One thing you can’t miss about Monroe’s House of Marvels fashion microbusiness: the owners have BIG personalities. It shows in their funky fashion products, from vintage pinup headbands and pet bowties to tulle tutus and handkerchief baby bibs. Partners Amber Harm and Mallory Cornelius attribute their fast success to a combination of big personality and diligent social media posting.
The company began with the women’s love of vintage pinup style. “There's timeless romance and femininity hidden in this style that makes it beautiful,” Harm said, “but the clothing can be very expensive. So we took another lesson from the era and started sewing our own garments.” Other people liked their handmade bows and headbands, so the women decided to launch a small business. They sold their first product on March 18, 2015.
Harm and Cornelius work together on everything, but look to individual strengths to decide who does what, from bookkeeping and customer service to design and production. They recently invited Brooke Boehler, maker of tutus for children of all ages, to join them.
Within three months of their first sale, Monroe’s had grown the product line and gained nearly 650 followers on the small company’s business Facebook page. Customers receive the products by mail, buy them at festivals or pick them up in person at the women’s homes.
According to Harm, most of Monroe’s growth was accomplished through posts on the women’s personal Facebook pages, as well as a new business page: https://www.facebook.com/MonroesHouseofMarvels. In addition, they post on buy/sell pages in towns throughout their home state, Nebraska. They offer many giveaways and donate products to charities. Harm said the women love meeting and talking with new people, and their personalities help sell the products.
Harm explains: “If the product doesn’t reflect who you are or what you love, what's the point?”
Kindra Foster is our ground reporter for Lincoln, Nebraska.
Kindra Foster
Kindra Foster is a professional freelance writer and editor. Her services include marcom substitute writing and travel writing. For more about Kindra, visit her professional writing website and her travel chronicle, Roadworkwriter.
