Business Discussions

  Jamie Annise did social work with women before she decided to turn her scrapbooking hobby into a home decor business. It was a close friend, she says, who gave her the confidence boost to launch her small business. Today, Jamie happily works at home with her two young kids while running her scrapbook-style gift shop on Etsy. Basketful of Grace specializes in decorative, frameable gifts for newlyweds and new homeowners.   We spoke to Jamie about how friendship pushed her into entrepreneurship, working around nap schedules and how she manages bulk orders.   Take it away, Jamie!     Name: Jamie Annise Business: Basketful of Grace Started: October 2015   Tell us a little bit about your background. How did you come to create your business?   In school I studied social work. I worked in that field for seven years, at a resource center for pregnant women. It was difficult to leave, despite the fact that the work was so demand

  Although Matt only started his business less than two years ago, he's learned a *ton* about how to deal with manufacturers overseas and one tough lesson about trademarking his unique skiwear brand.   Here Matt chats with us about where he came up with the idea for his business and the questions he's hoping to tackle next.   Name: Matt Martin   Business: Retro Mountain Skiwear   Started: November 2014   Where did you come up with the idea for starting your business?   I spotted a gap in the market back when I was in college. I went on a ski trip and I noticed a lot of people wearing vintage ‘80s one-piece ski suits. I tried to find one for myself, but I couldn’t get one anywhere. Tons of my friends said they’d had the same experience. I thought it would be a great idea to make them easily available and of a much higher quality than the original versions.   The idea was always in the back of my mind, but I didn’t act on it until I

  We first met Ashley at a holiday marketplace featuring women-owned businesses in the Bay Area, and we were immediately drawn to her story!    After taking over a natural products line that was first started by her mom, Ashley has tackled rebranding, pricing challenges — even a cross-country move. We asked her to share with us the big lessons she's learned so far as a small business owner, and the one question she has for all of *you.*     Name: Ashley Dion  Business: Herbs + Oils Bath Started: January 2013   What originally inspired you to start your business?   Funny enough, today as we're talking I'm celebrating my four year anniversary running this business!   Originally, though, my mom started the business back in 2008. She'd become allergic to any products that were store bought, so she started making her own soaps and sharing them with family and friends.   At the time, I was dancing competitively throughout

    Greg Samborski stumbled into his passion for photography during his downtime while he was teaching English in South Korea. Now that he's transitioned to being a full-time corporate and portrait photographer, he's constantly looking for ways to grow his business and he hopes to relocate back to his native Canada.    We chatted with Greg recently to learn more about how he made the leap from hobbyist to professional and what he's learned so far about getting new customers and expanding his business.       Name: Greg Samborski      Company: Greg Samborski Photography     Started: February 2015        How did you create your awesome job?   If you'd asked me what I wanted to do for the first 29 years of my life, I would never have said photographer! I wasn't the kid who found his dad's old film camera and turned the bathroom into a darkroom.   I studied criminal justice at Unive

  Kim Risi is a problem solver. When she needed to support herself through grad school with no time for a regular job, she turned her spare minutes into extra dollars by setting up an Etsy shop where she sold custom posters geared just for college students.    Now that she's juggling a freelance career in film *and* running her successful shop, Kim is wondering how she can turn her side gig into a sustainable business.   Let's hear her story!   Name: Kim Risi   Business: Designer and Owner at Eskimo Chateau   Started: May 2012   How did you create your awesome job?   I work in LA as a freelance art director and run Eskimo Chateau on the side. When I started my business, I did so out of necessity! I was just about to begin graduate school and had signed forms that said I couldn’t work full-time alongside my studies. I needed to find a way to support myself, so I decided to sell some posters on Etsy.   I mad

    Spruce is a barbershop and clothier that's unlike any other business you've encountered before. Taylor and Becca Romero’s small business in Denver Colorado offers style consultations for men, with an emphasis on swapping the lumberjack duds favored by the guys in the store’s neighborhood for sharper looks.   On top of this, Spruce also has a web-based app for booking appointments and building a style profile for every client that was customized by Taylor himself. It also alerts employees to the next appointment, giving them time to review a profile page and welcome customers by name.   We chatted with Taylor about how they came up with the idea for starting their business, what's working for them on social media and the tips they most want to get from *you* around getting new customers.       Name: Taylor Romero   Business: Spruce   Started: June 2015   How did you create your awesome jobs?  

    Jiang Yuan first found her passion for making jewelry while juggling part-time design classes with her job as a Fashion Merchandiser. Her pieces are influenced by the Zen philosophy of China and aim to inspire positivity in her customers.    It’s been a gradual journey from changing careers to finding the confidence to start her own business, but with her first collections finished, Jiang is ready to share them with the public!    We spoke with the budding entrepreneur about making the transition to launching her own company and her favorite time-management strategies.                        Name: Jiang Yuan Business: Nine Hope Started: Summer 2016    How did you come to create your awesome job?    I initially studied Fashion Merchandising at the the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, then moved to New York six years ago to start a job at Coach as a

    Ask Sara Rossi about the latest fashion trends and she’ll tell you that practical is the new black. When she launched Beau & Ro, a range of bags and clutches designed to make it easy to celebrate hands-free, she mostly had her friends — and their partying habits — in mind.   A few years down the line, word has spread. Fans all over the U.S. are buying into the Beau & Ro philosophy: that fashion and function can go hand in hand.    We caught up with Sara to ask about how she’s conquering the world of style with no previous design experience, why she focuses on repeat customers above all others and what's next for her growing business.   Name: Sara Rossi   Business: Beau & Ro Bag Company   Started: December 2013   How did you create your awesome job?   I designed my first clutch-to-belt bag in 2013 after years of wishing I had a way to tie my tote around my waist at concerts or in bars when out dancing

    Chances are if you're an avid cyclist, you've already seen Walnut Studiolo’s leather six-pack carrier. The perfect gift for anybody who loves beer and bikes, this product has been featured on the pages of countless magazines and websites across the world.   But despite this recent success, creator Geoff Franklin had no idea how popular his bike accessories would become when he first started making them.   We caught up with Geoff to find out how he and his wife Valerie manage to separate out life from work, the biggest pricing lesson he's learned so far and the social media tricks he's hoping to master next from *you.*   Let's hear his story!       Name: Geoff Franklin     Business: Walnut Studiolo     Started: October 2009       How did you create your awesome job?   I’ve always had an interest in design and graduated with a major in Architecture from the Uni

  With a client list that includes Google, YouTube and Nordstrom, Canary Marketing is at the top of its game. But what’s most impressive about this small business is that it reached this point through word of mouth alone. Cadi and her team at Canary don't pay for advertising — they let the quality of their customer service speak for itself.    We asked co-owner Cadi Stephenson to dish on the best ways to celebrate #CustomerLove, why it's crucial to ask for testimonials and how she personally sets goals for the year ahead.    Name: Cadi Stephenson Business: Canary Marketing Started: February 2001   Tell us a little bit about your background and what brought you to Canary.   Before becoming part of Canary Marketing, I worked in retail as a General Manager at Banana Republic and spent a brief period of time working for an internet startup. When I heard about Canary and what it was trying to achieve, I knew I wanted to be a

    In this digital age, it still pays dividends to nurture your business's brand recognition in your local area. Through starting small with a stall at her nearby farmers' market, clothing designer Tracy Fillion soon built up a loyal customer base that allowed her to establish a permanent shop in the area, as well as a thriving online and wholesale business.    Now, Tracy is on the verge of expanding her operation in order to meet demand but she still holds her hometown, where it all began, close to her heart.    We spoke with Tracy about the pros and cons of having formal training, the flexibility that comes with being self-employed and the importance of consistency when you're producing new products and designs.   Name: Tracy Fillion    Business: We Are Stories    Started: Summer 2008    How did you come to create your business?    I decided to start my business partly in response to the fact

    Trisha Mathis was a journalist before starting a family took her life in a new direction. Now a military mom to a 2-year-old, Trisha turned to Etsy as a place to launch a creative career that would allow her to work at home. She started Dry Humor Boutique as a quirky kitchen goods business before making the switch to greeting cards, a medium she describes as “limitless.”   We talked to Trisha about the path to becoming an entrepreneur, her unexpected journey into designing greeting cards and the efficiency tips she's hoping to learn from *you.*     Name: Trisha Mathis     Business: Dry Humor Boutique     Started: November 2015     Tell us a bit about how you started Dry Humor Boutique.   When I became a mom, I knew I would need to create a career for myself where I could work from home. I’ve had friends who had success with Etsy, so I started researching how to start my own shop. &n

  Lena Schlabach, a native Ohioan and mother to two daughters, drew inspiration from her heritage when she started her first business, Lena’s Amish Granola. After establishing a huge social media following, she returned to her first passion — fashion — and launched Farmhouse Frocks, a country-chic line of clothing made by skilled Amish seamstresses. Fans flocked to Lena’s story, as well as to the relaxed, feminine style of her designs. Today she has two brick-and-mortar stores and hopes to open a third in 2017.   We talked to Lena about what drew her to creating such a unique retail business, why she won’t be taking her manufacturing process outside the Amish community and what she's hoping to learn next from *you.*     Name: Lena Schlabach   Business: Farmhouse Frocks   Started: August 2014   Why did you start your business?   I started Farmhouse Frocks because I’m a plus-size woman and could never find items that fit m

      When her mother passed, Nichol Brinkman threw herself into making soft toys, pillows, prints and baby mobiles as a distraction from her grief. One thing led to another, and soon she found herself selling her striking products on Etsy.   We caught up with Nichol to chat about the work she put into starting a small business, why pricing for her ideal customer in mind is so important and the different roles she takes on each and every day.     Name: Nichol Brinkman Business: Pink Cheeks Studios Started: 2008   How did you create your awesome job? I Mr. Magoo-ed my way into it! It wasn't a linear progression at all.   I have my BFA in painting, but while I was in college I took a fiber arts class and found working with fabric to be very exciting. After school, when my mom got a scary cancer diagnosis, I moved home to care for her and taught myself to sew during that time. I loved it! It gave me a very physical, tangible, creative thi

  With a background in documentary photography and an appetite for outdoor adventure, Jake Baggaley is always chasing the perfect moment.    After a request from a friend led to his first wedding shoot, Jake soon realized he could use the fly-on-the-wall approach he developed in the field to capture real emotion on camera without falling into the corny trappings of traditional wedding photography.    We caught up with Jake to learn more about why raising his prices was a smart move and the big lesson he learned about having a website.   Name: Jake Baggaley   Business: Jake Baggaley Wedding Photography   Started: March 2015   How did you create your awesome job?   My Dad has a PhD in photography and my mom has an MA, so my destiny was sealed from a young age. I studied Commercial Photography at  Arts University Bournemouth and took every opportunity to include documentary-style projects in my coursewor

      Erika Arguello and Maria Copello have built a luxury beauty brand focused on natural ingredients and beautiful design. Using traditional Mayan recipes collected by Erika’s grandmother, they create products that have rapidly developed a following.    When their small business made it to the finals in a Martha Stewart competition, the two realized it had the potential to go global. Now, they’ve hired a new employee and are looking for the investment they need to grow even bigger.    We spoke to Erika and Maria about the challenges that come with finding the right partners, how they plan their workday together and the *one* regret they had when they were first launching their business.     Names: Erika Arguello and Maria Copello  Business: Baiser Beauty  Started: Summer 2014   What inspired you to create your company? Maria: We’ve always been advocates of natural beauty and have a passion for the environment. We

  Chi Yang always loved thrifting, but she had *no* idea that her hobby would one day turn into her business. Four years after selling her first item, she's running a successful shop on Etsy — and dreaming of opening up her own local boutique.   Read on to learn more about how Chi sets goals for her business and what she's hoping to learn next from *you.*   Name: Chi Yang   Business: Owner of SimplyChi Vintage on Etsy   Started: September 2010   How did you create your awesome job?   I spent three years teaching before being laid off and, although I found part-time work, it made more sense for me to stay at home long term because we wanted more children and daycare costs were so high.    My best friend introduced me to Etsy, and since we both love thrift shopping we decided to start our own shops!   We started out by selling handmade goods, but my friend soon lost love for Etsy due to poor sales. I decided

    Just one year ago at QuickBooks Connect, we were tallying the votes and celebrating our top three finalists in Small Business Big Game.   As we all know now, Mike and the team at Death Wish Coffee Company emerged as the winners — and in February we cheered them on when their winning commercial aired during the big game.    Name: Michael Brown    Business: Death Wish Coffee Company   Twitter: @deathwishcoffee     What is the biggest learning or "ah ha" moment you've experienced in your own business?   Letting go of the day-to-day low-value activities is difficult, but necessary for your business to grow.      How do you stay motivated and inspired every day?   I complete a worksheet every morning about the purpose of my business, the beliefs I have about my business, the wins we've achieved and the environment in which I must work to achieve our goals. Once I remind myself

      Melissa Mizer gave up the glamorous Mad Men world of the advertising industry to branch out as a freelance brand strategist. But it's her latest makeup-free project in support of female victims of violence that really has her lit up.    We chatted with Melissa about getting clear on your vision, the value of collaboration and what she wants to learn next from all of *you.*   Name: Melissa Mizer Businesses: MoreSeekers and The Face Forward Foundation Started: January 2014   How did you create your awesome job?  My background is in brand strategy. I started out on the media side as a Promotions Director at a top-rated radio station and got my Brand Strategy Certificate at the Miami Ad School. Then I started working with big agencies such as Leo Burnett, The Integer Group and BBDO.    One day I was walking through Target and there was a promotion for Swiffers. I suddenly thought, "Oh God, the world does not need more

  Owning a company is in Darin White’s DNA — his entrepreneurial family has been talking business, manufacturing and innovation at home ever since he can remember.    Now, he pays homage to the enterprising nature of his relatives (and feeds his own creativity!) with his small business, Hava Studios. We were lucky enough to chat with Darin recently about how he prices his unique work and why he relies on social media to bring him new business — even more than his website.     Name: Darin White Business: Hava Studios Started: January 2013   How did you create your awesome job? I grew up in an entrepreneurial family. My father and grandfather often talked about business at the dinner table. My grandfather started a company that made store displays and fixtures for retailers in 1953, so I was always around tools, equipment and designers when I was young. My interest in art and creativity was intuitive, but I also had a lot of early inspir

  Recently, we were honored to have the opportunity to interview rockstar entrepreneur Kat Gordon — founder of The 3% Conference and a true inspiration for women in business around the world.    Kat created The 3% Conference when she realized that only 3% of Creative Directors were women, despite the fact that women control the majority of consumer spending and social sharing. The conference teaches men and women in agencies and on the client side how to address these issues in new ways, and it offers something that has been sorely lacking for female creatives: a sense of community.   She has been called the “triple threat” of an entrepreneur — ad woman + marketing maven + women's expert — and she was named one of 2013's "Top 10 Women to Watch" in Advertising Age. We chatted with her about knowing when to ask for help, the value of mentorship and why nailing your one-sentence pitch is key.     Name: Kat Gordon

  Some artists are born and some are made out of a required class they didn’t want to take in the first place. The latter proved true for Jennifer Creighton, who fell in love with pottery while fulfilling a course requirement in her last year of college. The Ohio-based artist and businesswoman now runs a flourishing "functional" pottery business on and offline, while also juggling her Etsy shop with a growing consignment and wholesale business.   We talked to Jennifer about her unusual path to becoming a maker, surviving her first art show and the *big* lessons she's learned about pricing.   Read on to hear her story!     Name: Jennifer Creighton Business: Function Pottery Started: 2014   How did you come to create your business?   I didn’t go to art school and never planned on being an artist. I was even annoyed that I had an art requirement to graduate, so I put it off until my senior year. I chose ceramics because it was cheaper tha

  When Lisa Mohar made her first set of Christmas cards in her apartment six years ago, it marked the start of a successful business venture. Spurred on by the perseverance she learned as a professional singer, she went on to create a range of paper products from her home studio in New York.   Meticulous planning has allowed the entrepreneur to focus on her goals and develop her brand. Now, she’s keen to learn more about planning for the future to avoid unexpected surprises.   We spoke to Lisa about developing designs, managing social media and the perks of getting to work alongside her dog.   Name: Lisa Mohar   Business: And I Am Lisa   Started: Fall 2015   How did you create your awesome job?   I’d been making greetings cards on the side for a long time, but I knew that if I wanted to start a business I’d have to devote more time to it. I’ve been living in New York City for over 10 years and was working in the restaurant industry. That paid

  What do people do when they call "time" on a career they loved? If they’re Chad Little, they start a profitable business that's not a million miles away from the path they just left.   Following a lifelong relationship with leather and music, Chad created Ethos, a company that sells high-quality guitar straps and other goods to customers in the US and the UK.   Through a network of partnerships with Pottery Barn, Taylor Guitars, D'Addario and more, Chad has seen his products featured on stage and on TV. With on eye on his core values and the other on growth, the entrepreneur is making sweet music in the world of leather manufacturing — with a chorus of fans that he's creating along the way.   We really dug Chad's business vibe, so we chatted with him about his venture and how he counts the likes of singers Carrie Underwood and Amy Grant among his customers.     Name: Chad Little   Business: Ethos Hand-Crafted Leather Products  

    After discovering Belgian waffles while traveling abroad, husband and wife Jason and Vachi Baum decided to bring their new favorite treat home to the greater Seattle area. They started a business selling these melt-in-the-mouth goods at local farmers markets in between working full-time, and have focused on expanding their customer base ever since.   While the duo plan their snack-oriented state domination, we spoke with Vachi about how they filled a waffle-shaped niche in the local area and the long hours it takes to run a side hustle.     Name: Vachi and Jason Baum   Business: Waffly Good Waffles   Started: February 2014   What inspired you to launch Waffly Good Waffles? Both my husband and I discovered these great Belgian-style waffles while we were traveling. They're pretty different from the type of waffles Americans are used to eating, but after testing out a number of recipes we found one that worked really well. We sta