Summary:
Welcome back to the Startup Junkies podcast!
Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward were joined by Kirsten Blowers, a serial entrepreneur and owner of Riff Raff and City Supply. Kirsten’s entrepreneurial spirit was planted by her parents, sparked by the great recession, and fueled by a love to tackle and adapt to any obstacle in her way. Want to know what it looks like to pivot before it was cool?
Check out this episode!
Shownotes:
(1:01) Introducing Kirsten Blowers
(1:23) Riff Raff during the Recession
(7:17) The Spark of a Serial Entrepreneur
(9:05) Oh S**t Moment in 2020
(17:02) The Evolution of Riff Raff
(20:24) Staying Current and Going beyond Statistics
(26:48) What’s Winning and What Comes Next?
(30:03) Success Does Not Have to Be about Growth
(32:10) The Process of Handing Off a Company
(36:14) Advice to Younger Self and Closing Remarks
Links:
Quotes:
“My parents are both entrepreneurs. My mom is a childcare provider; my dad’s a food consultant. They’ve always instilled resiliency and pivoting just as a way of life.” (2:28) – Kirsten Blowers
“I think a lot of people get stuck in the idea that they have to stick to their original process. If it shifts, it shifts. Everything shifts.” (19:25) – Kirsten Blowers
“If I don’t want to do something, there’s no expectation. I’m the only person that has to live up to that expectation.” (26:12) – Kirsten Blowers
“More money, more problems, you know? If this [present success] is healthy and good, if we’re excited every day, if everyone’s getting paid what they should be paid, and if we’re still able to move forward with trends, then why are we trying to [change]?” (27:21) – Kirsten Blowers
Start a Business, Adapt, & SUCCEED
Jeff Amerine, Caleb Talley, and Matthew Ward were joined by Kirsten Blowers, a serial entrepreneur, and owner of Riff Raff and City Supply. Kirsten’s entrepreneurial spirit was planted by her parents, sparked by the great recession, and fueled by a love to tackle and adapt to any obstacle in her way. Want to know what it looks like to pivot before it was cool? Keep reading and listen to the podcast above!
Pivoting Before It Was Cool
“I think a lot of people get stuck in the idea that they have to stick to their original process. If it shifts, it shifts. Everything shifts.” (19:25) – Kirsten Blowers
Kirsten graduated right on the cusp of the 2008 recession. With a degree in interior design, she witnessed all those before her getting laid off from their careers with architecture firms. Her parents raised her to adapt and pivot before those became the 2020 buzz words, passing on their entrepreneurial spirit to her.
At the time, Facebook did not operate with an algorithm, creating a snowball effect on buying and selling within that market. Using her eye for design and desire to start the journey of an entrepreneur, Riff Raff began by posting pictures of her designed clothes and shipping them directly to consumers.
When Facebook transitioned to Business pages, only 10% of her followers would be able to see her content. Kirsten and her team of three then pivoted and spent the next few years figuring out how to build a website and watch her clothes sell out over and over.
From online to wholesale and a new mercantile style store—City Supply, her serial entrepreneurship was no match for the many challenging times the 2000s sent her way.
The Entrepreneurial Spark
“My parents are both entrepreneurs. My mom is a childcare provider, my dad’s a food consultant. They’ve always instilled resiliency and pivoting just as a way of life.” (2:28) – Kirsten Blowers
Over time, Kirsten has come to love putting out fires. She continues to dream about her companies and start new endeavors because she loves the thrill of turning a passion project into a business.
Success for her companies comes easy, as she and her team love all things design and retail. The things that continue to push Riff Raff and City Supply to the next level are early adoption of social media trends, leveraging viral content, and generating life-long customers who use personal influence to promote Kirsten’s brands.
What Comes Next?
Kirsten believes there is a balance between going big and having a healthy life and workplace. By setting boundaries and seeking to maintain success, she saw that her entrepreneurial tank is filled. Holding up her businesses, Airbnb, and family are beyond a full-time job, and she said it best:
“More money, more problems, you know? If this [present success] is healthy and good, if we’re excited every day, if everyone’s getting paid what they should be paid, and if we’re still able to move forward with trends, then why are we trying to [change]?” (27:21) – Kirsten Blowers
WANT TO LEARN MORE?
This #GirlBoss was an excellent entrepreneur to have on the show! Wanting to learn more about her stores, or shop around? Check out City Supply and Riff Raff today!
Do you consider yourself a startup junkie? Join in the conversation by following us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter! Startup Junkie wants to come alongside these entrepreneurs every step of the way. Want to learn more about our services?
Episode Sponsored by:
AEDC – https://www.arkansasedc.com/
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