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Blowfish Malibu Spotlight: Liv Houghton!

We sat down with Liv Houghton, one of our customer service representatives for the West/Midwest. She’s been a part of the Blowfish Malibu family for about a year and a half and knows all about our customers and the products they love!

Get to know Liv Houghton in a candid interview below:

Tell us about your role at Blowfish Malibu.

I provide customer service for the West/Midwest. Basically, most of the states west of the Mississippi as well as Canada.

When did you first become interested in customer service?

Sadly, it was after I graduated from college with a degree in Fashion Design and got my first job working in design. It was then that I realized I enjoyed selling a finished product more than designing it!

What did you do previously before joining the Blowfish Malibu team? 

I had taken a break from customer service, and was the Buying Office Manager for a group of luxury clothing stores in Carmel, CA.  I had previously been in customer service with Robert Talbott Ties for a number of years.

How did you get started with Blowfish Malibu? 

Long story short, hopefully… I moved back to LA and was job hunting. There were some rules for where I wanted to work next. I wanted to work for a company that had – for a lack of a better term – family values. I wanted to go to work each day happy and excited to hang out with my co-workers. The commute had to be within 30 minutes of home. Also, their product already had to be in my closet! It took me about five months and lots of interviews before I applied at Blowfish Malibu.

From the moment I walked into the office I knew I wanted to work there.

I love shoes, seriously L.O.V.E, love shoes and there were shoes everywhere I looked! The vibe in the office was laid back, open and welcoming. Everyone I met that day made me feel at ease, and I could tell they really believed in the company. Most importantly, I could tell that the company really believed in their employees. A few weeks later, I started. Now, of course, we are all working from home. But the energy and vibe are still the same – only we’re all on Zoom!

 What projects at the brand have you been working on that you’re excited about? Can you tell us about them? 

Prior to Covid-19 I was on the Green Team. Which was a small group of people from different divisions in the company working to reduce the carbon footprint of the office. I have even implemented some of the green initiatives that we brought into the office into my home. Another great project has been introducing our customers to NuOrder. Showing them how to view line sheets, inventory, place orders, download photos and more. It is really a great tool and I am excited we are able to offer it to our customers.

What do you like most about working in the fashion industry? 

I love the creativity and the energy that surrounds it. I love the fact that we are essentially all making the same thing whether it’s shoes, jeans, suits, dresses, whatever it is, the end use is the same but the design is all different.

Every company has their own design aesthetic, construction, and philosophy. It is ever-changing yet the same.

What’s your favorite part of your job?   

Connecting with the customers! I love hearing about everything going on in their stores, and helping them sell our product.

The Blowfish Malibu offices are in LA. What’s your favorite thing about the city? 

The fact that you can be hiking in the hills in the morning, downtown eating cuisine from anywhere in the world for lunch and sitting on the beach at sunset. We have everything within a short distance.

Which is your favorite pair of Blowfish Malibu shoes? 

Every season I have a new favorite! But the style I wear the most is the Play. The unfinished edges and lack of laces add a modern touch to the classic sneaker style.

What advice would you have for someone who’s trying to pursue the same career as you?  

Just start working, the earlier the better. I started working for a small retail store when I was 15. Get an internship, part-time job, anything to get your foot in the door. There are so many facets to the fashion industry, the more you know about each the better. Like me, you might think you’re interested in one area then discover that there is another one you like better.

JUST FOR FUN

What was the last thing you were obsessed with?   

I have Celiac Disease; I am totally obsessed with finding delicious gluten free bread and doughnuts! Anyone have recommendations? Please send them my way!

Where are you from and how has that shaped you? 

I was born here in the Los Angeles area. When I was 11, we moved to Carmel. I went from a big city to a small town.

It was slightly traumatic at the time but it has given me a big city attitude with small-town values.

As an adult it has made me truly appreciate what both a big city and a small town each have to offer.

What’s your dream travel destination? 

No matter how many times I go, it is still a dream come true…Lago di Como, Italy.

If you could have lunch with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?

Fred Astaire

When do you feel best about yourself? 

When I see my friends and family enjoying a meal I have made for them.

What’s your personal motto?

Hakuna Matata, it means No Worries for the rest of your days!

What’s a fun fact about you most people don’t know? 

My name is not short for anything. It’s just Liv, pronounced leave. It is Danish, it means life. Also, most people don’t know my last name isn’t Nilsson anymore, it’s Houghton. I got married in June!

FILL IN THE BLANK!

I learn the most from:  Observing everything around me

I can’t live without:  Love. Whether its romantic, friendship or family

You can find me shopping at:  Specialty food and wine shops
My astrological sign is:  Taurus
I’m scared of:  Fire
The last book I read was:  Technically the last book I read was to my son. Disney Babies, Look at Me! But for personal enjoyment it was George Washington’s Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution
Most people would say I’m:  Trustworthy and a good cook
I’m currently listening to:  It’s December so…Christmas music!! I absolutely love Kacy Musgraves Christmas album.
My style mantra is:  Classic yet comfortable
I feel most comfortable:  When I’m surrounded by friends and family
When I woke up today, I felt:  tired. I have a 5-month-old!
Most people don’t know: I am a total Disney-Fanatic

I feel the best when: I should say, when my family is happy and healthy. Which is totally true. But really, it’s when I’m at a Disney Park!


Thank you so much for your time, Liv Houghton! We loved catching up with you!

Follow Blowfish Malibu on Instagram and check out more stories on the Journal.

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