The Expert Edit features interviews with specialists about the products they swear by in their chosen field. For the latest installment, we spoke with Cat Perez and Marianna Di Regolo, founders of LGBTQ+ online marketplace Famm, about their business goals and product recommendations.
Married couple Cat Perez (she/they) and Marianna Di Regolo (she/her) created LGBTQ+ online marketplace Famm after struggling to find affirming brands. “The only time we’d see LGBTQ+ businesses and stories highlighted was during Pride month, and it just felt like we deserved more than that once-a-year spotlight,” Perez tells PS. “We wanted something that could make it easier to find and support these brands all year, and we knew we weren’t the only ones feeling this way. As we’ve gotten older, it’s become more important to us to spend our money with intention, especially in today’s political climate where it feels like we constantly have to fight to be seen.”
Now, Perez and Di Regolo are working on expanding their e-commerce site – which includes a curation of apparel, home goods, beauty, service providers, and more – to a full-fledged community with the addition of an app: Famm Connect. The goal is to create a space where LGBTQ+ professionals can network, find mentors, or even potentially collaborate on their business ventures. Perez and Di Regolo will provide scholarships for founders who may not be able to afford joining the platform on their own. They are particularly proud to watch their partners flourish and succeed with confidence, deeming it their biggest accomplishment thus far.
“The only time we’d see LGBTQ+ businesses and stories highlighted was during Pride month, and it just felt like we deserved more than that once-a-year spotlight.”
The couple, who hail from Northern California, note just how much the initial creation of Famm revolved around safety. “We had just welcomed our baby, recently moved, and were feeling the weight of the anti-LGBTQ+ rights politics and policies passing into law,” Di Regolo says. “Both of us had dealt with challenges at work, like not being able to fully be ourselves or openly identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community . . . Famm wasn’t just about creating a platform for LGBTQ-owned businesses; it was about building a safe space for us and our community to thrive, while also shining a spotlight on inclusive businesses that reflect the values we care about.”
Of course, the entrepreneurial life can be busy and hectic, so Perez and Di Regolo prioritize self-care through many of the products that they’ve outlined below. From spending time with their three-year-old to listening to audiobooks to gardening and birdwatching, they make room for downtime whenever they can. Their biggest piece of advice when it comes to working alongside a loved one is to make room for disagreements, compromise, and celebrate wins. They consistently focus on their shared “why,” exchange advice with like-minded leaders, and remember that success doesn’t happen overnight – persistence is key.
Ahead, learn about Perez and Di Regolo’s must haves that they depend on regularly for their personal self-care routines, entertaining guests, and more.
