From a physical store in Tilburg for five years to a successful online shop: Luut van der Bij (36) from Groningen has been working hard on the road to success with BIBO Fashion for nine years now. With a collection full of sexy body- & sportswear for all men, BIBO Fashion brings the perfect items for the summer of love. Time for a conversation with the man behind the online store.
Tell us, how did you start with BIBO Fashion?
'It was always my dream to have my own shop. As a child, I used to play shopkeeper with a toy cash register, and I am absolutely crazy about clothing. About ten years ago, I wanted to start something for myself, and while on holiday in Gran Canaria, I saw all these guys wearing eye-catching short shorts and long socks. I immediately ordered sets for myself to try out, and that's how I started out very small. During the first few years, I was as happy as a child with just one order a day. After a successful store in Tilburg, with customers coming from all corners of the Netherlands and Belgium, I made the transition to online. Fortunately, many customers have remained loyal to me, and my dream has now become reality. When I was invited to Barcelona Fashion Week by the brands Addicted and ES Collection, it felt like a true highlight of my career.'
Who is the typical BIBO customer?
'I have really wonderful people as customers. They are men looking for something innovative, but I am also noticing an increase in women who want something just a little bit different for their husbands. Swingers who visit clubs also have to adhere to a certain dress code, of course. I think I have built up a lot of goodwill with them over all these years. I attend many parties and absolutely love running into my customers there. They really come up to me to tell me they ordered something from my shop.'
Are you in close contact with your customers?
'Customers appreciate personal attention. In the physical store, I would offer them advice over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. Online, I translate that into the fact that people can always call me with their questions, especially new customers. That is my strength: I give honest advice. You won't hear an 'oh, that looks great' from me if I think it could be better. I love helping out, and fortunately, people value my opinion. For the final touch, they receive a handwritten thank-you note with their order. I notice that this is highly appreciated. Out of our more than 3,000 reviews, we also score a 9.4 with our customers.'
What is the secret behind your success?
'I truly feel that my online shop adds something unique to the market, because there aren't many stores with this specific assortment. I hear this back from my customers too: they buy clothes from me that others simply don't have. That feeling of uniqueness is what creates the success. BIBO Fashion stands for exclusivity, making us one of the few points of sale in the Netherlands for brands like Addicted, ES Collection, PUMP!, Maskulo, and Mister B. Moreover, I now have my own label of accessories: ranging from bags to our own face masks, and our tailor even makes custom BIBO harnesses for clubs and parties. A nice piece of news is that we are working hard behind the scenes to expand this line.'
