Business Discussions

    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

      Have you ever wanted to share your knowledge on the big stage? If so, David Knapp-Fisher is the guy you need to know! David created his dream job after discovering how much he loved chatting about personal development with individuals who were seeking to better their lives and their work.   We spoke with David about why it's so important to stick to a schedule when you're just starting out, and he shared his tips for how to get better at networking and building your personal brand — a vital skill for small business owners and freelancers everywhere.   Take it away, David!     Name: David Knapp Fisher Business: David Knapp-Fisher Started: September 2014    How did you create your awesome job?  I'm an inspirational speaker. I share information at conferences on how people can support themselves in achieving their goals. I always knew I wanted to be a speaker, and I love to talk to groups about personal development. I

  Emiley Cox quit her management job in construction one lunchtime without a backup plan. After the dust settled, she decided to follow her heart and her passion for fashion. She threw everything into creating her own online boutique and sold a yellow sundress to her very first customer within 15 minutes of launching.   We spoke with Emiley to find out just how she did it.     Name: Emiley Cox Business: EMILIA Started: January 2015   How did you create your awesome job? I always wanted to open a boutique. At first, I wanted it to be a brick-and-mortar store. But as I got older I realized that it was safer to start online because there were fewer upfront costs.   I was working as a manager at a corporate construction company and hated my job. One day, at lunchtime, I just got up and quit. The same day I talked with a friend who designs websites and decided then and there to start my own business.    Thankfully, I’m good at saving,

  Lyss Aviles is a designer, photographer, social media strategist *and* printmaker — but she hasn’t always tapped into all of her talents at once to earn a living.    When the multi-talented entrepreneur first started freelancing, she says her lack of business acumen meant she soon gave up and returned to working full-time at a design firm. A couple of years (and a lot of research) later, Lyss was finally ready to go ahead with launching her company once again.    We chatted with her about how she uses Facebook to bring in new customers and why she believes that understanding the value of what you do is key to pricing effectively.   Read on to hear her inspiring story!     Name: Lyss Aviles   Business: The Lovely Lyss   Started: 2012   How did you create your awesome job?   I decided to start my business right out of design school. I wanted to have the freedom of working from home and having my own clien

  After manufacturing a unique clothing line out of her home-based workspace in LA, Jillian Maddocks has been building a name for herself in the fashion industry — one pair of oversized denim overalls at a time. With a focus on supporting her local women’s shelter and a unique feminist symbol as part of her clothing, her company is growing slowly but surely.    Jillian spoke with us about where she’s found surprising successes and why keeping her workspace organized is what keeps her sane.     Name: Jillian Maddocks   Business: 323   Started: June 2015     How did you create your awesome job?   323 is a women’s oversized clothing brand, made mostly from denim. I sell everything from dresses to t-shirts and have created a bit of a following with this feminist logo I designed called the ‘infinite boobs’ symbol. I also donate 3% of all my sales to the Downtown Women's Center in Los Angeles, which provides safe, permane

  Fresh out of college, printmaker and artist Zoe Zietman was inspired to start selling her original works on Etsy, using the platform to reflect her "shop local, shop small" ethos. While her business is still only in its early stages, she’s receiving rave reviews and a loyal following.    We chatted with Zoe about finding the confidence to promote her own work, learning to sell her designs for the right price and why she *loves* Instagram.                       Name: Zoe Zietman  Business: Zoe Zietman Illustration and Design  Started: Summer 2016   What led you to decide that you wanted to create your own business?  I've always made illustrations. I started freelancing just before I went to college in 2011 and then began to think about selling my art — not just making graphic design work on commission — about a year ago. I knew that I really liked the Etsy platform&nbsp

  Bridget Dorr has always wanted to bring beauty into other people's lives. The creative entrepreneur started out working with art as therapy and after realizing exactly which part of the jigsaw was missing, she set up her own small business. Now, she creates stunning pieces in clay and ceramics to sell on her Etsy site.   We spoke to Bridget about the journey of learning to trust her own work, how she manages running a busy business day-to-day and what she's hoping to learn next from all of *you.*     Name: Bridget Dorr Business: Bridget Dorr Ceramics Started: 2013   How did you create your awesome job? I studied Art Therapy in college and hoped to use it to help heal people in my community. I worked with adults with disabilities for several years, but found that I was missing something from my life: I needed to express myself. Clay and ceramics were always my passion in school, so I began making small pieces here and there for enjoyment. Once

  The entrepreneurial spirit runs in Corissa Colamartini’s blood, so creating her first company — an online jewelry store called TheTamerlane — seemed only natural. The talented maker even says that she feels happier in life now that she's running her own biz.   We chatted to Corissa about finding time to relax when she has a busy schedule and learning to price her designs. Plus, read on to find out the one question she has for all of *you.*     Name: Corissa Colamartini Business: TheTamerlane Started: 2008   How did you decide to start your awesome business?   I began by making jewelry for myself. People would ask me where I got my items from, and they would compliment them. It clicked pretty quickly that I should try selling my pieces!   I first opened my Etsy shop just over eight years ago. It was a great place for me to get my start, as it was pretty easy to set up and not very expensive. Suddenly, I could reac