Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Lau.
Emily, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was a late-bloomer, but ever since I could wear a bra, I became obsessed with finding a bra that gave me extra oomph. I bought bras even if they didn’t fit me, just because I thought they were pretty or had a lot of padding (to fill in what I lacked). Of course, I spent years looking ridiculous wearing ill-fitting bras. That is, until I started working with some experts to design the perfect-fitting bra for my petite body type. After testing the product out on my petite friends, I launched The Little Bra Company® out of a bedroom in my home in 2007. I wanted to create The Little Bra Company® to give women like me intimate apparel that not only fit their bodies better, but also made them feel more feminine. Just because a woman is an A, B or C-cup, it doesn’t mean she can’t have cleavage or feel like a woman.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
During the economic downturn of 2008, and even with the current retail shake-up, I am worried like many other small business owners that my phone will stop ringing with orders. However, thankfully, my business is continuing to grow. When people ask me why that is, I simply say, “Women always need bras and underwear!”And, if people are going to spend money these days, they are spending it more wisely. Therefore, a product like mine that is made to fit a specific body type, looks good, and gives a smaller-framed women shape, is a product with multiple duties, and therefore, I believe has better value.
Please tell us about The Little Bra Company.
Since I started The Little Bra Company®, it’s been my mission to make our products available to as many petite women around the world as possible.
Every week, we open new accounts with retail boutiques in the U.S. and abroad, which is always what I hoped for and planned for the business.
However, the most unexpected growth that has occurred since launching the company has been the growth of our e-commerce business. Fortunately, just when I started the business was when more people started to shop online in general, and luckily, The Little Bra Company® had an online store that was ready to take their orders. Now we are able to reach customers globally, and they can shop with us 24/7.
The most rewarding part of my business is hearing and seeing the reaction from satisfied customers. I never tire of hearing the squeals of joy when a woman tries on one of our bras for the first time and says, “Wow! This is what my body is supposed to look like! I have cleavage!” And I feel grateful that customers write to us saying that we’ve somehow changed their lives. I started this company because I was frustrated that I couldn’t find the right bra and right fit for myself. Now, to be able to provide a bra that meets someone’s particular needs and makes her feel good about herself is really fulfilling.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
The first collection I created was a collection of bra styles that came from my wish list of everything that I couldn’t find in all the other bras on the market. I designed all the bras to fit my specific body. However, after some feedback from customers, I learned that not every petite customer has my body type. Some customers complained that certain styles didn’t fit them well, while others did. What I discovered was that even within the petite size range, people can still be different shapes. Just like with denim jeans, not every style works for everybody. Sometimes a slim-cut jean fits better on certain bodies, while a relaxed fit works better for others—even if they are the same size! Therefore, when it was time to design my next collection, I took into consideration that some women have wider-set breasts and some have closer-set breasts. Now, The Little Bra Company ® has more options for petite women to choose from so that they can find the style that flatters their best features.
I wish I realized this earlier, but that is part of what I love about this business. I’m learning about my customer’s needs from my customers themselves. We strive to do our best every day, but I know we can always do better…and it’s all worth it to try. After all, from personal experience, I know a proper fitting bra can really be a life-changer.
Pricing:
- Bras = $54 to $80 USD
- Panties = $26 to 32 USD
- Chemises and babydolls = $79 to $85 USD
Contact Info:
- Address: 1139 Westminster Ave., Unit D
Alhambra, CA 91803 - Website: www.TheLittleBraCompany.com
- Phone: 310.254.8542
- Email: info@thelittlebracompany.com
Image Credit:
Ari Michelson
Lindsay George
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
