VBE Spotlight on: Birdy Boutique, LLC

Birdy Boutique, LLC

Barbara Jozwik Kent immigrated to the United States from Poland as a child in 1988. Watching her mother perform hard physical work to put food on the table, she learned that education and determination equaled success.

Education became of utmost importance to her at a very young age. Barbara graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1999. She went on to honorably serve in the United States Military Police Corps for 13 years, after which she was medically retired and disabled by the Department of Veteran Affairs. The highlights and most impactful times of her active duty service were her company command time and her deployment to Ramadi, Iraq with 3ID as a brigade battle captain.

Barbara Kent is a mom to two pre-teens and a German shepherd named Hans. She is a wife to an active duty Army Engineer Colonel. Barbara and her family have been stationed in Alaska, Hawaii, Virginia and they currently live overseas in Germany, while Colonel Kent works for Special Operations Command Africa.

Barbara loves sewing, reading, traveling, good food and wine. Barbara and her sister Joanna started Birdy Boutique, a proud certified women & disabled-veteran owned small online children’s boutique in 2013. She was Birdy Boutique’s first designer and maker of the car seat poncho, which she started to sew out of her home! Birdy Boutique soon took off organically as an e-commerce boutique. Barbara’s journey to build her textile manufacturing business continued to grow and in 2020, Birdy Boutique had its largest growth year yet. 

Barbara, as the CEO, has spearheaded pitches to supplier diversity teams of mass retailers such Meijer, Kohl’s, Harris Teeter, Staples, Lowe’s, FedEx and more. Barbara successfully got the Birdy Boutique brand onto retail shelves as she negotiated their largest mass retailer deal with Meijer for learning blankets that are currently highlighted on end caps at stores. Also, their first bi-lingual English-Spanish Learning Blanket will also be found on shelves at all 200+ Meijer stores this coming September 2022 celebrating Spanish Heritage Month.

Barbara’s other passion is helping military families. She is a member of several spouses’ clubs and spearheads volunteer projects to raise money for college scholarships for military kids, she volunteers to help new incoming spouses, and often makes meals for those in need. Some of her past volunteer events include fundraising/organizing of deployment and redeployment events, support of military readiness groups, organization of unit functions and new military spouse sponsorship. Birdy Boutique is proudly certified by WBENC, NaVOBA and NVBDC.

Birdy Boutique launched two new product lines in 2020; learning blankets and weighted blankets. Barbara and Joanna designed the blanket learning concepts; these blankets have been recognized online by Forbes and the Today show as being great virtual learning tools for kids, specifically during the pandemic. Birdy Boutique also was recently hand selected by the Qurate Retail Group & NRF Foundation’s Small Business Spotlight (SBS) Program, where we have a “digital spotlight” on QVC.com the entire month of October 2021 in honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, since we are a self-disclosed disabled-owned small business! Birdy Boutique was recently selected as a Top 14 contender for Making It with Lowe’s small business pitch competition. Birdy Boutique now also has a new division in addition to serving consumers directly. The company now provides private label capabilities to corporations nationwide and is an established manufacturer in the textile industry.

In 2022, Barbara led Birdy Boutique in exponential growth after participating in a successful Diversity Program. This has proven to be a year of expansion, just as Birdy Boutique’s trademarked learning blanket line hit Meijer end caps in spring of 2022. Birdy Boutique also recently launched on Lowes.com and is being featured in a Zulily sales event. Birdy Boutique is also excited to share later this year, their newest vendor relationships with three mass retailers as their product lines begin to be found more readily on store shelves across the United States. Birdy Boutique teamed up with the Macomb County Department of Planning & Economic Development in Michigan to explore ways to strengthen their commitment to their local community and business growth. They are pushing forward to continue expansion into B2B markets in not only retail but also in corporate partnerships to fulfill textile manufacturing needs.

Barbara is a compassionate leader, successful entrepreneur and has made tremendous strides growing an already successful business. We could not be prouder of her and her enormous effort and success that she demonstrated this year! She continues to honor her passion for educating children and being a mentor and role model in the active duty military and veteran community!

Learn more by visiting their website: https://birdyboutique.com/

Business Growth Challenges - Growing Through Challenge and Change

What were some of the challenges in starting your business?

"I tip toed around the idea of a business for too long before jumping into it. Deciding to start it was the hardest part. Sometimes, it's better to have everything 90% ready and to go for it, versus waiting until you have every detail worked out and lengthen the time it takes to open up. Each year, our business has grown incredibly and I am so proud to see the products I designed and ideas I created on large platforms such as Amazon and Walmart. I am also incredibly proud to be a certified disabled-veteran owned business through NaVOBA, which holds the highest standards for certification." 

What is the key to the success of your business?

"Determination and perseverance. You have to accept that there will always be competition and find your niche."

What lessons learned can you share with people to make their business succeed?

"If you believe in it, push forward. Surround yourself with people that are like-minded and remember to delegate when the time is right. It is easy to overwork ourselves when operating a business but you have to define limits."

What pitfalls should new businesses avoid?

"It is tempting to work around the clock to reach goals quicker…but balance is more important long term. "

What hobbies & pastimes do you enjoy in your spare time?

"I love to travel with my family and moving every two years with my active duty husband has allowed our family to see many places around the world.

I love baking! I make all of our meals from scratch! 

I love reading; it relaxes me and puts me at ease."

Fun Facts - About Barbara Kent

"My years in the Army taught me how to get out of the weeds and look at the big picture to figure out what I can and can't control. And, above all, to act, act, act".

-Barbara Kent

People might be interested to know that?

"I love to travel with my family and moving every two years with my active duty husband has allowed our family to see many places around the world."

What's in your refrigerator? 

"I love baking! I make all of our meals from scratch!"

What do you do to relax?

"I love reading; it relaxes me and puts me at ease."

Service Information

Branch:

Army, Military Police Corps.

Service Years:

1999-2011

Highest Rank Attained:

Major

Why did you join the military? 

"I believed it would give me the best opportunity to succeed in life."

Military Occupation:

Military Police Officer

Notable Achievements/Experiences?

"My company command time and deployment to Iraq are two achievements in the military that have had the most impact on me as a person. The challenges, fears and accomplishments changed me into a better leader."