RYAN CANTWELL

MARIA FALZO of Hip New Jersey

Cedar Grove
Co-Founder, Hip New Jersey, hipnewjersey.com
Husband Peter; mom to Peter, 5 and Daniel, 1

Tell us about your business. Hip New Jersey is a lifestyle series featuring the latest in fashion, food, trends, personalities and entertainment in the Garden State.

What inspired the idea? I owned a PR agency specializing in retail, beauty, fashion, philanthropy and events. It was getting tougher to secure media coverage because the landscape of media was changing. We started to create our own content and pushed it to people following us. My partner, Lisa Marie Latino, specializes in video production and put together a sizzle reel to shop to networks. Every outlet told us to get it online. We launched Super Bowl Sunday when the game was at MetLife Stadium.

How do you differentiate your business? Lisa Marie and I are the perfect combo because we blend video and strategic PR campaigns to create buzz and awareness. We take an in-house approach by figuring out exactly what our clients’ needs are and start there.

What’s the hardest part of juggling the kids and being your own boss? Time management. There’s never enough time to be with the kids or work on projects I feel passionate about. I try to be around for the kids as much as possible, so I’m dropping off, picking up and class mom.

What’s your best advice for parents looking to start their own businesses? Get on a schedule with the kids. Having a balance of work and time with them will help prioritize. Surround yourself with a positive support system, because even when you think you can’t go on, your biggest fans will remind you that you can.