Life & Work with Courtni Williams

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtni Williams.

Hi Courtni, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I am Courtni, also know as Cooki, the Creator and Designer of Cooki Bloom® Women’s Clothing Brand. Here, the bloom represents the moment of a woman’s greatest beauty. I promote the idea that we are all individuals with experiences that shape us, and that is what makes us beautiful. In relation to a flower, we are all blooms.

You have to understand this to understand my story – it is all personal for me. I live by Proverbs 18, translated in one version of the Bible that “Someone who has friends must himself be friendly.” So naturally, I’ve been a supportive friend in difficult times. So naturally, as friends, we reminisce about the good times and bad times. From time to time, before I started Cooki Bloom®, they reminded me of words I spoke that stuck in their minds. Often times I laugh because I don’t remember saying it. But I said to myself, “If a few simple words can make life a little better for my friends, maybe those words can make life a little better for many more.”

When I’m wearing T-shirts with catchy phrases or photos, I love the reactions people have. Even strangers in passing would laugh or respond just like we were having a conversation. At that point, I knew connecting with people through T-shirts was something big! I recognized my ability to make an impact without saying a word.

My first year after my military career, I struggled to find my identity. I made T-shirt designs for myself. The designs were an outlet for my own personality, humor, beliefs, and thoughts. This was a huge transition from the idea of conforming in the military. T-shirts also gave me the voice that I lost for a long time, to express who I truly was. At that time, I appreciated I was not the only one feeling trapped in an expectation of looking, feeling, and thinking the same as everyone else. T-shirts allowed me to feel beautiful by expressing my individuality.

Today, I create T-shirt designs that promote expression of individuality and personality for women to feel beautiful just the way they are. The Cooki Bloom® brand has grown to an assortment of accessories and clothing allowing our shoppers a complete experience. We ship all over the United States and Canada, to include gifting options and a top-rated customer experience. This growth has been tremendous from community vendor events, even though we still participate in and enjoy them.

Simply put, Cooki Bloom is the pursuit of a friendship with every woman who needs to love her individuality by providing the encouragement I once needed myself. This is a place for women to be themselves and know they are beautiful and amazing just the way they are, like a bloom.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I would say it has been both – a smooth road with some struggles. Let me explain. All of my previous professional experience is in healthcare. This afforded me a skillset that benefits my life as an entrepreneur and creator; like prioritizing, thinking critically, problem-solving, and customer care. On the other hand, even my management experience did not lend to what I needed to start or run a business.

One of my early struggles was the day I found someone using my business name to sell their products. I had worked so hard on brand identity, inventory, and customer trust, not to mention publications and business registration. Starting over with a new name was not an option for me. At that point, I had to quickly learn about business protections and take steps to protect the Cooki Bloom® brand and creatives. So often, I discovered something else I didn’t know. It was difficult and that is what I call struggles. I am consistently researching to learn something new. Learning involves mistakes and growth. It is not easy. However, it has been a smooth road because I can always find the answer and keep going.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We love connecting to women who share our vision. I am most proud of the connection I have made to so many women, by uplifting and empowering. I am also proud of the authenticity I bring to the brand, and my ability to grow while being myself. I want people to expect more and better from Cooki Bloom. Currently, I am looking for ways to reach more women. It’s important for me to give every new day the same energy that I gave on the first day with new ideas, new designs, and products that make our customers feel important and connected. With that said, I focus on new releases to keep people excited about the brand. Our website provides an opportunity for the free newsletter with updates and announcements. This is where we give a special group of people exclusive notifications about new releases, events, promotions, and other insider information.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In the next 5-10 years, there will be more respect for the T-shirt industry. It is one of few industries that has been consistent with style and quality. As designers continue to push the limits of expression and T-shirt style, shoppers will continue to find originality with affordable prices in this industry. I believe we will see trends of T-shirt brands headlining mainstream fashion.