Bob Ore

Bob Oré is a multifaceted entrepreneur with operations in the worlds of fashion, literature, art, and entertainment. Specializing in marketing and project development, Oré serves as CEO and President of New Identity LLC, co-founder of Tensale LLC, and CEO of Boa Art Gallery in Los Angeles.

Bob Oré began his career in Monteal, Canada where he founded his own fashion design firm called Bob Oré International. This proved successful, as Oré International branched out and created a chain of over 35 storefronts, all known for their inventory of top luxury brands such as Pierre Cardin, Hermes, Lanvin, Versace, Cacharel, and Antonella Tricot.

Most recently, Bob Oré partnered with Lixia Qian and created Bob Oré Blue Collection, an affordable luxury fashion brand. Lixia also holds an impressive resume, being one of the top sellers of Amazon from China and listed on the NASDAQ screen in New York’s Times Square by Payoneer.com when they opened to the public. Even more, Qian was chosen as the Goldman Sachs 10k women Fellowship winner, with candidates spread over 11 countries. She is also nominated for the Future women leader award which only accepted 7 candidates worldwide.

In addition to his artistic accolades, Bob Oré is an award-winning author with over five published books, all of which are translated in several different languages. A true artist at heart, Oré also hosts art gallery’s where he passionately represents and showcases artists from all over the world.

Where did the idea for your career come from?

After a long time in the apparel and accessories business in retail and wholesale – representing and creating for the best companies in the world including Lanvin, Cacharel, Hermès – I wanted to go into business with my partner Lixia and deliver the ultimate shopping experience.

With luxury brands getting more expensive, we wanted to offer the best possible quality at the most affordable prices. All details of our products are taken care of, from the leather to the accessories, to the packaging- everything is luxurious and sophisticated.

Because of the pandemic, we decided to focus our efforts on selling online to avoid intermediaries and keep the prices as low as possible for the quality offered. When our clients receive our bags, they are always pleasantly surprised at the time and effort that has gone into creating the details of each piece.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I work with my global team every day to make sure we’re on track. Our sourcing team is based out of China, Social media team in Italy, and have people in Montreal, Canada, where we just opened our newest store. Thankfully for me, my partner Lixia Qian is an expert e-commerce genius and helps tremendously with the daily work.

How do you bring ideas to life?

Lixia is very curious and loves to experiment with ideas that keep us in our own unique niche -unique, sophisticated, detail-oriented – all while catering to the discerning clientele. Once I approve the idea, she makes them happen. She’s a genius.

What’s one trend that excites you?

Our new marshmallow croissant bags are selling exceptionally well and are attracting a lot of fashion-oriented influencers who have been reaching out for collaborations. It’s exciting to have our bags have such an impact in the fashion industry.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I am open minded and creative. As a citizen of the world, I always get ideas from different cultures, and I would love to learn, organize, and innovate from them.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Be yourself and be brave. Trust that the universe will take care of you. You will be proud of what you have experienced.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

I believe I can fly. At Bob Ore Blue Collection, we believe that the price of luxury brands are too high, yet they continue to increase. We believe that everyone should enjoy great designs and quality, so we keep our prices at a very reasonable rate.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Be happy! Happiness is an essential part of my life. It allows me to pass it to others and develop incredible relationships. It also allows me to find the silver lining in any situation, keeping me resilient and on top of all obstacles.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Having great customer service and putting their needs first. We offer free shipping worldwide and 30 days no reason return and exchange warranty. We believe great customer experience can get high conversion and returning order. It really works.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

After years of success, I decided to start a restaurant business and open three of them. They all failed. This was the first time in my life I began to doubt myself, but it taught me many valuable lessons, the most important one being that you must be 100% committed to the business for it to succeed.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

I have this vision of creating a multifunctional brick and mortar storefront that combines my passions of art, publishing, and fashion. Imagine having a store that combines the three and changes lighting, theme, and vibe at certain hours every day. Incredible, right?

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I went to visit my sister in Montreal and bring her food because she was very sick. I brought her a book and snuck a hundred-dollar bill in the cover. When she found it, she was ecstatic and told me she was going to spend it all on sushi. Nothing beats making someone else’s day.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Anything from Apple. My iPhone, Laptop. I believe Apple products are the easiest and best products around and use them for everything.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

The Sock that Sang. First, because it’s my latest book, but I really think people will enjoy it. It’s full of senses – sounds, smells, sights – that take you on a fun journey away from reality. It’s funny and strange, just like life.

What is your favorite quote?

“We live in the inconceivable, sometimes crossed by bursts of light”. I also really like “Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened.”

Key Learnings:

• Always treat your customers how you’d like to be treated. Never compromise customer service.
• Create with only the best quality. Give more than people expect.
• Always keep an open mind and adapt to the world around you.