Live Greatly The Power of Authenticity in Business: Lessons from Lola Blankets Founders Will & Tommy Higham
On this episode of the Live Greatly podcast, Kristel Bauer sits down with Tommy and Will Higham, co-founders of Lola Blankets, a rapidly growing home brand in the U.S., known for blending comfort, community, and purpose-driven growth.
What started as a deeply personal mission—honoring their mother, Amy ("Lola"), after she passed away from breast cancer—has evolved into a brand that has sold hundreds of thousands of blankets, built a loyal community, and donated over $500,000 to breast cancer charities.
Kristel, Tommy, and Will explore the story behind Lola Blankets' rapid rise, what it takes to build an authentic and emotionally connected brand, and the mindset shifts that support sustainable success as entrepreneurs.
They also share insights into managing stress as founders, and staying grounded while scaling a fast-growing company.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation on entrepreneurship, resilience, and building something meaningful that resonates.
Key Takeaways From This Episode:- How Lola Blankets was created from a deeply personal story and purpose
- Why community and emotional connection are central to brand growth
- The role of authenticity in building trust and long-term success
- What has fueled Lola Blankets' rapid growth
- Creative approaches to marketing and standing out in a crowded space
- Tips for entrepreneurs looking to build and scale a meaningful brand
- Tips for how founders can manage stress and sustain performance while growing a business
ABOUT WILL & TOMMY HIGHAM
Tommy and Will Higham, the co-founders of Lola Blankets—one of the fastest-growing home brands in America that's redefining what a "cozy" company looks like.
At just four years old, Lola Blankets sold 600,000 blankets in a single month last November and completely sold out within 48 hours. With 20,000+ five-star reviews and over $500,000 donated to breast cancer charities, this isn't just a bedding company—it's a brand built on emotional connection, bold marketing, and purpose-driven growth.
For background, the brand launched in 2021 and was created in honor of their mother, Amy—nicknamed "Lola"—who found comfort in her faux-fur blanket while battling breast cancer.
Tommy, a designer and social media creative, built Lola's distinct aesthetic and cult-favorite brand identity. Will, a former management consultant, architected the operational scale behind explosive growth. Together, they've transformed a traditionally "sleepy" category with unexpected, fashion-forward marketing—becoming the first home brand to stage a fashion show during NYFW and even gifting Polaris RZRs to top creators to drive sales momentum.
They've collaborated with names like Tezza, Aviator Nation, and LANY—and often maintain waitlists for their machine-washable faux-fur blankets.
Connect with Lola Blankets & Will and TommyWebsite: https://lolablankets.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lolablankets/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-higham-492118108/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommy-higham-843b29b9/
About the Host of the Live Greatly podcast, Kristel Bauer:
Kristel Bauer is a corporate wellness and performance expert, keynote speaker and TEDx speaker supporting organizations and individuals on their journeys for more happiness and success. She is the award-winning author of Work-Life Tango: Finding Happiness, Harmony, and Peak Performance Wherever You Work (John Murray Business November 19, 2024). With Kristel's healthcare background, she provides data driven actionable strategies to leverage happiness and high-power habits to drive growth mindsets, peak performance, profitability, well-being and a culture of excellence. Kristel's keynotes provide insights to "Live Greatly" while promoting leadership development and team building.
Kristel is the creator and host of her global top self-improvement podcast, Live Greatly. She is a contributing writer for Entrepreneur, and she is an influencer in the business and wellness space having been recognized as a Top 10 Social Media Influencer of 2021 in Forbes. As an Integrative Medicine Fellow & Physician Assistant having practiced clinically in Integrative Psychiatry, Kristel has a unique perspective into attaining a mindset for more happiness and success. Kristel has presented to groups from the American Gas Association, Bank of America, bp, Commercial Metals Company, General Mills, Northwestern University, Santander Bank and many more. Kristel's work has been featured in Forbes and she has had multiple TV appearances including NBC News Daily, ABC News Live, FOX Weather, ABC 7 Chicago, WGN Daytime Chicago and more. Kristel lives in the Chicago, IL area and she can be booked for speaking engagements worldwide.
To Book Kristel as a speaker for your next event, click here.
Website: www.livegreatly.co
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Disclaimer: The contents of this podcast are intended for informational and educational purposes only. Always seek the guidance of your physician for any recommendations specific to you or for any questions regarding your specific health, your sleep patterns changes to diet and exercise, or any medical conditions. Always consult your physician before starting any supplements or new lifestyle programs. All information, views and statements shared on the Live Greatly podcast are purely the opinions of the authors, and are not medical advice or treatment recommendations. They have not been evaluated by the food and drug administration. Opinions of guests are their own and Kristel Bauer & this podcast does not endorse or accept responsibility for statements made by guests. Neither Kristel Bauer nor this podcast takes responsibility for possible health consequences of a person or persons following the information in this educational content. Always consult your physician for recommendations specific to you.