An Inspiring Fusion of Passion and Entrepreneurship

Monika Hibbs Home is more than just a home decor brand, they offer a unique shopping experience that truly can’t be found anywhere else. From furniture to home goods and wellness, Monika Hibbs Home has everything you could ever wish for to make your home comfortable and remarkable at the same time. The brand has evolved so much over the years, and we are proud to have them in The Fall 2023 Jilly Box!

Every product and collection they offer is carefully created or selected with thoughtful insights from Monika and her team as they take into account the small features and details that make each product so beautiful. Learn more about their story with this interview we had with Monika Hibbs as she explains the brand, the process and her love for her job.

year after my third child was born and with the help of my husband and a small team, we launched the new store. We wanted a unique shopping experience for our customers so we built a tiny home (in a trailer) on our property that served as our retail store and it has been so great for us to be able to connect and build relationships in person with our customers. We still have this tiny home to visit and shop but hope to eventually open a larger retail store in Fort Langley, BC.

That would be me, Monika Hibbs! I’ve always loved to host and entertain friends and family as far back as I can remember. As I was going into my early twenties I started to recognize my love for a beautifully decorated and welcoming home. At that time I was in a small (but very cute!) apartment in Krakow, attending Medical School. I had thought being a doctor was my true purpose, but after graduating in 2009 and working in the medical field for a few years here in Vancouver, I realized it was not for me. This was one of the hardest decisions of my life but I have never looked back. During that time of working and studying for more board exams, I was 100% medical focused so my husband suggested I start a blog “The Doctor’s Closet”, so I could have a place to explore and share what I really enjoyedentertaining, fashion, home design and married life. It was a mental break from all things medical. From there, people started to follow and enjoy what I was posting and I would receive questions regularly about where I bought this item or that piece and I would do my best to share. Being entrepreneurial, I always had ideas for businesses. The first product I made and sold was bracelets I called “bfrend”, which I sold on Etsy and found surprising success. From there I started an online store called “Shop by Monika”, where I sold small accessories. Then I had my first son Liam, and my priorities changed so I closed the store. I always knew I would start it back up again one day, it just needed to be the right timing. Then in 2019, a

How did Monika Hibbs Home come to be where it is today?

With a lot of hard work, creative ideas and a very supportive and talented team! The team is so crucial to the success of any business, it is just not possible to do everything on your own as a business owner. I am so thankful for the team we have now and for the ones that have played an important part along the way.

What’s the story behind the dinner bell included in the box?

I’ve always loved the idea of being on a larger piece of land or farm and watching the kids play off in the distance, then ringing a bell to call them in for dinner. I imagined a bell that would be aesthetically pleasing and complement my house design. I’ve seen a few different bell styles but never one that I really loved until I came across a beautiful brass ship bell that inspired us to create our own! We did about a year of development and testing and tweaking with a brass specialist and finally ended up with what you see today. Product development is a huge learning process and certainly tests our team’s patience but I really enjoy seeing ideas come to life. The most rewarding part is when our customers love the product as much as we do!

Do you have any tips for new business owners trying to start their own companies?

Be true to yourself and stay on course with why you started the business in the first place. You have to find a balance between your desires for the business and what your customers are asking for. Your customers will lead you down a successful path if you’ll listen to them. Be prepared to work harder than anyone else, I think a lot of people want to leave a 9 to 5 job to experience the freedom owning a business might bring them, but they don’t realize a lot of the time your job will be around the clock. Finding a supportive and driven team and implementing systems into the business will slowly give you the freedom you hope for. Even though running a business is very challenging and so so much work, I wouldn’t do it any other way. I love it!

What makes Monika Hibbs Home stand out in a competitive industry?

I think branding alone can help you stand out. I love good branding and have put a lot of time and effort into developing our look and feel so I know that helps attract new customers and makes us stand out. That includes brand aesthetics through photography and digital graphics. Customers love what they see and know that each experience and interaction with us will be consistent along with high quality products.

What inspires the product selections and collections?

We really believe in the longevity of products and how the small details make a big impact on the experience with that product. Because of this, we select products that are more handmade and utilize natural materials and textures such as brass, metals, stone, wood and of course textiles. This does come with a higher cost but we want our products to last for years to come in our customer’s homes. Good quality products reduce the need to re-buy new items. In regards to the design and look of the products, we are very inspired by French design and try to stay ahead of the trends.

What makes Monika Hibbs Home unique?

I think it is the understanding that every person is unique, there is only one you in the world so taking that thought and applying it to a business with good branding creates a unique business. So as you browse our products or experience our tiny home, you’re really experiencing what me and my team love and appreciate.

What else do you want people to know about the product?

The bells are hand-made by artisans, so each bell is one of a kind. They will have unique variations and imperfections in the craftsmanship which gives them an old-world feel. Truly one of a kind.

What else do you want people to know about your brand?

As our team grows and develops, so does our brand and business concept, we have some exciting changes coming in the next year that we can’t wait to share! We also have more products in development that we are really excited to bring into our customer’s homes. Stay tuned!

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