Around 4 months ago, my sister and I started our own business: Moodz & Vibez Designs. Still not quite sure where the idea actually came from, I think it was our mom, maybe it came to us in a dream. As for the name, I describe everything under the sun as a MOOD and Cait goes through life with a certain VIBE in mind. And the Z’s were just for some extra pizazz. We always said that we were gonna come up with something, start a business and become billionaires, so I guess this is where that dream begins.
We had one product: customizable beaded chokers. And somehow we convinced our dad to help us set up a small online shop that is actually legally recognized by the state. Go big or go home, right? So we made a couple example chokers, grabbed our camera and headed out for our first ever photoshoot. It took many very awkward practice shots to find the right angle to make someone’s neck look “cute”.
We made our first sales within a couple hours of launching our site (shoutout to Savanah, Dev and Jensen for being the real MVPs). But I still felt like the whole world was watching, just waiting for me to look stupid. Failing has always been my worst fear. I was so paranoid that it was going to be a flop that I didn’t even want advertise that I had started a business. Yes, I know, great marketing strategy, that is exactly how you gain customers. Who said I needed to go to business school?
And it didn’t help that I had unrealistic expectations about how quickly orders were going to come in. So like I am not saying that I thought I was gonna be a millionaire overnight, but you know a couple bucks wouldn’t have been bad. We expanded into bracelets, ran sales what felt like every day, and I still felt like it was going no where. Don’t get me wrong orders from my friends were nice, but I was still waiting for that random customer to prove to me that I was actually doing a good job. 2 months and 12 days. That is how long it took for an order from a stranger to come in, and within the next 48 hours, we got 3 more orders from girly pops we had never met. BEST WEEK EVER. Trust me before that, I was ready to throw in the towel, dramatic much? I have just always been the most impatient person on this planet, but let me tell you, it was worth the wait.
Since then we have added earrings, anklets, keychains and buttons. Yes, one of those things is not like the rest. I would like to thank Ole Miss Greek Life and the general college girl population for inspiring me to design my own buttons. Y’all, college girls love buttons.
So I still haven’t made my first million, but that’s okay. Starting my own business has been the greatest hands-on learning activity of my academic career. Besides the obvious business lessons that come with being an entrepreneur, I have also learned lessons in teamwork and grown closer to my family. I am excited to see how Moodz & Vibez Designs continues to grow and change as a brand as I continue my journey as a budding businesswoman. I want to be a girl boss when I grow up and I truly think this is a great starting place.
P.S. As a thank you for reading my blog, use code GIRLYPOP for 15% off your next order at Moodz & Vibez Designs