Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in business development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tephanie Delaney, Founder of Brand Like a Celebrity, located in Minneapolis, MN, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My business is Brand Like a Celebrity. My customers are creative women of color, entrepreneurs, and business owners looking to elevate their brands to celebrity status.

Tell us about yourself

I first started working in my business when I realized my concepts and ideas were unmatched. A person could tell me the vision for their brand, and I could always see how to take it to another level. This is my motivating factor. I’m driven by trying new things and helping people scale their brands.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

One of my biggest accomplishments as a business owner was creating an additional resource for black-owned businesses during the pandemic. When we couldn’t do business as usual, a shift was needed. I created an online marketplace specifically for black-owned businesses to sell their products. The marketplace launched on Blackout Tuesday, during the time of nationwide civil unrest. The marketplace had 100,000 visitors within the first six weeks and over one million visitors in its first year. Many business owners had an additional source of income because of BlackBuyBlack.com.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things that comes from being a business owner is not having a set paycheck. You have to work harder when your income is uncertain to guarantee that you’re able to make ends meet. If you don’t have a nest egg from the start, it’s very difficult to keep up with the day-to-day operations.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Know your WHY! You have to do something you’re passionate about. You have to know why you’re doing what you’re doing.
  2. Be clear on who you’re serving. Who is your ideal client or customer? If you’re not clear on who you’re targeting, you’re shooting aimlessly. You’ll never hit the bullseye if you’re not aiming for it.
  3. Understand that you are a brand by design or default. Take control of your own narrative.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://tephaniedelaney.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tephanie.delaney
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tephaniedelaney/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Tephanied
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tephanie-delaney-01253a43/

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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