Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in home care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Gianina Matei, founder of Balnak Design SRL, located in Bucharest, Romania.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
BALNAK design is a company that focuses on providing the right information and products to people that renovate or decorate their homes.
Tell us about yourself
After finishing my Bachelor's in Economics and my Master's in Management for Experience, Design, and Luxury Goods, I discovered that my passion is interior design. I renovated my own flat that I bought, and I realised that there are certain situations for which I didn't have the answer, such as the perfect height to mount a TV or an art painting, the ergonomic distances in the kitchen, and much more. So I decided to gather all this information and create a one-stop information point for all the people that undergo the same renovation process but also those who just want to feel cosy at home. This is how BALNAK started. I had quite a success from the beginning as I succeeded in growing an Instagram account from zero followers to almost 55.000 in less than a year. My motivation every day comes from the people who are following the account and are truly grateful for the information I provide them with. I try to come up always with new content and new information about home decoration and renovation. I also launched a course in March 2022, a course that will soon be available also in other languages for people from other countries who follow BALNAK.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The biggest accomplishment is the fact that I managed to grow the Instagram account in less than one year to almost 55K followers and that I was also invited on TV to speak about my passion and how BALNAK came into being.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things is to create new content but also to be financially stable. I had to outsource people who helped me with creating the visuals, and the only revenue I get at the moment is from selling the course.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
From my point of view, I would suggest to start running a business only if you are passionate about that industry. I would say that a business owner has to be open to taking risks and be solution-oriented, as the idea, as it is at the beginning, might have to change and adapt in order to make it work; therefore, creativity is a great plus.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.balnakdesign.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/balnak.design/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balnak.design/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/balnakdesign/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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