The daughter of an immigrant trader and a flea market peddler, Kimberly grew up surrounded by an entrepreneurial spirit. For her to start her own business was in her blood, but for her to build a million-dollar enterprise, she had to follow her passion.
Kimberly's Story
"Growing up with peddlers for parents taught me a lot about business."
I grew up in Redondo Beach, born in 1968. My Dad was from Portugal; he came over on a boat in 1914. My father opened a little hole-in-the-wall shop called Kim's Trading Post when I was born. I would watch him sell in his store, building something from nothing. He couldn't read, he couldn't write, but he was a smooth talker. He got anyone to do anything that he wanted.
My mom was also a trader of sorts. She started a vintage clothing company through flea markets all across Southern California. I watched her pretty much start a business from nothing. A few hundred dollars turned into a thousand dollars.
"What are you going to do with your life?"
I knew I wasn't going to school and I knew that was bad, but I also had this vision in my head that I knew I was going to be okay. Even though I wasn't taking the conventional route, I was going to find my path in a way I couldn't describe. People would say, "What are you going to do with your life?" I didn't know, but I knew I liked fashion and I knew I liked art.
My life changed when I got a job selling ties for a guy who had his finger on the pulse of the trends. I got to experience how to buy for a store, how to open a store, how to manage a store. I got a taste of what it was like to have your own business.
"I wanted something really edgy and eclectic."
I came across this really cool store called Urban Outfitters, and I thought, "That is what I want to be. I want to do something really edgy and eclectic where you could buy something for your closet, bedroom or kitchen."
It is really important to listen to that instinct inside of you. I had a vision this whole time of the store I wanted, and I think that is what you have to pay attention to -- what you see yourself doing, a niche in the market.
"You always need to be reinventing yourself."
When you open your own business you always need to be reinventing yourself because nothing lasts forever. I learned that in just a matter of a couple years, because my sales peaked and my sales declined. You have to remember in business that nothing lasts forever, so even if you start a business you have a really good chance at failing. Most small business don't make it after 3-5 years.
I opened my store, Retro Revolution, because of this artist who took license plates and made them into purses. I liked his edgy fashion and wanted to own a store that sold it. It took off like crazy. The next thing I know I have this counter-culture store that sells edgy merchandise, and everyone wants to come to my store because I have all the crazy fashion, art, music, and lifestyle accessories that you could want.
"Getting there is the greatest part about being successful."
The exciting part of business is the building and the creating. It is fun to build things from scratch, spending money to make money. Getting there is the greatest part about being successful.
We live in a culture where making a lot of money is important, where you have status in your life with your career, you have to be somebody. I kept thinking that I just wanted to do something that I love, I just want to have fun and live life, and if they money comes -great! And doing what I love really paid off.
