This era is ushering in a new generation of digital entrepreneurs, who are not only curating their online presence via social media, but also creating their own products! One at the forefront is Jai Nice, a 25-year-old Ohio Native and California resident, who has made a splash in cyberspace as creative director and owner of the e-store Kloset Envy.
Counting 718,000 followers on her personal Instagram @Jai_Nice, and 391,000 followers on her boutique’s Instagram, @KlosetEnvy, it’s natural to wonder just how Mrs. Nice does it!
We sat down with Jai a few weeks ago at Cipriani’s in Soho to talk fashion, entrepreneurship, and staying true to your personal style.
Jai says, “I’ve been into fashion since middle school. I’d always find an outfit, put outfits together, cut up something… any way that I can create an outfit and make it into something that would make me happy or I feel confident wearing, I would do it.”
She joined Instagram five years ago as a way to showcase her unique sense of chic. You’ll find her in anything from saucy bathing suits to ball gowns, with a litany of multicolored hairstyles to boot. She says, ” [The secret to my popularity and success is] originality. Being Myself. Not following trends. Setting them. Being confident, doing what makes me happy, wearing what makes me happy. Not trying to do what everyone else is doing. It’s all about what Jai likes, what Jai feels comfortable wearing, and Jai’s style. I’m not trying to fit in with everybody. I’m just being myself.”
She initially started her online store, Kloset Envy, as a way to sell second hand clothes. She explains, After I started selling vintage, and I built a customer base and a fan base, and then that’s when I started selling regular new tops, bottoms, dresses. I believe when I started selling, it was hot, so I starting selling maxi dresses and maxi skirts, to feel out my customer base, and see what kind of clothes they like. After that it just blew up.”
Kloset Envy stocks affordable items for the every day woman, and caters to all shapes and sizes. What gives Jai Nice her edge? The styling advice. She says, “I know a lot of people have trouble styling an outfit. So when I purchase items, I get the bottoms and shoes. I make it easier to show how to style and wear the items [I stock].“
Any tips for creating an online store? She says, “Learn your customers. Learn what people want. Learn what they feel comfortable wearing. And take it from there. I don’t go for fashion trends. When I’m styling and fashion buying for Kloset Envy, I put together what looks good and what looks different. I learned my customers. I didn’t just jump in head first–it took four years to build. It’s still building and I’m still learning. A lot of people don’t really understand the time and effort it takes to put together a website. You have to have a good product. You have to have good customer service. You have to have good things. [In an over saturated market] you have to have something different in order for someone to want to buy it.”
If you wanted to open a store tomorrow, Jai offers, “Do you research because it’s your passion. [Don’t do it] just because you want to make money. You have to know something about fashion to want to sell clothes. You can’t look at every fashion trend because fashion changes every second. If you try to keep up you’re going to get lost. Have your own mind and your own creativity to make yourself stand out from others.”
She continues, “Do your research. There are a million different places to buy pieces wholesale. Make sure it’s good quality. Don’t do it because it’s cheap. Sell good products and make your customer want to come back.“
For those who want to follow in her footsteps, she says, “Don’t just do it because you see someone else doing it and they look successful. Do it because it’s your passion. It’s ok to follow and be inspired. Don’t jump on a bandwagon because this is what you wanna do. Make sure you’re doing it for you.” Alright!
See more of Jai’s fun, fabulous, and flirty style on Instagram @Jai_Nice and peruse her Kloset Envy products @KlosetEnvy and KlosetEnvy.com. Also, keep an eye out for Jai’s forthcoming Youtube Channel and Fashion Blog, where she’ll offer styling tips for all sizes, beauty advice and more!
What do you think of this interview?
And have you ever ordered from Kloset Envy? Tell us about your experience in the comments!
**Get a 20% discount on Kloset Envy pieces using the code FBDXKE20.
