Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Olson.
Hi Olivia, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi my name is Olivia Olson. I am 29 years old. I am married to my high school sweetheart Drew Olson, and we have a 19-month-old daughter. About 2 1/2 years ago, I was in between roles at my company that I’ve been with for the past 6 years. I found another position but wasn’t feeling complete, something was missing. Feeling frustrated, I decided to start drawing on the side just to get my mind off things. I have always had a love for babies and children, along with a love for fashion. So, why not combine the two? As I was listening to music, doodling, I ended up drawing some baby clothes. The more I drew the more I loved it and thought, “what if I started my own baby clothing brand.” It seemed silly and like a far-off dream. I continued talking about it and started doing some research and just went for it. I had some failed designs, unflattering samples and even a brand name change along the way. Here I am today 2 1/2 years later and my very own baby clothing brand, Bali Beach Co, is live. I visited Bali in 2018 and absolutely fell in love. A lot of my inspiration is from Bali, Indonesia, and San Diego, California. That laid-back, beachy lifestyle. I never gave up, even after having our first daughter, working full time and being a full-time mom.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Absolutely not. First, finding the best manufacturer to bring my vision to life was more difficult than I thought. The first few samples I received of my pieces were awful because I couldn’t get the fit or the material right. It took me a long time to really get the sizing, fabric, and quality to where I wanted it. Many late-night phone calls, meetings, tech-pack edits, you name it. I also didn’t really know what I was doing half the time as I have never started a business before. It can be very costly and easy to want to quit. We lost our second baby through miscarriage 7 months ago and that hit us hard. A part of me wanted to stop this brand. I’m so glad I didn’t give up on my dreams. You just have to keep at it despite the obstacles. You just have to start somewhere.
We’ve been impressed with Bali Beach Co, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Bali Beach Co is a baby clothing brand designed in Southern California and made with love in Bali, Indonesia. My first launch of pieces are custom-made, and I have put a lot of thought, time, and effort into them. I am most proud that I have come this far to launch my own brand and have done it on my own. Although I did this on my own, I could not have done it without my supportive husband and my amazing family. I want your readers to know that Bali Beach Co is a brand that offers clothes your babies can be comfortable in, be stylish, and feel a sense of luxury all in one. I want our clothes to allow children to be playful and carefree in them. We are a brand that loves Jesus and believe that every child is such a gift. Right now, we are offering sizes up to 24m old but will be expanding to 5T very soon. We launched on March 11th which was the day I was supposed to be due with our second baby. It was a way to honor our baby we lost and bring awareness as well. I am so excited for everyone to get their hands on these pieces, feel the material and for what’s to come. This is just the beginning!
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
For networking, I would just say don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Go walk into local shops, show off your brand, market yourself and your business. Be confident in your products and put in the work to spread the word.
Contact Info:
- Website: balibeachco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balibeachco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090173877481
Image Credits
Poppi Photography
