Last month, early on a Friday night, I answered the phone and heard my mom say nothing else but, “Turn on Shark Tank…NOW!” So I did and there they were: two wonderful women who started a line of outfits for sorority recruitment that were cute, coordinated, and easy on budgets. As a member of a sorority myself, I automatically found myself gushing over the company these two women founded. But when they mentioned they expanded into the bridesmaid space, I set out on a mission to contact them and give them a virtual high-five hello!
Here’s my most recent interview with Sharon Bui, founder of Frill Clothing, about what it’s like to start a business and go on Shark Tank – all before age 25.
1. What sparked the idea in your head to start Frill Clothing?
As a sorority girl, I was tired of buying expensive and unflattering clothing for recruitment every year. I wanted to fix this problem with more stylish and affordable recruitment clothing options. Thus creating Frill!
2. What kind of skills or tips did you learn from your time in your sorority that has helped you in business?
Being in a sorority taught me how to be a strong and confident business woman. It showed me how to be professional and classy. My sorority taught me that I could do anything I dreamt of and that anything is possible.
3. How did you decide to expand the line to bridesmaid skirts?
One of our pictures went viral on Pinterest and Tumblr in 2013 and brides all over the world wanted our skirts for their wedding. We found this kind of funny because most people use dresses for their bridesmaids for their weddings but these brides wanted skirts for a more casual, unique and affordable look.
4. What’s the top three tips you’d give to any young female entrepreneur out there
1. Being a woman entrepreneur is a blessing. Women entrepreneurs are well respected now.
2. You don’t need a lot of money to be successful.
3. Don’t stop dreaming. Anything is possible.
5. What’s your top three tips for adding personal style to a bridesmaid dress or skirt/top combination
1. Choose a blouse that is trendy and fits your body type.
2. Choose a blouse that goes with the overall theme of the wedding.
3. Frill offers many colors for your wedding and could fit any theme!
6. How did you prepare to take on the Sharks? What was your “mantra” before filming the show?
I loved the show. So I enjoyed watching the show in general and watched every episode and wrote down questions they asked that I didn’t know myself about Frill. That was truly helpful in preparation of what they could possibly ask us. We studied those questions like a final exam and killed it on the show. It hurts my soul when entrepreneurs don’t use the old episodes as a resource. I guess our “mantra” was “Jesus take the wheel”! Haha, It sounds funny but hey, we went in there pretty confidently that whatever was meant to happen would happen and we would just move on with our lives as normal.
7. Anything else you’d like to add about yourself / Frill / or your experience starting a business so far?
I will be soon launching my own website, sharonbui.com where people can hire me to come speak at their campus, event etc. I also mentor other start-ups and my services will be shown on there as well!
