Woman Entrepreneur: Sellma REICHSTEIN, MSc in Luxury Management Alumna 2018

This Danish young lady has just opened REICHSTEIN VINTAGE, an e-shop with hand-picked classics from exclusive private closets world-wide. Who said that luxury could not be sustainable?

What have you done since you graduated from IUM?

I left IUM in 2018 with an MSc degree in Luxury Management with a desire to develop my career within luxury fashion and lifestyle. I wanted to use the skillset I got during my studies to learn and grow as a professional and as a person.

I moved to Copenhagen and had the opportunity to work as a General Manager in a small fine jewelry company called Marlene Juhl Jørgensen. This was a great way for me to learn more about business administration in a small organization and use my educational learnings within luxury branding, PR, CRM, and accounting & HR in practice.

After a couple of years in the jewelry business, I felt the time was right to follow my dream of creating my own luxury vintage business. I have always had a passion for the heritage and history behind luxury brands and iconic designs, and the thought of revitalizing forgotten garments inspires me. I, therefore, launched REICHSTEIN VINTAGE in November 2020. An e-shop with hand-picked classics from exclusive private closets world-wide. The shop is my way to create a sustainable luxury fashion option while offering timelessness and a touch of the past for the modern consumer’s wardrobe.

In your opinion, what was the best part of studying at IUM?

IUM represents a lot of wonderful memories and experiences. But as I am entrepreneurial by heart, I will have to pick the Mark Challenge. It was a unique opportunity to explore the different steps of creating a business plan, from brainstorming ideas to presenting our luxury service concepts to a professional jury.

Would you say that your studies at IUM help you in your different positions? If yes, how?

My studies have given me a broad understanding of international luxury consumers and stakeholders, making communication and processes run smoothly. It has given me a 360 degree understanding of how a company is managed, organizational departments’ processes, and how the departments are connected and play together. These are learnings I use every day in my professional life.

You’re now about to launch your own company. Where does your entrepreneurial spirit derive from?

The journey of building a business drives me, and that is definitely my biggest desire. Since my childhood, I have been a creative spirit and have always been passionate about creating and nurturing projects to flourish. Being an entrepreneur has definitely upsides and downsides, and I think you should only do it if you cannot resist.

What advice would you give your younger self?

To care less about other people’s opinions and trust your own judgment and gut feeling. You are the one who knows what is best for you. I think that’s the recipe for a happy life.

Favorite memory about IUM?

I can’t pick out one favorite memory of my time at IUM. I met so many great people from all over the World. I learned so much – on and off-campus. It has been an unforgettable time that made me grow, made me wiser, and gave me extraordinary experiences.