Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personalized gifts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Tina And Jeremy, owners of Celebration Factory, located in Montreal, QC, USA.

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

Our business is Celebrationfactory on Etsy, which is the birthplace of our fun, little customized 'everything' shop! Our customers range from brides-to-be looking for matching bridal party tank tops to husbands seeking the perfect 'Mother's day' quilt and to small companies and sports teams wanting their logo on crew neck sweaters. We have managed to cater to most niches because our items are very diverse and can be customized to everyone.

Tell us about yourself

My partner Jeremy and I come from two very diverse professional backgrounds, but one thing we have in common is our die-hard entrepreneurial spirit. We took our passion for animals and families and combined them to start Celebration Factory on Etsy. It started verrrry slow...to the point that I started to question if this was the right avenue for us. But when Father's day hit, all doubts quickly disappeared!

Like any business, we have peaks and valleys, but in the quieter periods, we focus on creating new customized items that originate from our hearts. We recognize the need for comfort, which memorial items 'partially' satisfy, and the need for celebration with life's most precious moments like weddings and Father's Day. The customized items expanded beyond fuzzy blankets and t-shirts into multi-season clothing and housewares. Keeping it fresh and fun and meeting the customers' needs is why we forge on daily and continue to grow.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

In 1 year, beyond our wildest dreams, we brought our small shop into the 6-figure sales margin and landed into the 0.1 percent of sellers on Etsy.

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

Business can feel overwhelming at times. Dealing with work and life-related issues. When working on growing our business, the most important thing is to stay focused ON the growth of the business without letting other thoughts creep in to distract, and this is something I personally work on regularly.

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

  1. Know your business and know it well, or at the very least, be dedicated to learning about it and/or hiring a team of trusted people who do. It's easy to lose confidence in yourself and your business if you don't know much about it.
  2. Put aside time to work on growing your business daily. In today's world, it's so easy to get sidetracked. One minute you are working on your business, then suddenly, a FB message pulls you away. A whole day passes, and you are in the same place! Remove all distractions and get serious about the time and energy you put into building your business.
  3. Even if it's early on, get your 'team' ready. Have an accountant who can educate you on your taxes, bank accounts, bookkeeping, etc... If you need suppliers, distributors, printers (anyone or anything), just get them in line. You may not need them immediately, but you're just lining your ducks in a row for when you do. It's a good feeling to be prepared, and it reduces the overwhelm.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

The road to building any business can be a short one. Register your business name, get a website, do some marketing, etc...

But the road to building a SUCCESSFUL business can be a long one. Don't let the length of time it takes to discourage you from putting the work in. If the reason you started makes you want to jump out of bed in the morning, that's a sign you're on the right track. If, during hard times, you're still hard set on making your business a success, don't change the goal. Change the WAY you get to your goal.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://youcelebratelife.com/

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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