Life & Work with Lucia “LuLu” Jackson of Blue Ash, Cincinnati

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucia “LuLu” Jackson.

Hi Lucia “LuLu”, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Ever since I can remember, I daydreamed about owning a clothing store. Starting by making clothing for Barbies & interior decor for their homes! Unlike other young women instead of daydreaming about the names of my future, children or husband, I would always be naming the brand I planned to build.

Throughout my life, I often daydreamed of brands using variations of my own name, playing on my Sicilian heritage or Iowa roots for example. In the beginning of 2010 while journaling I created the name “Kintimit Events & Costumes. The next day, having naturally recalled this name, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to name my business.

My personal skills, business plan, and needs of the community had evolved into this brand new concept, a costume shop to party & make art in, Kintimit Events & Costumes!
In July 2010, Kintimit was born by announcing this concept by marching in a local parade, with 30 friends wearing costumes I owned or created.

Although there are many services, including costume rental and design, the bread and butter of my business is costume parties year-round!

In the beginning, this concept was a hard sell, as a single mother seeking a commercial loan proved to be impossible. It was at this point I decided to convert my 1500 square-foot home into the shop, creating the proof of concept needed to secure financing.

With my then four-year-old, Oscar, at my side we converted that three bedroom home, renovating it to be the costume shop of our dreams. We did all the work together from tearing out carpet and tile, stripping and redoing floors, replacing electrical fixtures, and even a toilet, ourselves! Just LuLu & Oscar against the world, determined to build the next big thing!

Through the years of this build out, we lived in the basement of this house while operating the company, also working full-time as a corporate operational, auditor and part-time as a bartender. I worked as hard as I could, to build Kintimit from the ground up.

The concept proved quickly to be incredibly successful, and I knew that to expand I would need to relocate to a commercial property. At this time I decided to sell my home to create the capital necessary, putting the thousands of Costumes and other inventory into storage.

After finding a great new location, Kintimit was ready to operate in May 2022! Unfortunately my hands were tied due to ever changing circumstances and policy avoidance from the property owner. Forcing an eventual relocation to the current location in July’23.

As many business owners can tell you, there were hurdles. The re-open got delayed from Sept’23 to Oct’23 to May’24 then to Oct’24. Many hurdles were amplified as a solopreneur, quite simply I was struggling doing it alone.

However, my stubborn determination kept me going with big goals set on Halloween season 2024! With frugality through the tough months and great marketing prior to October ‘24, I was confident Kintimit would really take off. Unfortunately, the focus of the ladder never happened as my father fell ill.

I went to my hometown in Iowa to take him to a doctors appointment, ultimately leaving him at the hospital for a month battle before he passed away. This loss caused for Halloween and the following months to be a struggle, missing every goal I had in place.

I was faced with the question of whether or not I wanted to continue being an entrepreneur and gave myself a deadline of January 2025. Secure the right partnership, or liquidate and move on.

Shockingly, while working towards those goals, my father’s identical twin brother, who was essentially my other parent passed away unexpectedly. This tragedy gave me no other option, but to focus on settling their lives rather than focusing saving Kintimit.

Now I’ve returned to working regularly at the brick and mortar with incredible opportunity ahead, and the plan to focus and become more successful than we all dreamed

“The Twins” were the people who helped me build my company the most. I was raised by my single father with Uncle Dave at his side. When creating the concept of Kintimit, they helped to build my inventory by sourcing items all over southeastern Iowa through garage sales, Estates, and more!

There’s never been anybody who’s believed in Kintimit and in me, more than this unique parental unit. My goal is to franchise this company in their legacy and always inspire young artist along the way.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have had monumental challenges through the last five years, which are just the beginning of the list

Any single parent can tell you each day has different obstacles, many financial, and the others involving time or energy

I am unable to count the amount of times I’ve been mowing my grass at 9 PM on a Friday night because there was no other time to do so and on the other hand, I can count how many vacations I’ve taken in the last 15 years, and that is two.

Choosing to be an entrepreneur is choosing a life of obstacles, it’s about deciding how long you’re willing to be on that obstacle course, what level are willing to challenge. Most importantly, knowing what YOU consider to be the big prize.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Year round costume parties, specialized for each event with custom decorations and themes, working one on one with customers making it the party of their dreams!

Also, I work as an independent costume designer. I am most known for being able to create anything, having worked with high profile clients, focusing on developing my personal name within the Kintimit brand. Through my professional career I have worked events such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, and this year we will be working the Tribeca film festival.

The goal with The Kintimit Cottage is to be operating independently with regular hours beginning late July 2025.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Read the business plans of others listen to podcast about business, marketing, delegating, financial reporting, and anything else you can get your mind into.

Listen to these podcast nonstop so that business language becomes natural to you

Write down your goals, the big ones and the small ones

And as Bruce Lee said, work towards your goal, at least 15 minutes every day”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://KintimitCottage.com
• Instagram: Kintimitcostumes_
• Facebook: The Kintimit cottage