Malls, Claire’s, tattoo parlors, a friend’s house, and jewelry stores may seemingly not have anything in common but these are the common venues people frequent in order to get their ears pierced, each offering a varied experience. Millennials and Gen Z favor experiences over possessions and getting your ears pierced at any of these places is not consistent with the new experiential economy. Studs has built the first-of-its-kind modern ear piercing studio that caters to the piercing needs of today’s most discerning millennials and Gen Zs. With a devout focus on customer experience, patrons at the studio receive personal consultations aided through technology and aftercare check-ins to ensure the entire experience is personalized. The company, founded in 2019, also offers accessibly-priced trend-driven earrings, both at its studio and direct-to-consumer online. AlleyWatch caught up with Studs Cofounder and CEO Anna Harman to learn more about the inspiration for the business, strategic plans, building in-person retail and e-commerce lines in tandem, latest round of funding from Spark Capital, Thrive Capital, First Round Capital, and Lerer Hippeau.