RewardStyle Founder, Amber Venz Changes the Retail Industry
In the digital space, more about influencers are taking the world by storm. Celebrity stylists, tadalafil fashion bloggers, pills Youtube content creators, makeup artists, hair stylists and even Instagram celebrities are creating many of today’s fashion and beauty trends. By posting one photo, they can organically promote a product to hundreds, if not millions, of followers. I’m excited to be sharing my ‘Stylish Sips’ with you where I’ll be meeting with top trendsetters in the fashion and beauty industry. Follow along to get weekly ‘Stylish Sips’ interviews from me!
Amber Venz Box is the President and Co-Founder of rewardStyle, an invitation-only monetization platform for top tier fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publishers and influential retailers around the world. The company now has nearly 90 employees between its two offices: Dallas and London.
Before founding rewardStyle in early 2011, Amber worked on all sides of the fashion industry. As a college freshman in 2005, she launched her eponymous jewelry line, selling to retailers across the southern United States. Amber later worked as a freelance stylist in LA, a fit model and global wholesale intern for Thakoon in NY and became a retail buyer for a luxury boutique after college graduation. In April 2010 she launched her style blog VENZedits.com, which she still runs today.
In three short years, Amber has disrupted the retail and blogging industry with a network of over 4,000 retailers and 14,000 publishers using their affiliate system. In just one year, rewardStyle publishers drove more than $150 million in retail sales.
I met up with Amber during New York Fashion Week at the rewardStyle NYFW event on the rooftop of The Empire Hotel.
NAME: Amber Venz Box
OCCUPATION: President & Co-Founder, rewardStyle & LIKEtoKNOW.it. Blogger at VENZEdits.com
COMPANY NAME: rewardStyle
EDUCATION: Southern Methodist University, BFA
Who was your inspiration to pursue your dreams?
My dad always told me that if I wanted to have a flexible lifestyle, I should work for myself- own my own business. I grew up knowing that owning my own business was the goal so entrepreneurship was never scary for me.
I remember hearing people say that I was a very reserved child and my mom would always reply, “smooth waters run deep.” That phrase gave me confidence. I did not need to be the loudest or the most popular because my work, achievements and growing intelligence were much more valuable long term than social success. I worked constantly during college, including summers, and then in my businesses once I had graduated. I did not keep up with social expectations, but my work and now success has proved to be a much better investment than popularity.
All that to say, my parents rid me of the social fear that can sometimes prohibit people from pursuing their dreams.
What are you wearing right now?
A monochromatic cream look: high-waisted shorts, a few cropped layers, my new Celine cat-eye sunglasses and Anndra Neen cage bag (I’m all about the accessories).
What has been one of your biggest career challenges? How did you overcome it?
Successfully managing, educating, developing and inspiring people. As you may have gleaned from my previous answer, I am fiercely independent. That trait is often one of my best strengths but as a very young business owner, it became a “growth area.” I did two things to overcome it: hire experienced, emotionally intelligent managers and read, read, read.
What is one of your greatest defining moments within the industry?
Launching one of our annual events, The Conference, in April 2013. The event served a very educationally underserved audience, premium style publishers, and it has been one of my personal goals to develop this client group to be savvy business people. I placed and continue to place monumental importance on our educational endeavors and accomplishing the first conference with great success was a defining moment for me and our company.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
“Tell me exactly what you are trying to say and use the least words possible.”
During my sophomore year of college I had a Communications professor that ripped my papers to pieces. In high school AP testing, I was the only student in my class to score a perfect “4” so receiving “Cs” in writing class was not something I expected. By the end of the class, I learned to craft public communication in a concise and clear way and that is currently my most valuable skill.
Beauty product you can’t leave the house without?
What’s your signature scent?
Heels or Flats?
Flats.
What are you drinking?
Ginger vodka and soda with a splash of St. Germain
Beyonce or Rihanna?
Beyonce
NYC or LA?
NYC
Lip Gloss or Lip Stick?
Gloss
Eyeshadow or Eyeliner?
Shadow
Clutch or Tote?
Tote
Laptop or Tablet?
Laptop
Text or Call?
Text
Coffee or Tea?
Coffee: skinny vanilla latte, triple shot
iPhone or Android?
iPhone
Number Cruncher or Artist?
Artist
First designer purchase?
Gucci horsebit hobo bag
Fall or Spring?
Spring
Boyfriend or Skinny Jean?
Skinny Jean
Whose concert are you most likely to be front row at and why?
Favorite social media platform?
Pet peeve?
People who do not communicate- personal and business life.
Hidden talent?
Sewing, dress design.
Sunrise or Sunset?
Sunset
Life mantra?
Don’t stress, it will work out.
What does being a woman mean to you?
To me, it means that I am responsible for the emotional needs of my personal and work families. I do not project that meaning on any other woman, as our personalities and cultures influence our world views.
List your 3 best strengths.
Empathy, Independence, Visual Design