Spend Less, Enjoy More - Cappel's Inc.

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in clothing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Steffi Cappel, owner of Cappel's Inc., located in Cincinnati, OH, USA.

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

Cappel's offers FUN! In singles and bulk. Party Supplies, Decorations, Costumes, and Accessories ALL year-round. With knowledgeable staff - whether you are someone who is attending an event or hosting one - Cappel's can help you find items that are just perfect. Cappel's, in business since 1945, is a family-owned-and-operated retail and wholesale distributor of Party Supplies, Costumes, Wigs, Makeup, and Costume Accessories for all occasions, including Halloween, school plays, weddings, birthdays, patriotic events, Mardi Gras parties, tropical luaus sporting events, and more.

Tell us about yourself

Ray Cappel, my husband, first started coming to the store to help his dad when he was eight years old. As he grew up, he continued to work in the store after school, on weekends, and every summer. Ray eventually traveled with his dad to trade shows and became the company's main buyer. In 2021 Ray and I became the sole owners of Cappel's Inc. We are proud of our company's longevity, our reputation for great customer service, and our success in offering products that people want to buy.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Our biggest accomplishment is securing and maintaining an account that requires us to ship a large number of decorations and costumes to 130 locations four times each year. Our ability to source, package and ship thousands of products and offer just-in-time delivery is something we'd like to share with the world. We could duplicate this for other companies and grow that part of our business.

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

One of the hardest things is offering what customers want and not just what we like for ourselves! Predicting what will be "hot" when we have to place orders in January for the entire year is our most challenging task. But we learned a long time ago that we could do hard things and not take it personally when items we thought were perfect just sit on the shelves!

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

1. Know your customer.
2. Treat your customer how you want to be treated.
3. Hire the right people.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.cappelsinc.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cappelsinc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cappelsinc/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cappelsinc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cappelsinc/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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