Interview With California Startup: Bib4Brides

Okay so in a previous life I owned a rather large dj business, you know the type that does weddings, school dances, that kind of thing. We were the biggest in the state of North Carolina and South Carolina as well. I’ve actually been involved in over 1000 weddings, that’s a lot. 

When helping brides plan the dj part of their wedding, we had a lot of influence over the schedule and flow. One of the big things that brides and grooms wanted to know was when should they do their special dances, like Father/Daughter, Mother/Son, Bridal Party Dance etc. The question was easy, the answer was some times chuckled at, laughed at and some even found it offensive. We would ask every bride and groom that asked us that question, well “are any of you messy eaters”.  Why, because a stain on a tux or wedding dress could ruin the wedding photos the couple is paying thousands of dollars for, and that are precious memories.

Enter in California startups Bib4Brides. Now we know this isn’t a tech startup but as we’ve shown here many times we do tangible startups too and this one was one that couldn’t be passed up.

Bib4Brides founder Sandi Romena has developed a product, essentially a bib for the bride and the groom, that in the long run can save embarrassment, ridicule and a lot of money.  Sure the bride keeps her dress forever but Italian sauce isn’t the easiest stain to remove from the tuxedo before you take them back Monday morning.

The Bib4Brides was created after Romena had a little incident at her daughter’s wedding which she describes in the interview below:

What is Bibs4Brides?

Bib4Brides are elegant fabric (using crepe-back satin or crepe material) bibs that a Bride (or Groom, or Flower Girls and soon Ring Bearers) can slip on to protect that expensive wedding gown from last minute  touch-ups, or while eating at the reception (actually giving them peace of mind knowing they CAN eat at the reception) or during that messy “cake smash”.

Who are the founders and what are their backgrounds?

I am the founder, Sandi Romena

My background is not wedding related at all – Just a MOM that does not want to see any one else go through what we did at our daughter’s wedding.   Most recently I have been a small business consultant that specializes in helping non-profits with community visibility.

Where are you based?

In Sonora, California; a small  foothill community near Yosemite National  Park.

What is the startup culture/scene like where you are based?

Almost non-existent.  We have an Economic Development Agency that tries to assist with funding, but the requirements to qualify are challenging and steep and funds are limited.  This small community is not our customer base.

How did you come up with the idea for Bibs4Brides?

This solution is a result of a ‘disaster’ at our own daughter’s wedding when she spilled RED ravioli sauce down the front of her beautiful beaded gown.  We spent about 20 minutes in the bathroom, her in tears and me diligently trying to dab the stain out with club soda, while the wedding guests were wondering where the Bride disappeared to.  We kept thinking about the pictures of her cutting the wedding cake, dancing with her Daddy, etc with a red blob on her bodice.  Yuk!

That incident started me thinking that if only we had some sort of bib – viola`.  I designed and started making bibs to give as gifts to our friends and was encouraged to sell them online. 

What have people’s reactions been to Bibs4Brides, it’s really a genius idea from anyone who’s been in the wedding industry but we can see brides thinking they may not need it or it’s silly?

The reactions have been overwhelmingly positive.  We attended the Wedding Merchants Business Assoc conference in Las Vegas last September with the intention of participating in the workshops.  Amazingly, every time I handed out our business card, people remarked “what a great idea”.  Carly Roney, Founder/CEO of  theKnot.com asked me to send her a bib to her New York office (and since has sent me the nicest hand-written thank you note); Amy fromMarthaStewartweddings.com asked me to send one to Elizabeth the Editor, and the beautiful Kathy Ireland, who was the keynote speaker, held up one of our bibs during our photo op with her.  We did not solicit that.

However, you are exactly right; Brides don’t realize they need one and some have said it was silly.  Yet, once they think about it…. I can’t tell you how many stories I have heard from Brides (and Grooms) who had an issue. One misconception is that they would wear it all the time.  We need more education on the purpose of the bridal bib.

We recently conducted a survey of Brides and found that 84.9% admitted they were worried about spilling on their gown; 56.9% said they would wear a bib/covering to protect their dress; 71.3% said they would be pleased to get a bridal bib as a gift; and 62.7% of the Brides said they would give one as a gift.

 Do you have any competitors, and if so what’s your secret sauce?

Not that we have found.  Our product is not the plastic “lobster bib”.  We realize the elegance of a wedding so we use materials that reflect that.  We construct our bibs to compliment the wedding gown.

What’s your distribution strategy?

I envision bib4Brides bridal bibs becoming the must have accessory for every wedding.  We currently have a website and an Etsy site.  We have bibs in a wedding shop in Michigan and one here locally in Sonora.  We are in the process of contacting other bridal salons to inquire if they will sell them.  Our sales have been mostly on the East Coast, with sales in Canada and Sweden.

What’s one dilemma you’re facing in the startup process?

Other than securing funding?  We are such a niche product, that the consumer doesn’t know there is such a thing as a bridal bib, nor do they realize that they are needed.  We are facing the challenge of exposure and educating people about them thus increasing our sales.

What’s one challenge you’ve overcome in the startup process?

My goal is to hire stay-at-home Moms, part-time retirees and those with employment challenges such as language or disability barriers.  I have “interviewed” potential “BIBBERS” who may not speak English very well, but sew like a dream.  I feel confident that we have a pool of people we can employ.  Not only that, we are Made in the US, by a woman-owned green business.  (No commuting required).

What’s next for Bibs4Brides?

I have had the most amazing phone call from Kathy Ireland asking me if I would “consider sharing my story and my bibs on HER website”.  She has connected me with Chef Andre` Carthen, who is a Design Ambassador for Kathy Ireland Worldwide and a celebrity in his own right.  I am excited that this opportunity will expose our  product to many, many customers and help launch this business.

Linkage:

Check out Bibs4Brides here

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