I interviewed here a couple of years, and I am beyond NOT surprised the company has shut down.
The CEO was late to the interview. She was sitting 2 feet away from me on her computer, while I waited for her on the couch. When I arrived they had me on a mini couch. There was no rooms, just a square space (Normal for a start-up though).
The CEO Erin Yogasundrum stormed towards the couch area with a notebook in her hand, flipping it over like we were in a school group project. She was not poised, cognizant of body language, and overall just seemed like my little 14-year-old sister giving me a practice interview for my internship.
Erin looked and acted like a high-school girl. She did not shake my hand, or say thank you for coming after the interview. The interview was highly awkward, and you could tell she had very little professional or corporate skills.
She did not walk me to the door, or shake my hand. The moment I got up from the couch, she was already back at her desk. After our interview, she said thank you and walked straight back to her desk.
It was horrible, stupid and it was hard to take anyone or the CEO in that room seriously.
I sent an email right when I got on the elevator saying, I didn't feel the role or office personality was the right fit. the CEO responded saying, we feel the same.
This company failed because the CEO was to junior to run a business. She had no work experience prior to starting ShopJeen. She had no professional skills and also dressed and behaved way to casual for a CEO position. Regardless of the brand's image, or what her fan's know her as, it is important to be professional and be a little bit more corporate and "buttoned up" when you are the CEO of a business (Especially in the retail / Internet space).
If you do not have those skills you will fail at managing a company, people won't take you seriously and you will be immune to being overly relaxed in every situation (Operations will fail, investors won't want to get on board, and you won't get top talent in the Marketing, PR, IT, creative and slaes industry).
Currently, the ShopJeen former CEO Erin Yogasundrum is consulting (Per her LinkedIn Profile).
Personally, I think she needs to get a job at the junior level in an office. I think she has a lot to learn, starting with basic practice of professionalism and communication / intepersonal skills in a work setting. She is far off from being qualified to run a business. She's not even ready to be a mid-level professional yet or consult for anybody. People have to trust you, and that starts with how you carry yourself in a business related environment or interaction.
