was little, my mom would tell me that I would ask everyone, all of her clients, what color, what the name of the color that they were wearing. And then I don't know if this is every girl, but I was very obsessed with the idea of naming my own polishes someday. Like I just thought it was the coolest job. No, I never thought about that. But I always loved the names. The names. Like Candy Apple Red or like...
39:41Linkin Park After Dark. Like they became iconic. Linkin Park After Dark was my favorite nail color for so long. I think it's like everyone's favorite. It's a stunning color. It's a great name. That's when you were going to be like a bad girl and take a chance. You did Linkin Park After Dark. Like September comes around. Let's go. I don't know what it was. Are you guys planning on opening more spaces? Not right now. We'll see. I always say never say never, but... It's just slam dunk in Miami, Miami, LA. Yes. If we ever were to do something, it would be in those two cities. But right now we're just really focused on seeing through a product assortment.
40:15And then from there, seeing appetite on the store level and like what that store looks like long term. Ooh, I'd say south of 50, but we have a few contractors like we've kind of teetered around this size because we have we have the store. So technically they're their employees as well. So the corporate team is pretty small still. Yeah. People probably think it's a lot bigger, but it's not. We're pretty small and scrappy. Best thing to do in the world is have a small team. Yeah. And then we have a lot of, again, freelancers and contractors, which I don't want to have that be like, it's not a long-term solution.
40:46I definitely want to start bringing on more full-timers. I think it's time. I think it's nice to have people who also, I think freelance is so healthy for the business because you get a nice objective view of your business. I think sometimes when people are like so in it, you know, I think it's good to have like like you're a couple people in your office that are just like, they are your customer. They know everything. Like that's your person. Every like good brand has that person, right? Where it's like, oh yeah, the founder, like that's their person. I really am so excited to find my person for Barron Cheney.
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45:12it's such an interesting experience like building out teams and dealing with personalities and all of that yeah where are you guys expanding in products right now so we just launched forever wear this past year which is our kind of long wear polish gel replacement polish we kind of call it how is that different than gel well it's not gel at all it's polish and so you can remove it normally it's just what makes it stay longer it's so cool it's just the the formulation and then we have a really cool top coat that actually makes it plump and shine like it's gel so that's also kind of like a unique feature of it yeah so that's doing really well and then you know we kind of want to continue obviously expanding on that but then we're also launching something called super tint which is coming out in january which is our sort of buildable they're functional nail shades buildable like shears i don't want to say too much because i don't know when this is coming out but But, you know, really want to meet people where they're at in their nail journey, I'd say.
46:06So press-ons, you know, for someone that wants a little bit more of a fashion nail, longer nail, polish. I mean, I think it's a staple, needs to be a staple in any nail care line personally, because I love to kind of go back and forth. And obviously I don't do tips on my toes too. So you want to meet people for their toe journey, their hand journey. And then I think nail health is really important too and you can't neglect it. So I really need to depart with my gel relationship. I've had gels on my nails for years. That was our tagline, break up with the toxic. And it was really kind of like poking a little.
46:44I know. Because I was so like anti-gel before. I was like, this is toxic and your nails can need to breathe. And it's like, I need to take care of my nail health, but it's like, this is an emotional thing for me. No, I get it. And I don't judge. I just present opportunity. And I would love to have like cute tips that I can. I love converting people. So I gave you one that I think you'd like to do that for like, and I always do plain because I'm like, I keep it on for a month. But those are your natural nails, right? Under here. Yeah. Oh, under there. So those are not, is that builder gel? Something from, yeah, it's gel, But it's builder gel.
47:22So you have a shorter nail underneath that? No, she did builder gel, but then my nails have grown out. So this is like my full nail. That's kind of your nail now. Yeah, that's the thing with builder gel. I'm very interested in builder gel because people seem to really like how it makes their natural nails seem stronger. But I'm like, but they're still not your natural nails. If I had my natural nails last one second. Thin as shit. Without whatever they're doing to you. 100%. Yeah. 100%. I mean, I go to a really good girl, but it's... There's something about that, though. For me, it freaks me out because I feel like I still want to rip something.
47:55Like, I still want the option to go short if I want to. And when something is like so in like... This is a part of my body. That's what I'm saying. It like... What's the equivalent of that? I can't even peel this off. Like, it's such a thick... Like hair extensions that are like literally woven into like every little fiber of your hair. Like that's... To me, that's the equivalent of builder gel, which freaks me out because I'm like, one day I just want to like rip everything off, you know? I know. And I can't. And so I don't know. I just like the option. I know I would love the option of having different put on a cute like little like the pearls you just gave me.
48:27I'd like love to wear that for like a few days or go out to an event and then like put on like a nice clear shade for the rest of the week. Like just keep it. I also do really love the process because it brings me back so much like the nostalgia of my mom because my mom always does her own nails. She still does. I love like she does what she does her own nails. She does her own nails. Like I love sitting at home and just being like, I'm going to do my nails. Same. I'm gonna paint my nails no it's self-care for me it's so meditative it's like the equivalent of my husband like cleaning his car shining his shoes like it's such like a nice moment that a woman can do I fully agree for me I mean skincare and like doing my makeup like that's like maintenance stuff which is annoying like I don't find it relaxing per se doing my nails I find relaxing because like it is I'm not on my phone during that time it's a digital detox it's kind of like a mental check-in too I agree I know because to me it's not like, you know, I'm not focusing too hard.
49:20I kind of know what I'm doing by now. So it's just, it's like a little like, I don't know, it is a little bit of a mental break for me. I know. It's really nice. Yeah. Talk to me about being a mom and running a business. Oh my God. Like I can write a whole novel about this. What are your day? I mean, you own the business, which always has good and bad aspects, right? Because you are solely responsible for the company, but you can be like a little bit flexible, right? So like, what are you, what like, what is your, what does it look like right now? So, okay. So we moved, basically we were living in New York, obviously my whole life had Hendrix and realized that we basically had to choose when I got pregnant with my second, if we were going to commit to New York for the rest of our lives, or if this was a new chapter for us and you know, let's explore something else.
50:09So we actually moved to Miami when I was pregnant with Stevie, which was like two and a half years ago now. That feel like a breakup or you were like, you have chill house, so it doesn't feel like you're leaving it forever. Right. That's also that's a good thing and a bad thing. Right. Because I feel like I have to go back a lot. And it's like I don't feel fully settled in to my home life because I am kind of like a little always, always pulled back. But I also I do enjoy it. I love it because it's kind of like I look back like 16 year old Cindy. We've been like, this is the dream. So cool. So yeah, my home life when I'm in Miami, it's very, it's very simple.
50:45Probably looks pretty similar to yours. You know, I work from home. I have a little office that I set up in one of my homes. We bought a house last year. So we like renovated everything this past year and kind of settled in. So I have a little home office. I have a team, a couple of team members that come like a couple of times a week. So it doesn't feel, it feels like I, there's more of actually more of an office setting in Miami at this point than in New York. Cause we actually let go over New York office and just kind of like everyone's working virtually or the store. But I just have a really amazing home, like family set up.
51:18So my husband's dad lived in Orlando growing up and we'd always come down and we're just like, you know, at some point when we decided to move down, that made the most sense for us, Miami, because, you know, we already had like a built in sort of family structure with him. And so we we know that we can at least have him come down if we needed him to. But of course, the second we told my mom we were moving full time. She's like, I'm coming. She's like, I got nothing to do here. So she came. And then my cousin who is from Columbia and her family were looking to leave. You know, they had like run into some financial troubles and they were just looking to make some changes.
51:54And of course I was like, come like work for me. And so she, yeah. So my cousins are nanny and it's family, which is, you know, I wouldn't have it any other way. I mean, I've done the nanny thing, of course, with, you know, other people. And I still, you know, work with other nannies if I have to, of course, but it's just a different dynamic when it's your family. Of course. It's so, I'm just like, wow, like, you know, older cousins are always around the kids and they take care of them too. Like they're siblings, you know? It's the dream. I have friends doing this with their siblings. Like I have friends who have like, you know, siblings in their 20s who are like trying to figure it out of like part-time jobs.
52:32and they're like, help me take care of my kids and like help me with my business. And it's just like, you know, this is like the village that everybody talks about, you know? Yeah. Yeah, I know. We're like, when am I going to get the, my cousins to start interning for Chilhas? I feel like it's time. She loves her press on. She gives me feedback. She was helping me with the teenage line, you know, she's like, yeah, like, I don't know the shape. So no, it's, it's really beautiful to have that dynamic. I don't feel like I could have had it here or not here. We're in LA, but in New York. Like it's, it's little, like we're really on top of each other there.
53:04Like my mom is five minutes away. My cousin lives five minutes away. His dad lives 30 minutes away. He ended up moving down to Hollywood, Florida. His mom lives like in sunny Isles. Like his mom moved from Jersey. So we're all there. We're all there. We get to spend, you know, weekends together if we want to. My mom watches them overnight when we're out of town. It makes work easier, of course, But there's also guilt too, because, you know, we're gone for like six days and that obviously isn't ideal. We try to bring the kids sometimes with us to long extended trips. Sometimes it's more disruptive to bring that, not for us, but for them, you know, like if they're sometimes like, I'll get like, take them out of school if I don't have to.
53:47No, and I'll get comments being like, oh, you're on a trip and like your kids aren't with you. And I'm like, really? Why do people care? I don't know why people care about what anybody's fucking doing. I don't give a fucking shit with anybody. Oh my God, I would have blocked that. But I'm just kind of like, don't you think my kids are so cozy at home with their grandmother and like love going to school and the dogs and doing their thing instead of like being in a hotel room with me with like a babysitter. Yeah, that they don't know. Quarterly in New York. Like, you know what I mean? It's like, I don't, if it's a...
54:19It's a more selfish sometimes because you're like, oh, I'll feel guilty. 100%. So I'm going to bring them. But I enjoy bringing them sometimes. New York, they'll do like the longer trip. So if we're there for like 10 days, they'll come. You know what I mean? If we're there for two days, of course not. Like, why would I bring them? I know. I'm always like, it's so crazy to me when I think a lot of people who don't have jobs like ours don't consider how different our lifestyles are. Yeah. And not bringing your kids on a plane to the airport for a trip that's so short, especially. No, I don't care.
54:51Financially, it doesn't make sense either. No. You know, why am I going to be a little unless they're like, I want to go unless it's like a fun family trip and we're doing like kids stuff. Yeah. I drag them around. No, no. But yeah, so it's it's pretty it like can't complain. Like it's a really beautiful setup that we have. And then I get to come to New York. I come in for like one night overnight, pop in, come back. And it's pretty, pretty effortless. I mean, it's a lot on me sometimes, but just the physical like traveling demanding of that. But otherwise, I mean, I can't complain. I really, I do love the back and forth and like having that Miami lifestyle.
55:28It's very like coming home to like warm weather after being in. Oh my God. I mean, that really is so nice. I put in my time in New York. I put in 38 years of fucking brutal winters. Like I, I'm good. So coming home to a house. The house thing is really lovely. This thing is really, it's really, and you know, I, you know, my mom lives with us. So I think sometimes people will be like, oh, it must be easy for you because you're a mom. But I think like you built a village around like this is this is part of the planning, right? Like this works because we took into equation that we were getting family help.
56:06And like, you know, I think there is pluses and minuses to having your family around all the time. Yeah. Right. But I think if you plan your life in that way, a lot of people don't want to. And, you know, unfortunately, so many people don't have the relationships that we have with our family. But I do think like if you want to be an entrepreneur and a mom, like there's just just for your own mental health, like you have to figure out how to have some sort of village. I absolutely agree. And I always encourage people to think about that when they're starting to build their family life, because it gets really, really hard and mentally draining.
56:41And I do think that we should also consider our relationships with our spouses and like how that's very important too and keeping that healthy and happy. And like, it's really important for my husband and I to go on dates together too. Granted, a lot of times we end up talking about fucking work the whole time, but like it's, and like taking little trips together too, like romantic little getaways, quick ones. Like luckily I'm, you know, I sometimes get invited to little like press trips or media, you know, I'm like, yes. Like we are going, we are in just Adam and I. And it, obviously it's all, not everyone has the family unit.
57:17Not everyone has like a healthy relationship with their spouse, of course, but we have so much stress and anxiety from our just regular work lives that the rest of it has to be a little tamer for us to survive. Yeah. If it was all up in flames, like I would have stopped working on Chill House years ago and just got like a stable job. Like totally. I know I think about this all the time. People will ask in questions for the podcast that I'm like if you are going to live far away from like any family on both sides for a job, but it's but you're not able to balance having your kids and doing that job.
57:54I would personally have a job that maybe was like less intensive or something else that I could do from home and live in a different place that created a better lifestyle for my family. Otherwise, like the stress, it'll kill your marriage. Absolutely. And, you know, it's tested us multiple times, but I always go back to like, thank God we have the family we have and thank God we have the kids that we love and we cherish. And like all of that, I think helps us realize how good we have it. And like, what's the point of fucking anything up and just take a step back, you know, and breathe through it and like, just talk it, talk it out.
58:31But yeah. And it's also really funny. Like, I just never thought I'd be in this situation where I have two kids and a house and a dog and a yard and a pool. And I think back to my husband and I, when we were like little idiot 20 somethings with, you know, broke, no idea what we were going to do with our lives. We literally, our first apartment together, it was mine, but he moved in, was, you know, like a tiny little studio on 23rd Street between 6th and 7th that we were busting out of the seams. Like it was probably a 300 square foot studio. Oh my God. And like had no storage. Yeah, of course.
59:07Our rack at one point fell because there were so many coats and you know collapsed and then like we couldn't find our dog for like an hour he was like trapped underneath this like collapsed that was how we started and you know it all feels like it happened so quickly but it also was a long journey to get there the same way with my husband yeah yeah what are some things we'll end on this what are some things that you do in your life to stage help oh my god oh that's a good question And there's no one after that. No, they ask me all the time and I never know how to answer it because the thing would, I guess, like, you know, I don't always have such a set disciplined.
59:49Yeah, I don't need to chill life. You know, I think there's this idea that maybe I'm the type of person that gets up early, works out, has like a really, you know, I don't know, it does like red light therapy for like a half hour before the kids wake up. I'm not that person. I kind of ebb and flow with my like self-care journey. And sometimes I'm a little bit more in the weeds with work and I don't take as much good care of myself. And sometimes I'm very disciplined and da-da-da. So I don't know, on like a good week, I try to get exercise. I try to go to Pilates. I try to do all the things and I try to, you know, maybe do something for myself that's like a treatment.
1:00:26But on most days, I'm just trying to survive and get through the day. if I really were to, yeah, it's like I just kind of go through sprints a little bit. And then I take like a couple of days off where I'm like, I can't do anything. So that's kind of like my, I don't know if it's a vicious cycle or not, but it's what works for me. I think it's normal. It's just life being a mother and a business owner. Yeah, exactly. You're doing your best. I think so. Yeah. I mean, it seems like you have a really beautiful, happy life. I think date nights are probably very helpful for you remaining chill. that's a good point that's a really good point we we definitely squeeze in those date nights and not like we love our kids so much but there are a lot to put down i don't know what it is about adam and i like they just they go crazy specifically my older one yeah they're like really good with their grandma and they can't get away with anything with her but no but you would think it's the opposite they could get away with anything so you think they'd be like crazy but no they go to sleep at eight o 'clock no problem they're very chill they don't fight her.
1:01:27They just go right to sleep with us. They're just like, they're just happy to be around us. They want to hang out. They love us and they just want to like party. I don't know. Something, there is some sort of chemical reaction. This is why we don't co-sleep with our kids because they won't sleep by the way. Oh, interesting. Maybe that's why. Maybe that's our problem. If I try to like co-sleep with, oh, do you guys co-sleep? We do, but not like, we don't not. Okay. So we try to put them down in their bed, but then they end up in yours. And we don't turn them around. But if I put my son like in my, if I start, try to start the night out, maybe that's it he's like like i literally when we travel and he's in bed with us by the way when we travel he's up so late that he passes out in bed with us so it's like he doesn't have it on you know we're all like we're done it's like we've been giving up lately and we're just letting them get so tired that they just pass out on the couch like you just have to what are you gonna do i mean my kids are really well slept like we sleep trained and so they love being in their rooms That's great.
1:02:22Love. Like I watched my son like self suit. He laughs at when he holds his daughter. He's got a stuffed soccer ball. Like he's like, they're so happy to be in their spaces by the end of the day. Cause it's like me and my husband and the dogs and my, you know, they're like very, but if I have him in the bed, if he like kind of wakes up in the night, he'll be like, like, he's like in my face. He's like, we're partying. Like, what do we do? Like he wants to climb. He wants to hang out. They get excited. They do. They do. Yeah. So sometimes they will like end up on in the bed. we like end up giving up sometimes if they're just not interested in my bed at night when they're old enough to thank god yeah what a dream no stevie's out of her crib already she's she's like oh like two in two months oh my god so it happened quickly seven months carlo could be out of his crib i mean if you're crazy like me yeah hendrix was out of his crib like by two as well we in hindsight we were like what were we thinking but i think that's probably the reason that we just like, they're just kind of like crazy with us in the evening.
1:03:21So yes, date nights, because I can't put them down every night. They're too much. They're too much. They're amazing. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast. It was so nice to talk to you. Thank you.
1:03:36And that ladies and gentlemen concludes this week's episode of Everything is the Best. I hope you enjoyed it. Please rate, review, subscribe, all that stuff. Maybe leave a comment. Go ahead and follow me on Instagram at Pia Barancini, and I hope you have a fabulous, fabulous rest of your day. Love you. Ciao.
1:04:02Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.
From the publisher
Beauty-boss, wellness innovator, and founder of Chillhouse, Cyndi Ramirez-Fulton joins me to unpack her journey from Queens spa-kid to multi-platform lifestyle brand. We dive into: launching a café-meets-spa concept in Manhattan, pivoting to nail-care product lines during the pandemic, balancing motherhood with CEO status, and redefining what modern self-care really means. Expect real talk about hustle, identity, Latina roots, the culture of community, and the art of staying “chill” in the chaos of entrepreneurship.
If you’re curious about building a brand with values, designing a life you love, and finding your version of rest in a never-quiet world—this episode is for you.
Produced by Dear Media
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