Emily Bordner
Emily Bordner is the founder and creative director of EB&Co, a Kansas City-based women's accessories brand specializing in sizeless gifting. She launched the brand in 2012 after earning her MBA at Rockhurst University and working as a visual merchandising designer at Hallmark.
Emily Bordner's Bio
Emily Bordner is the founder and creative director of EB&Co, a Kansas City-based women's accessories brand specializing in sizeless gifting. The brand is known for modern, elevated pieces including hair accessories, earrings, rings, and handbags that finish any outfit.
Born and raised in Kansas City, Bordner earned her MBA at Rockhurst University in 2014 while already developing EB&Co. Before launching the business full-time, she worked as a visual merchandising designer and manager at Hallmark and gained experience with Google AdWords.
EB&Co. was founded in 2012 when Bordner went looking for the perfect handbag and came up short. She wanted something sleek, high-quality, and affordable. What began as a side hustle grew into a thriving brand, with a first storefront opening in Brookside in 2019 and three more locations following across Kansas City.
The brand's breakthrough came on January 28, 2024, when Taylor Swift wore one of EB&Co's Travis Kelce jersey rings to the AFC Championship game. The online store sold out within minutes. Sales grew 50% from 2023 to 2024, and wholesale orders jumped over 300%. EB&Co now operates four Kansas City locations and sells at the airport alongside its online store.
Career Timeline
2012 — Founded EB&Co
Started the accessories brand as a side hustle while completing MBA at Rockhurst University.
2014 — MBA, Rockhurst University
Earned Master of Business Administration while developing the EB&Co concept.
2019 — Opened First Brick-and-Mortar Store at EB&Co
Launched first official storefront in Brookside, Kansas City.
2024 — Taylor Swift Effect
Taylor Swift wore an EB&Co Travis Kelce jersey ring at the AFC Championship, causing sales to jump 50% year-over-year.
Episodes
Advice Line with Tim Ferriss (August 2025)
Tim Ferriss joins Guy Raz for a live Advice Line session, taking calls from three entrepreneurs navigating very different growth challenges. Lauren Menard scales GOB's mycelium earplugs across music venues and DTC while raising a seed round. Emily Bordner decides between wholesale expansion and brick-and-mortar growth after a viral Taylor Swift moment. Kimberly Becker contemplates shifting K. Becker Designs to a pre-order model. Ferriss offers frameworks on parallel verticals, low-cost experiments, and redefining success beyond revenue.
Advice Line with Tim Ferriss
Guy Raz and Tim Ferriss open the Advice Line to three founders at different inflection points. Lauren Menard is torn between a national venue deal and DTC growth for her mycelium earplug company. Emily Bordner's viral moment with Taylor Swift has wholesale taking off but she doesn't know where to focus. Kimberly Becker is testing the waters on pre-orders for her sustainable women's clothing brand. Tim pushes each caller past the obvious trade-off toward an experiment they can actually run.
