Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Olivia Hops. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Olivia, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I am extremely happy as a business owner. As an autistic person, I personally cannot have a regular job. I’ve tried it in the past, and it always turns out badly. I get very anxious and depressed and always end up quitting when my health deteriorates. Although having a regular job would be easier, I wouldn’t trade being a business owner for anything. It’s allowed me to make money on my own, because most autistic people are either unemployed or underemployed. There are obviously ups and downs when you own your own business, and you rarely get time off or a steady paycheck, but it allows you the freedom to do more of what you love and allows me personally to make money while maintaining a healthy mental state.

Olivia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started Bliss & Bridal based off of my own experiences while dress shopping for my wedding dress in 2023. First, I personally just loved the entire experience. I think it was very nostalgic for me because I always loved playing dress-up as a kid. I, however, couldn’t find my dream dress in a store. I liked bits and pieces of dresses, but they were never all attached to the same dress. So, I decided I needed to try to get a custom dress made. I ended up finding a small designer based in Europe, they’re two sisters, who make wedding dresses. I took the leap of faith of buying from them from only ever talking to them online, and it ended up being the best decision I could have ever made. The dress was far nicer in material and quality than any of the dresses I saw in big bridal shops, and it was well over half the price. And, maybe the best part was that it was custom made to my exact body, so it fit me like a glove and I needed no alterations, which can sometimes cost just as much as the dress. I thought the entire experience was so much better than regular bridal shops that I wanted to start a business to helps other brides who are in my shoes. My boutique is for the bride who want a custom dress and doesn’t want to pay thousands upon thousands of dollars for one. I think every bride, regardless of their budget, should be able to wear their dream dress. My goal for Bliss & Bridal is to provide the best quality dresses for the lowest prices.

Conversations about M&A are often focused on multibillion dollar transactions – but M&A can be an important part of a small or medium business owner’s journey. We’d love to hear about your experience with selling businesses.

I was able to sell the first business I ever started. The business was called Unbaked, and it was an online edible cookie dough company that specialized in customizable doughs. I started it at 19-years-old after quitting my last regular job as a producer and editor for the NFL Network. I owned and grew Unbaked for seven years before I realized it was time for me to move onto a new adventure in my life. Originally, I was simply going to close, but I didn’t want to leave all of my loyal customers hanging. So, I put the business up for sale. It took a long time to find the right person to buy, so if you’re a business owner trying to sell, don’t get discouraged if at first you can’t find someone to sell it to. The right person is worth the wait. I was fortunate to be able to find a family who purchased it for their autistic son so that he could have something to put his hard work into. It was really amazing to keep the company in an autistic family. It helped me so much as an autistic person, and it’s so neat that it is now helping another autistic person, too.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I’m still a very new boutique, but I feel like I have already built a reputation within the market as a shop that is extremely personable and not pushy whatsoever. Many bridal shops are very sale-oriented, and thus can pressure brides into buying. At Bliss & Bridal, I never want to pressure a bride to buy a dress. It’s a huge decision and an even bigger investment, both of which should never be rushed. As much as I want brides to buy, my main hope is for them to find their dream dress, even if it’s not from my boutique. All of the appointments are also completely private so brides never have to compete for the attention of me or my staff. This should be a memorable experience in a good way, and that’s what I always strive to give. I really tried to create a safe and different environment for all of my brides, and so far, the feedback is that I have succeeded, which makes me really happy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blissandbridal.com
• Instagram: @BlissandBridal
• Other: https://www.theknot.com/marketplace/bliss-and-bridal-escondido-ca-2080645

Image Credits

All of the black and white images are from photographer Natalie Wade. Their website is nataliewadeco.com and their instagram is @natalie.wadephotography.