We recently interviewed Jennifer Kofler, owner of Vivian Blooms. Her brand brings handmade Millinery AMC accessories for various events, whether a race or a wedding. She has focused on keeping handmade items on her website that are perfect for all age groups.
If some of Vivian Blooms millinery looks good enough to eat, perhaps that is because Kofler didn’t start out as a milliner. Before she began designing and creating headpieces for Vivian Blooms, as a graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Kofler’s first creative job was in restaurants as a pastry chef in New York City for some years. Let’s learn more about Jennifer and her journey through this interview below.
Beginning Of The Journey
We started the interview by asking, “Which career path led you to where you are today?”
She shared, “Vivian Bloom’s handmade Millinery has been heralded in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and the United States. Vivian Blooms was the Corporate Sponsored Milliner for the 2018 Sasa Ladies Purse Day in Hong Kong.
The company has collaborated with Miss Victoria Regina to create the Mavens of Millinery, a Colorado-based collective of milliners beginning outdoor Pop-Up Hat Shops in Denver in 2020 and 2021, then for the Kentucky Derby Parties of 2023. Vivian Blooms is planning for the Dubai World Cup in Spring 2024, introducing the brand to new clients in the United Arab Emirates and making a statement with creations that delight and amuse.”
Inspiration Behind This Journey
Inspiration plays a crucial role in making any business successful. So we asked, “What inspired you to develop the idea of your company?”
She said, “We have lived as expats for almost 15 years. I am the trailing spouse caring for our two kids, a schooling assistant for my kids, and a home manager. Supporting and following my husband and his career from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to Guangzhou and Shanghai, China, and now in The Middle East.
While on our journeys, I was involved in many mom groups and international school holiday fairs. I have always wanted to create and produce a tangible product for people to enjoy. While in Asia, my daughter, Vivian and I went to Hong Kong to participate in a Handmade sale. I was trying to sell handmade beaded earrings, crystal tea lights, lounge pants, feather bookmarks, and sock animals at this time. I had socks transformed into elephants, hippos, zebras, dragons, and more.”
She added, “We were staying at the hotel before the sale, which was to take place the next day. We went down for an afternoon tea at the all-day dining restaurant. We witnessed a wedding party assembling in the hotel lobby at that time. It was a delight to see.
There were beautiful outfits, and all the ladies wore fabulous little hats and fascinators to celebrate the event. The bevy of beauty and joy enchanted me. There were crystals, feathers, tulle, and lace arranged in playful and elegant arrangements adorning all the ladies’ heads. That was the beginning of my exploration into the magical world of Millinery and its ability to transform the wearer.”
Evolving Priorities
Priorities of businesses change over time and adapt to the changing market conditions. We asked, “How have your priorities in terms of business evolved since you first started?”
She shared, “I have learned through trial and error over the years. There have been many, many errors. But, with each misstep, there is learning, which continues today.”
Challenges And Key Points To Overcome Them
Being a business today has a baggage of ups and downs. The biggest question here arises how companies handle the same. So we asked, “What are the most challenging situations your company overcomes?”
She replied, “Finding the right niche is the most challenging. Finding the right clients with the right needs is fundamental to any chance of success with a small business.”
“What’s the key strength to overcome it?”
Jennifer shared, “Overcoming the fear of rejection has been a big obstacle for me and helped me conquer the challenge. I have had to become self-aware enough to realize it is not about me. I am creating something that someone else will wear. They will hopefully take joy in acquiring something that will help to create fond memories of time shared with family and friends.”
Unique Features
We were intrigued to learn about the unique features of her company that make it unique from others. We asked, “What makes your company stand out from all the other businesses in your industry?”
She replied, “We were interested to learn about the unique features of his company that make it unique amidst the tough competition. We asked, “I am a solo entrepreneur. I have used the time between moving house 7 times, raising two kids, and caring for the other family responsibilities to carve out a little space to explore what I can offer the world. And I choose joy. A hat is magical the moment someone puts it on their head, and it changes how they act and feel.”
KPIs For Measuring Success
“What KPIs do you use to measure your business success?”
She shared, “At the moment, I am focusing on raising brand awareness. I measure operations to be moving towards success with the placement of news articles and interviews about Vivian Blooms Millinery. The greater the brand recognition, the greater the potential audience, and the increased possibilities of finding clients looking for what Vivian Blooms Millinery offers them.”
Current Services
We were intrigued to learn about the latest services that her brand is up to. We asked, “What are you working on now? Tell us something about your services.”
Jennifer replied, “I am working on a Sugar Plum Accessories Collection for the 2023 holiday season. Jennifer Kofler, Owner of Vivian Blooms, enables clients to celebrate life’s moments with fanciful headwear.
Vivian Blooms helps clients, stylists, and fellow designers find headwear for special events with an enchanting collection of handmade Millineries filled with fun and whimsy for all ages. Explore the intricate details, elements, and seasonal trends, captivating the attention of the world’s elite designers and stylists.”
Strong Bonds With Employees
Having a strong bond of trust with the employees encourages them to be more productive than ever. We asked, “How do you build trust with your employees and boost productivity without causing burnout?”
She shared, “I work with a small group of trusted freelancers for marketing, website design, logo graphics, and photography. They are all contractual, and no one is a full-time employee.”
Adapting To the Latest Technologies
Technology has become one of the top-most priorities for succeeding in any industry. Besides that, a business must follow all the latest trends to ensure growth. We asked, “How do you stay on top of new technologies and trends in your industry?”
She shared, “I enjoy reading articles, social media, YouTube videos, and books about the art of hat making and small business. I read The Hat Magazine and HaTalk every month.”
Advice To Beginners
“What advice would you give to starting entrepreneurs?”
Jennifer Kofler shared, “My advice would be to start. Everyone needs a beginning. Set a course and keep your eye on the horizon. Step by step.
“In the end… We only regret the chances we didn’t take and the decisions we waited too long to make.” Lewis Carroll”
Connect With Jennifer Kofler on LinkedIn.
Find Vivian Blooms on Instagram or visit http://www.vivianblooms.com/.
