New Year, New Shifts

They say the best way to make a change is by taking small steps. And we’ve been doing so since we made the announcement to close our Showroom come March 2025. The team and I have been making small adjustments and taking steps towards a new way of doing business. 

My husband shared the analogy of steering a canoe: everyone paddling must stay in sync to move forward and make each turn effectively. If one person’s timing is off or communication falters, progress slows. Similarly, our team of eight needs to be aligned and prepared to navigate this major shift.

As an entrepreneur, I’m used to making quick decisions. But with a team, it’s essential to take the time to communicate, plan, and adapt together. And for a team of 8, we need the time to adjust, grow and learn. I’m sharing this with you so you’ll know why we’re making these small yet significant changes as we enter the new year. 

This change gives our team more dedicated time to focus on the behind-the-scenes work that will support our business in its next phase—designing, patternmaking, production, photoshoots, marketing, and everything else that makes our brand what it is. These are the building blocks for sustaining and growing Allison Izu as we transition.

Additionally, we’ll phase out In-store pick up at our Manoa Showroom by January 31, 2025. As part of our move to online-only operations, we’re planning to increase our manufacturing in California and keep the majority of the inventory in the mainland U.S. That means we’ll be making the transition to have orders shipped from a third-party logistics partner, who will handle storage, packing, and shipping. This shift is essential for scaling our business and providing a streamlined shopping experience in the future. 

So we’re taking the beginning of next year to learn, practice, improve, and refine the systems that will give you the best service possible. We understand that these changes may feel like an adjustment, but we hope you’ll see that our focus is on – long-term growth, sustainability, and continuing to deliver the thoughtful designs and service you’ve come to expect.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.