Marcia Kilgore – the entrepreneur, the mumpreneur, the inventor and the business starter...

You may never have heard of Marcia Kilgore but for those who have she’s an inspiration and the ultimate role model for entrepreneurs, business owners and those who wish to make their own business ideas a reality.  This is why you need to hear about her if you haven’t already. Marcia Kilgore is the creator and founder of Bliss, Soap & Glory and FitFlop – (the foot wear brand that sold a record 5 million pairs globally and is still going strong today.)

At just 26 years old, Marcia set up her first business, Bliss. In 1996 in downtown New York Bliss was born - a multi-channel spa which was already receiving a celebrity based clientele. Famous celebrities such as Uma Thurman, Madonna and Demi Moore continuously flocked to her store for that ultimate spa experience. America in the 1990’s witnessed a spa boom with beauty shops and spas beginning to the line city streets. This boom promoted a business opportunity not to be missed and it certainly wasn’t by the entrepreneurial Marcia Kilgore. The Bliss brand was designed to create a spa atmosphere and offer something people had never experienced before. So by combining this need for spas as well as beauty products, Bliss was formed. Just 3 years later in 1999, Bliss was sold for an estimated $30m.

The names given to the Bliss products were just but one thing that gave Bliss the edge. The whimsically thought up names for each beauty product gave the brand a sense of humour which was both funny and satirical. An anti-cellulite treatment cream labelled ‘quadruple thighpass’ filled the shelves and was an immediate hit with its demographic. This sense of playing on words is something which Marcia Kilgore brought with her when she set up Soap & Glory in 2006. Once again a cellulite treatment cream from Soap & Glory labelled ‘sit tight’. The puns used by both brands are something which has proved popular and synonymous. The notorious ‘pink’ used for all their packaging has too, now become synonymous with the Soap & Glory brand. This combination of both pink and puns is what has made Soap & Glory stand out from its competitors – not to mention the products are great and they smell fabulous too!

With two fantastic brands already under her belt Marcia Kilgore went for the hat trick. In 2005 Marcia founded FitFlop, a footwear brand which is said to tone while you walk and is often said to be an anti-cellulite sensation. FitFlop has often been mistaken for being just sandals but of course they are so much more, they create clogs, boots and trainers too.

The Grindstone suggests that “Marcia has succeeded with all three of her companies because she is able to anticipate what women need before they even know they need it”.

This sense of knowing what is needed before it is needed is an important business skill. With so much competition today it’s vital to always be one step ahead. You need to research and look for that ‘gap’ in the market, know your demographic and offer something your competition does not.

Marcia’s story is inspiring and leaves us thinking what if? Forget about the what if’s and just do it - always remember no idea is a bad idea. If you feel inspired by this story or you have a business idea you’ve been itching to pitch then here’s your chance – visit us at www.UntappedUK.com ,because we could be investing in YOU.