Hi Piper! What made you want to start your business?
The lovely Piper!
Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to start my own business! I grew up seeing how fulfilling it could be and how it allows you to have freedom...freedom is a huge thing for me! My major in college was Small Business Entrepreneurship, it just took me time to actually take the leap. After spending too many years in a sad, gray cubicle in Corporate America (finance area), I finally said “if not now, when?” and took the leap! My shop, one sydney road, opened at the end of 2010!
It started out as an online retail boutique, stocked with up and coming artists and designers from around the world. But over that first year, I realized I loved answering questions from artists and thinking of creative ways to promote them and get their businesses flourishing. So I just recently transitioned the shop to a curated bi-monthly online pop-up shop - and it’s been a dream getting to work with so many amazing artists!! Coming soon will be classes and workshops for creative and aspiring business owners - really excited for that!!
What was your biggest challenge to getting your business off the ground?
My biggest challenge was probably me! Keeping focused, motivated (after working at a miserable job all day, having to come home every night and work on the business) and staying positive! There are a lot of ups and downs during the starting process. You just have to learn to roll with the punches. The other challenge was simply learning new skills like photography for products, Photoshop for creating images and how to use my shopping cart!
What do you enjoy the most about your business?
Getting to work with artists and helping to promote them! Although I’ve always loved design (I think I subscribe to every interior design mag there is!), until I opened my shop, I didn’t realize that my true passion is getting to help artists & aspiring business owners go after their dreams. That’s why I started doing online pop-up shops...to give artists an outlet to promote their products in a fun, creative way!
What do you dislike the most?
Working for yourself, from home, can be isolating at times. And I’ve found that talking to my dogs is a one way street! They never answer! When my husband comes home from work, I tend to babble like crazy, excited to talk to a human! That’s where Skype has saved me! I do regular chats and also have an in-person biz gals meet-up every month.
Do you have any advice that you would give to other people wanting to start a store (online/ offline)?
Take action! It’s amazing how once you take a small step and actually do something, you’ll take the next step and so on. As soon as you stop, the momentum dies. I’ve been there!! It’s so crazy how just taking a step, any step, helps you break through. I have lots of people that ask how I worked full time and started my business. And I’ll be honest and say that it took alot of work and long hours!! But if you can keep telling yourself that you’re working towards your dream, something bigger for yourself, it helps get you through those tired nights! And trust me, it’ll be worth it!
How important is your blog to your business?
Very! Actually I started blogging first, before I even started my business. And I can’t believe how supportive people were - they kept cheering me on as I was starting the shop. I truly credit blogging and all the friends and readers I came across for helping me keep the momentum to open my shop! I miss the days though of being able to read blogs - I used to read 100’s a week and sadly don’t have the time anymore. There’s such a cool community with blogging!
Very! Actually I started blogging first, before I even started my business. And I can’t believe how supportive people were - they kept cheering me on as I was starting the shop. I truly credit blogging and all the friends and readers I came across for helping me keep the momentum to open my shop! I miss the days though of being able to read blogs - I used to read 100’s a week and sadly don’t have the time anymore. There’s such a cool community with blogging!
What is your current favourite product that you stock?
Now that I’m doing online pop-up shops, I don’t carry as much stock. I do the pop-up shops to introduce people to artists and their websites. But I do carry one of my favorite artists (he’s a fellow Clevelander and friend!) - Grey Cardigan. When I was working on starting my shop, his art was one of the first things I knew I HAD to have for the shop!
Images from One Sydney Road
I love that bag, even though I don't drink much wine it makes me laugh.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the working from home comment. It is very isolating and when I work at home for long periods of time I get a bit stir crazy. Fortunately my cat meows at me a lot so it's almost like she talks back but it's just not the same. I get so happy when my job is in an office with people!
That's so funny because I love being able to work from home away from the office! There's just too many people in my open plan office sometimes!
DeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring reading, especially the fact that Piper started her online business while working in corporate world and all you need to make your dreams to come true is to take action! :)
ReplyDeleteTalking about working from home - I think I would love working at home, but I think that then I should spend more time with my friends to avoid the feeling of isolation... I feel like I work much more efficiently in home than in office, still right now I work in the office almost every day...