Marlies is the founder of Pepper Luxury Vintage, the fast-growing platform for luxury vintage designer pieces. She talks about how her love for designer items began, the challenges she faced along the way, and how she makes her dreams come true—from difficult moments to major victories. From her team to her community, Marlies shares how courage, perseverance, and a clear focus make her success possible.
What does "being bold" mean to you personally?
That you pursue your own dreams, regardless of what others think or feel. If you believe in something, you have to do it. That's what being bold means to me.
When do you feel most powerful?
Actually, always when I'm with my team. We have a team full of talented women, and Pepper wouldn't be where we are without them!
How do you stay true to yourself in a world full of expectations?
I try not to care what others think or feel, and I fully understand that social media gives a distorted picture of reality. It really helps me to hold on to my dreams and goals and not stop until they're achieved.
How did your fascination with luxury vintage begin, and what made you decide to start your own business?
I didn't grow up in a family where designer items were the norm—not at all. When I was doing an internship during college, my supervisors always brought the most beautiful bags, and I thought, "I want that too."
You started as Bobbie Luxury Vintage and, for legal reasons, changed your name and branding to Pepper Luxury Vintage. What was that period like for you, and what did it teach you as an entrepreneur?
An involuntary rebranding due to trademark issues made the world fall apart. Back then, I was still doing everything alone, which meant I had to bear this blow alone. Of course, I have people around me who helped me, but ultimately, they don't feel it the same way I do. Despite this, I decided to be open online from the start, and that really kick-started Pepper, and we grew faster than we did.
You've also been very open about this on social media. Was that a conscious decision? How did you experience that?
When this happened, I immediately knew, "I'm going to be completely open about this." I didn't want any horror stories circulating about the name change and hoped to help others with this. Ultimately, I still get messages every week from girls going through the same thing, and I'm glad I can help them with that.
How do you maintain confidence in your brand and vision, especially when things don't go as planned?
The rebranding has given me a clear understanding of Pepper's positioning and goals. I'm also very open about this with our team, and that way, we keep each other on our toes when things don't go as planned. It's also just about going with the flow, and I always try to think, "What's the worst that can happen?"
Can you share a moment when everything clicked during the rebranding?
After we were able to trademark our new name, we continued with the branding, and then came the rebranding shoot. That's when I saw everything together for the first time, and I found everything much more beautiful and stronger than Bobbie had ever been.
What was an unexpected highlight in the first few years of Pepper Luxury Vintage?
We've had so many, from hours-long lines at our pop-ups to expanding our team. I also set an unrealistic revenue target for 2025, and we surpassed expectations by well before the end of the year, and I truly realized we were on the right track.
Pepper launches new designer items every week, which is super cool, of course, but also very ambitious. How did you come to this decision and how do you determine what to add to your collection?
Initially, I chose the strategy of launching new items every Sunday at 10:00 AM, without exception. Since 2023, we've never missed a launch, and I'm incredibly proud of that. That's why our community knows they have to be ready every Sunday at 10:00 AM for their favorite designer bag. I'm responsible for purchasing, and we always maintain a good balance between showpieces and commercial bags. We buy the former for branding and image, while the latter sells within minutes.
How does it make you feel to see how customers react to your collection and service—and when does it truly feel to you: this is why I do this?
I still appreciate every review, but unfortunately, you get used to it. That's why I always love pop-ups: when you see that hundreds of people have traveled far and wide to come see us. That's when I truly realize how big Pepper really is.
What's your dream with Pepper Luxury Vintage? Are there any plans or ideas for where you'd like to grow?
My ultimate goal is world domination. There are local players in every country, but no one with global reach using a B2C model. This is my dream for Pepper to grow towards, and we won't stop until we achieve it. 
Who's a woman you admire for her courage—and why?
Definitely Anke de Jong! Since the beginning of this year, she's been helping me with my personal growth and Pepper's growth. I think it's so impressive that she quit her job at ELLE to start her own business, expanding her media company and podcast, and helping young entrepreneurs like me.
What advice would you give to women who dream of more but are hesitant?
I hesitated for so long myself, but finally took the plunge. It's incredibly exciting, but everything that involves discomfort helps you grow. Ultimately, it's truly the best time of my life. It might be simple advice, but you just have to do it. If I can do it, someone else can too :)
Sometimes being bold is all about the little things. What's a small but courageous decision you've made recently?
It's not so much a small decision, but I started working with someone to coach me at the beginning of this year. I'm only 28 myself and still have so much to learn. I'm so happy she's helping me with Pepper, the team, and everything around it!
What's your favorite piece of Eline Rosina jewelry?
Definitely the Diamond Huggies! I'm a fan of minimalist jewelry and so far I've only owned gold hoops, but I think stacking the Diamond Huggies with them is very pretty and feminine.