Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariel Cunningham.
Mariel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I had worked in senior sales roles at marketing and advertising agencies for about ten years when I lived in Sydney, Australia. When my husband and I relocated to America, I decided to try something new. Living in San Francisco at the time, I was excited to see what this start-up world was all about. I took a role at a tech start-up who were operating as an experiences platform.
It wasn’t an easy road at first. Start-up life requires long hours and fewer resources but I worked hard and was quickly recognized for my efforts. I was soon promoted to Director of Premium Experiences, where I headed up the division that looked after high net-worth individuals and their VIP custom requests. It was truly the best job I ever had. I was the first one in the office and the last one out as I felt so passionate about what I did.
Every new day would bring a new request. Clients wanted a birthday video message from an A-list celebrity or a Stormtrooper helmet from a Star Wars movie or to meet The Rolling Stones backstage at a concert. It really felt like a pinch-me-I’m-dreaming moment. Before I moved to America, I had no idea this world existed and now I’m immersed in it. What made it even more magical is that we were donating so much money to charity in the process.
Then, as many start-up stories go, we were acquired and my dream job was short-lived. They decided to close the department down as it didn’t make business sense for the new company direction. So I did something bold. I set up my own luxury concierge company and Porter & Pearl was born. I had to move quickly as I had clients knocking on my door immediately for VIP access to events and experiences.
Now I have the coolest company, with the coolest clients and my dream job is my everyday reality. It’s like Selling Sunsets but instead of luxury houses, I’m selling luxury experiences, oh and without the drama!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The pandemic certainly affected things for a while as celebrities weren’t exactly quick to shake hands with strangers during the height of Covid. I had to pivot and found myself selling more digital experiences such as celebrity video messages and online meet and greets, as well as sourcing original entertainment memorabilia for collectors. Thankfully the world has opened up again and in-person events and experiences are back.
We’ve been impressed with Porter & Pearl, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
As a luxury concierge company, Porter & Pearl are in the business of making dreams come true. If you dare to wish it, then we relish the challenge to make it happen. We deal with premium custom requests and we can access the inaccessible with worldwide reach; helping you experience everything from meeting your favorite celebrity, to organizing a private performance by a musician, to sourcing original entertainment memorabilia, to walking the red carpet at a Hollywood film premiere, and everything in between. We do all of this with the white glove treatment and a sense of humor!
Our motto is “Your wish is our pursuit”. Truly, no request is too big. I’ve always valued experiences over “things” and knowing that I’ve just made a client’s dream come true with memories that will last them a lifetime is what gets me up in the morning. My entire business is built around relationships. My relationships with clients and my suppliers. Creating authentic and trustworthy connections is core to my success. Whilst I’m often dealing with extremely wealthy individuals, it’s important to remember that they’re regular people too. Some are married, some have kids, they have good days and bad days like the rest of us and I think they appreciate that I take a genuine interest in their lives.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I feel so blessed to live in San Diego. I grew up in the UK so everyday I’m grateful to wake up to warm weather and start my days on the beach. We live right by Del Mar Dog Beach so our Goldendoodle is living his best life! I lived in Sydney for ten years and San Diego is similar in many ways except there is way more career opportunities in America and it’s a much shorter flight to see family back home in the UK.
I like the laidback, friendly people here. Everyone always seems to be in a good mood. We’ve found some great restaurants and hikes so at a baseline we are very happy in San Diego but sometimes I miss the fast pace and variety of a big city and a bustling downtown. I love the theatre, art galleries, comedy clubs and so on but we’re only a two-hour drive to LA and a shortish flight to New York.
I’m still relatively new here so I’m sure I’ll feel more at home as our community and network grows.
Contact Info:
- Email: mariel@porterandpearl.com
- Website: www.porterandpearl.com
Image Credits
Jenny Lawson
