We celebrate weddings and babies with a registry, but in the moments we need to restock our lives, like divorce, job loss, or any brave decision and major life change, we don’t have the support we need. We need support in the form of items for our home and the experts who become our hype team. Keeping this in mind, Olivia Howell launched Fresh Starts Registry, an online registry platform that supports those going through divorce, job changes, coming out, living through grief, and more. In an interview with Mahevash Muses, the co-founder discusses her inspiration for the registry, how it revolutionizes the art of starting over, and more.
1. First off, I love the name of your brand! Tell us about the ‘aha’ moment that inspired you to create Fresh Starts Registry.
After my divorce in 2019, I had an aha moment. I Googled to see if anyone offered a divorce registry. However, the only information that popped up on Google was articles wondering why the divorce registry was not a concept. I knew there had to be a better way to support people experiencing major life changes, as they can be overwhelming. Ultimately, I wanted to figure out how to eliminate the overwhelm by restocking your life and finding safe, vetted experts to support you.
I took the idea to Jenny Dreizen, my younger sister. We put it on our list of things to consider when the timing was right. Then, in June 2021, Jenny ended her engagement and left her apartment with nothing but her clothing and our grandmother’s heirlooms. She moved to an apartment in Long Island and needed everything new to build back her life. This was when we realized the power of our idea. By August 2021, we had a website built, and Fresh Starts Registry, the first-of-its-kind platform built to support those going through brave and bold changes, officially launched in September 2021.
2. Aside from divorcees, who can benefit from using your registry?
Anyone can use Fresh Starts, and building a registry is free! We have people who use it to make a registry after a job loss or change, breakup, a mental health crisis, coming out, transitioning, or simply starting a new chapter in life. We offer carefully curated product bundles to give you all the essentials you need for a fresh start. Just add what you need to your registry and you’re good to go! With our product bundle recommendations, filling up your registry will be quick and easy.
3. Can you share a story where you helped make a significant difference in someone’s life?
Many women have to move out to a smaller residence post-divorce, so we wanted to make sure we had a way to support single moms in rebuilding their lives. For this purpose, we have a dedicated registry bundle for Children’s Rooms. One woman sent us a video of her son’s bedroom in their new apartment — filled with all the items from our registry!
4. You feature a network of experts to support people going through major life transitions. How do you ensure these experts are the right fit for your community?
We have a Fresh Starts Ethos that all our experts must sign that says they are inclusive, shame-free, and judgment-free. We also do a deep dive into their social media to make sure they are who they say they are!
5. What are your plans for Fresh Starts Registry?
We have two books coming out and have plans for building more resources for people, like a web series. We also have a new divorce podcast launching in January, and someday, even a TV show!
