A recent business grad opens an award-winning bridal store​.

Tiffani Ebben, a 29-year-old Kimberly native, enrolled in Fox Valley Technical College’s Business Management program to learn how to become an entrepreneur. “I always wanted to be my own boss, and Fox Valley Tech gave me the tools to succeed,” she says.

Ebben thought of a business idea while shopping for her own wedding dress. “I had a very small budget, and there weren’t any stores that offered what I wanted at an affordable price,” she recalls. “This experience gave me an idea to start a consignment wedding boutique that offered exceptional service and reasonably-priced new and gently-used wedding gowns.”

With the help of FVTC instructors, Ebben researched the market to make sure her idea was feasible. “They helped me every step of the way, from finding a good location to developing a marketing plan and utilizing customer databases,” she notes. “I even learned how to build and manage my own website.”

Three years later, Tiffani’s Bridal & Consignment continues to flourish in downtown Appleton, selling tuxedos, prom dresses, mother-of-the-bride dresses and bridal gowns. In 2017, the business earned a Best of the Valley Post-Crescent Readers’ Choice award, and Ebben states that she is considering expanding or opening a second location.

Ebben revels in the responsibility to make it as an entrepreneur. “Putting your heart and soul into something with a little direction will bring success,” she says.

Quick Facts: 

• 96% graduate employment for the Business Management program

• Average annual salary of nearly $49,000 for recent Business Management grads  

2017 FVTC Graduate Employment Research Report