Fawn Design founders, Cole and Jenny Wecker share how they started and scaled a direct-to-consumer luxe fashion accessory brand while teaching UVU students valuable skills in scalable brand strategy and e-commerce.
What began as a simple idea — creating a stylish, functional bag that didn’t look like a traditional diaper bag — evolved into a thriving direct-to-consumer brand.
Jenny, who has been sewing since age five, initially made bags as gifts for friends. As word spread and demand outpaced what she could produce alone, the hobby quickly became a business opportunity. That moment marked the beginning of Fawn Design.
Cole, who earned a degree in business management with an emphasis in entrepreneurship from Utah Valley University, focused on operations and scaling the company, while Jenny led product design, branding, and creative direction. Early on, they produced a small batch of bags and partnered with social media influencers to test the market. The response exceeded expectations and validated their transition into full-scale e-commerce.
Throughout their journey, Cole and Jenny emphasized that they built the company from the ground up, maintaining 100 percent ownership until its sale in 2024. Strong profits allowed them to reinvest directly into manufacturing, inventory, and strategic growth. They spoke candidly about the discomfort that accompanies major financial decisions and scaling challenges, noting that learning to operate in uncertainty is essential to building something meaningful.
When discussing obstacles faced in manufacturing and design, they stressed refinement over perfection. Waiting for flawless execution, as Cole and Jenny explained, slows progress. Business is iterative, and long-term success requires a clear plan for when challenges inevitably arise.
During an extended Q&A session, they encouraged students to embrace the “waves” of entrepreneurship. Building from scratch gave them a working knowledge of every aspect of the company, from branding and marketing to operations and cash flow. Their message was clear: if they could build a nationally recognized brand from nothing, others can too.
Today, Cole and Jenny continue building, investing, and advising in the e-commerce and the consumer brand space. Their story reflects the realities of true entrepreneurship: risk, resilience, creativity, and growth through learned experience.
The Woodbury School of Business thanks Cole and Jenny Wecker for sharing their journey. Their message reinforced that strong brands are built through clarity of vision, disciplined execution, and the courage to move forward even when the path ahead feels uncertain.
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Watch Cole and Jenny Wecker's full lecture below.
