Sadie & Sage: The Power of Property Ownership

Owning commercial property marks a significant milestone in the journey of any small business owner. For Steven and Sinae Kim, the husband-and-wife team behind women’s and children’s fashion brand Sadie & Sage, acquiring a commercial space meant stability, growth, and a future full of possibilities.

As the children of hardworking immigrants, they witnessed first-hand the hustle and dedication of their parents. Though they would build successful careers in finance and IT consulting, they yearned to leave a more meaningful legacy for their family and community. So at age 29, Steven and Sinae took the leap into the fashion industry. Their company gets its charming name from the couple's daughter, Sage, and their dog, Sadie. 

Guided by the wisdom of an entrepreneurial aunt and uncle in Los Angeles, Steven and Sinae plunged into the fashion world, gaining hands-on experience and practical knowledge spanning across various facets of the industry—from shipping to exporting. Their openness to new opportunities and their ability to recognize potential in people played a role in their success. Their hard work paid off: Sadie & Sage successfully built a network supporting over a thousand small businesses across the US by distributing their fashion lines through wholesale channels.

Sadie & Sage ribbon cutting celebration with LISC and Wells Fargo

But like many small business owners, their path wasn't without challenges, especially when it came to securing capital. Traditional banks were supportive initially, but during the pandemic, Steven and Sinae felt overlooked.  It was during this precarious period that LISC LA stepped in, extending a lifeline in the form of a grant from the LA Regional COVID-19 Recovery Fund.

The true game-changer came when they sought to purchase a commercial property to house their growing business. The decision to invest in real estate, a move that is especially significant for diverse-owned businesses, marked a critical step in overcoming historical barriers to wealth creation and equity in business. For Steven and Sinae, it was also a leap towards long-term stability and scalability of their brand. While several banks came forward with financing offers, they ultimately decided to partner with LISC once again. 

LISC LA’s Asset Building for Communities of Color (ABC) program and LISC’s Inclusive Economic Opportunity (IEO) fund provided Steven and Sinae with the $7.88 million in capital necessary to purchase their new space. The ABC program, supported by Wells Fargo, is dedicated to paving the way for small business owners operating in communities of color across LA County, fostering growth, job creation, and wealth creation. The IEO fund, supported by Kaiser Permanente, provides small businesses with access to capital and technical assistance and catalyzes investment in commercial districts.

“Sadie & Sage exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit and community impact that LISC strives to nurture and support. We are so grateful to our partners, Wells Fargo and Kaiser Permanente, who recognize that investing in diverse small businesses is more than just financial; it's an investment in the heart and future of local communities.” -  Nicole Williams, Executive Director of LISC LA.

Nestled in Northeast Los Angeles’ Elysian Valley, their headquarters is a bustling center of activity for their 25 employees. With indoor-outdoor facilities and ample warehouse space, it has transformed from a workplace into a hub of creativity and growth. The new space is fostering collaboration among their team and is helping set the stage for their next big goals: expansion, innovation, and a solid consolidation of their brand in the fashion industry.

Learn more about Sadie & Sage here.