Online boutique blonde birdie is a grown-up girl’s dream. Their digital shelves feature unique items from dainty necklaces to frilly aprons without forgetting some lovely items for the little ones. We spoke to blonde birdie’s owner Jennifer about her inspiration and plans for the future.
When and why did you start your business?
I’ve worked in different capacities in the retail world since I was in college and my most recent job in a small independent boutique gave me the opportunity to really learn the ins and outs of the industry. I was able to start learning about the buying process, budgeting, and everything else that goes along with owning your own business.
Along the way, I had ideas about how I would run a business if the right time came along, and then BAM it hit me: a website! In the summer of 2008 I decided that the time was right for me to start getting to work on my own online boutique! It was a very exciting but scary time, after all I was starting a business during a recession when there was nothing but bad news on every channel.
But if you give in to your fears you’ll never go for it. The dream of working for myself was just too tempting, so blonde birdie was born. The site launched the following year in the summer of 2009 and we haven’t looked back.
What do you love most about your business?
My business is an internet-based business, which gives me the freedom that was always lacking in my previous jobs. I’m a night owl so it’s not unusual to find me packing orders or listing new items at midnight. Having an online-only business is a unique situation that allows me to spend my money on great products and cool advertising and not on the rent associated with a brick-and-mortar establishment.
Because I don’t have the personal interaction with my customers that comes along with a traditional retail store, I strive to make them feel like they know me. I send handwritten thank you notes with every order and sometimes, seasonal goodies as a little extra surprise. I receive very few phone calls from customers but those that I do receive are often thank you calls, which make my heart happy.
What’s next for your business?
Our business has begun to grow over the last few months, slow & steady. We’ve gotten great feedback from our customers on Facebook, Twitter and through email regarding what they would like to see on the site. I have massive lists of all the of amazing products that I would like to add to the site, but as I said, slow and steady seems to be the fastest way to success for us. I am in the age range where I am constantly getting wedding and birth announcements from my peers so those type of categories are never far from my mind. After all, not much is cuter than tiny baby clothes or booties.
Starting the business, even through the not-so-fun times has truly been the realization of one of my dreams. I don’t aspire to be a huge corporation the likes of eBay or Amazon, but a mention on Oprah’s show wouldn’t hurt!
