Entrepreneur Spotlight: Sequins are the New Black blogger, Tess Felber, glitters
Tess Felber, lover of all things that sparkle, is the founder of Boston-based fashion blog, Sequins are the New Black. Tess launched her blog initially as a creative outlet to challenge her own personal style and create unique looks that she doesn't always get to showcase in her normal day-to-day life. Now a budget friendly fashionista, Tess is also passionate about travel, DIY and interior inspiration. Bold colors and anything with glitter are her style aphrodisiacs.
Find a little glitter & glam through our interview with her below.
Tell us about Sequins are the New Black
Sequins are the New Black is a fashion blog where you will find outfit inspiration sprinkled with a little home decor! Blogging is still such a young industry that it's hard for people outside of the blogging world to understand that it's a business! My goal is to help inspire my readers to see the beauty in every aspect of your life and be adventurous in everyday outfits!
What was your background prior to founding Sequins are the New Black?
The reason I started my blog in the first place was because I didn't feel complete only working my 9-5 job. There was always this feeling that my corporate job as a sales recruiter never fulfilled my creative side and love for fashion. Although I still work full time, I work just as hard, if not harder, on my blog because that's where my true passion lies.
What was the tipping point that led you to entrepreneurship?
I've been following blogs for years and just like I mentioned above, I always felt like there was something missing My full-time job doesn't give me the ability to be as creative as I would have liked so I created my own outlet!
What roadblocks did you overcome to reach the point that you are at today?
This is going to sound crazy because writing is a huge piece of running a blog, but writing has been my biggest roadblock. After I've styled the outfit, shot the photos, edited photos, scheduled the social media posts and scheduled the post to go live, I then start the writing portion. I've never considered myself a great writer so I almost dread that part ( crazy, I know).
Playing the comparison game to other bloggers has also been a roadblock through my adventure in blogging. That quote "don't compare someone's middle to your beginning" rings so much truth in the world of blogging! As much as you want to compare yourself. I may not have 30,000 Instagram followers like the next girl, but I value the genuinely interested followers and engagement I do get at the moment!
How would you define success in terms of entrepreneurship?
I'm realizing success means something different to everyone. In terms of success, I consider hitting goals. For example, I write out my daily, monthly, 6 month and 5 year goals for my blog. It's the little milestones and small gains that add up to the larger picture of success. Having a target goal in mind at all times is what's going to help you feel successful as an entrepreneur.
Some of the small successes I've already accomplished is simply being able to make decisions for what is best for my brand. There is something so powerful about saying no to opportunities that don't correlate with my brand and vision for the blog. The moments where I've considered myself successful is when readers tell me I have inspired them; that feels like true success in my book thus far. It could even be as simple as someone telling me they never knew about Spotify discover weekly playlist before I wrote about it in an entertaining post! It always makes my day and verifies my posts are adding value in others' lives! There are goals I set for myself numerically (Instagram followers, blog subscribers) that I'm always striving for, but at the end of the day, a number is just a number. I know I'm not saving lives here, but there is nothing more satisfying than feeling like you've inspired someone and made an impact! Success in terms of entrepreneurship is doing everything in your power to make what you love your source of income! The best thing about blogging is that the more love you pour into it, the more you see it grow! It's almost addicting :)
What are your plans for the future?
My long term goal with the blog is to take it on full time in the next 2-3 years! I tell myself that the first month I take home enough to cover my living expenses is when I will leave my day job. I would love to see Sequins are the New Black in a place where I'm focusing my full attention on creating unique content!
Do you have any advice for up-and-coming entrepreneurs?
The biggest thing I've learned since launching Sequins are the New Black has been that anything that's worth having is not going to be easy, it's going to take a lot of effort, but if it's where your passion lies it's beyond worth it! My advice for others starting out is to make sure you network, attend as many events as possible, be consistent and be yourself in everything that you do. Being genuine sells! I also recommend learning as much as you can from the people who are successful in your industry. As Richard Branson always says, "business is an adventure!"
Connect with Tess and check out her blog, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.