As 2021 comes to a close, there is so much to be thankful for and proud of this year.
Founder and CEO of JBIER Inc., Jessica Bierman, has seen an abundance of growth within her business and entrepreneurial journey. We sat down with Jessica to recap some of her most memorable moments over the past year, as well as all there is to come in 2022.
1. What were your biggest accomplishments in 2021?
From incorporating the business and further developing the JBIER Internship Program to nearing 70K followers on Poshmark, my team and I have accomplished more than we could've imagined. We relentlessly work together to evolve the JBIER Boutique website and much more.
Over the last year, we successfully launched our:
2. How have you grown as an entrepreneur from January to now?
Over the last year, I have embarked on new, entrepreneurial ventures that I am so passionate about. With years of experience in retail management, I have learned that face-to-face interaction is essential in building relationships with customers and your team. The Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 challenged the retail industry as we know it, especially brick and mortar stores. Given the remote environment in 2021, it was clear to me that starting an e-commerce business was what I was destined to do. At first, managing a team virtually was unfamiliar, yet extremely exciting. Through online educational courses and webinars, I have gained the valuable experience necessary to become a stronger manager. The skills that I learned through self-education have proven essential when leading a global team virtually.
That said, I strongly believe that hard work, dedication, and persistence are key to growth. A phrase that I live by is, “never give up.” While this may sound cheesy, such a simple, yet powerful phrase has become a huge driver in achieving my goals. With that phrase in mind, I have never lost sight of the goals I have set forth for myself and my business. Growing a 20+ person team allowed me to pursue many projects that were unattainable for a party of one. As I always say, “teamwork makes the dream work.” It's incredible to think about all the ideas that were brought to life this year with the help of my team. In a highly competitive industry, we come together and brainstorm innovative ways of advancing fashion e-commerce that's never been done before. I used to organize all of my merchandise into collections and make poster boards with game plans for holiday sales. Now, so many collections have been brought to life digitally through our website. Each collection represents. a different persona. All of the collections represent diversity and how JBIER caters to so many customers.
3. Are there any milestones/goals you want to hit by the end of 2022?
There are many goals I have set forth in the coming year. One of my lifelong dreams is to earn a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. With only a few months left until I turn 30, time is of the essence. Another major goal is form a deeper partnership with Universities in order to scale our Fashion Internship Program and overall business.
Setting short- and long-term plans are essential to growing any business. My team and I meet bi-weekly to discuss progress on priority projects, deadlines according to plan, and strategies for the upcoming week. We use analytics to pinpoint areas that are not meeting standards and leverage this knowledge to optimize the plans already set in place.
Since January 2021, our Poshmark following has exceeded our expectations. With community engagement and customer service at the center of decision making, the JBIER Poshmark following increased from 50K to almost 70K community members. Based on analytics, the JBIER Poshmark marketplace is slated to reach a 100k following by the end of the year. I am very thankful to the Poshmark community for all the support throughout the last few years.
4. What are you most excited about in 2022?
As a young entrepreneur and female business owner, I have always been curious and creative in nature. Being so passionate about education and fashion, one of my overarching goals is to bridge the gap between the two industries. That said, in 2022, I am excited at the prospect of partnering with Universities to further develop the JBIER Fashion Internship Program. Additionally, following the launch of our Careers page, I am looking forward to launching our career service workshops. Students and recent graduates will have the opportunity to leverage resources to enhance their professional, career-related skills.
Lastly, my passion for sustainability in fashion has allowed me to successfully grow our women's resale market, @jbier on Poshmark, and the JBIER Boutique website. In 2022, my team and I are looking forward to launching our men’s resale market. To think this is just the start is exciting in and of itself!!
Celebrate the New Year with the JBIER Team!
Shh... you didn't hear it from us JBIER is taking our Internship Program global!
We sat down with each member of the JBIER team to share New Year's resolutions. Read more below to be in the know and stay tuned for more expansion next year!
Project Management, Finance, and Operations Team
Alyssa: My New Years resolution for 2022 is to enjoy my last semester in college and meet as many people and make new friends as I can as well as make a bunch of new memories
Kat: For this coming new year, I will be in my last semester of college. My biggest New Years' resolution is to figure out more specifically what I want to do career-wise post-graduation. Hopefully, that will bring me a new city to live in as well. Another New Years' resolution of mine is to get back into a consistent schedule with the gym in order to better not only the amount of physical activity I get every day but also better my mental health.
Kate: My resolution for 2022 is to take more time for relaxing and myself! In 2021, I scheduled every minute of my day, and this coming year I want to find more time to relax, read or listen to podcasts!
Alex: This year my New Year's resolution is to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle. I am so grateful for the opportunities that have come my way throughout the year. I am excited to see what the future holds!
Nicole: For 2022, I want to put more emphasis on self-care and health. My goal is to eat out less!
Fashion Merchandising and Product Management Team
Mackenzie: My New Year's goal is to go to Florence, Italy in the fall!
Jessica: My New Year's resolutions are to stick to a workout schedule, learn how to cook, keep trying new things and step out of my comfort zone
Nikki: I’d say my resolution is to create a balance between school and social life especially since it’s my last semester in college! I want to prioritize my academics but also have fun being a college student while I can :)
Syd B: To cook more and learn more recipes
Josslyn: My New Year's resolution is to accomplish my 2022 goals and have many blessings come my way to me, my family, and friends.
Jayda: To be happy and to live my life to the fullest. To treat everyone with kindness
Hannah S: My New Year’s resolution is to document more of my life through film and journaling! I want to live in the moment but also be able to look back at them. I also want to focus on making sure I leave work outside of my personal life.
Website Design, Photography, and Videography Team
Hannah N: My New Year's resolution is to find a post-grad job! Also, I want to start focusing on doing things that I love more, like reading, cooking, and drawing.
Serena: my goals are to drink more water, eat healthier, and work out more
Will: my goals for 2022 are to dive deeper into my graphic design field and to continue improving my skills. Taking the beginning steps to create my own clothing brand/design is also something I want to commit time to. Other than that, I just want to see happiness and prosperity amongst all of my friends and family
Social Media and Marketing Team
Syd O: My New Year's resolution is to live in the moment and have fun instead of stressing about the small stuff.
Jennifer: I want to become more organized and not procrastinate as much as I used to. In addition, start using my planner more so I can focus on priority tasks and assignments that I need to do.
Celine: To be the best version of myself and learn many new things
Lindsay: My goals for 2022 are to really focus on my career, travel more, and spend more time with my family!
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