Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in clothing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Heather Bolt, founder of Dotty, located in Toronto, ON, Canada.

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

Dotty is a contemporary collection of tops, tunics, blazers, and dresses that are purposefully designed to flatter your gorgeous body. Shopping after age 40 can be tricky. I make it easy by designing pretty clothes for real life that flatter the tummy, back, and arms, that are machine washable and wrinkle-free.

Tell us about yourself

I went to university to be a lawyer. Yup. A lawyer. I have an undergraduate degree from The University of Guelph - I took a double major in philosophy and sociology. However, I was always sewing in my room, taking apart existing clothes and reworking them into new, more stylish pieces. One of my roommates saw a commercial for The Academy of Design in Toronto and came to me and said, "why are you going to law school? You should go into fashion. You're always sewing, you know all the designer's and model's names, you're basically obsessed with fashion."

I couldn't believe what he was saying - he knew my passion better than I did, but I never really considered that I could have a career in fashion. So I applied to The Academy of Design, won the entry scholarship, finished two years at the top of my class, and was the valedictorian of the whole school. I was blown away! I had found my thing! I was always an average student who never really excelled at any one thing. But here I was, excelling at Fashion College. I also knew in my soul that THIS was where I was meant to be. I could feel it in my bones. I lived and breathed everything in fabrics and fashion. Before I graduated, I was offered a job at the Giorgio Armani office in Toronto; however, I really wanted to finish my diploma.

After graduating, I took a three-month position at Ellen Tracy - a New York fashion brand, which turned into a two-year job, that saw me heading up the sales division of the hosiery and women's wear collections for Ontario retailers. After two years, I had the desire to go out on my own, and I created my own sales agency called Fuschia Sales. I represented approximately 12 different brands over 11 years, had three full-time staff, traveled back and forth to New York, and really enjoyed running my own wholesale agency.

After numerous requests from retailers asking for dresses with sleeves, I decided to design a small collection of dresses that I could wholesale to my existing clients. I named the collection Dotty because of my love of polka dots and the fact that "dotty" means "crazy," which fashion can sometimes be. After a couple of seasons of selling out of Dotty dresses, I decided to close my wholesale agency and run Dotty full-time. I've tried every single business model known...wholesaling to retailers, Dotty home parties, in-person markets and shows, pop-up shops, and finally, e-commerce. Dotty has been a true adventure for me, and I'm loving every single bit of my job.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I feel that my biggest accomplishment as a business owner is I've realized I can actually run a business. I can do this! I'm a female founder who is in charge of my own business. I can design a clothing collection, I can manufacture it in Canada, and I sell it to women who love my clothing. It's SO incredibly amazing.

A special moment for me in my business was being interviewed by Jeanne Beker on the Style Matters show on The Shopping Channel. She was so lovely and easy to talk to, and at the end of the interview, once the cameras were done shooting, she said to me, "you have a really great thing here." I almost fell to the floor; I was so stunned and yet so grateful. I spent a big piece of my teenage years watching her on Fashion Television, so to have this fashion icon tell me that I was on the right path meant the world to me.

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

One of the hardest things about being a solopreneur is running the business alone. Making decisions alone, doing the day-to-day things alone. It can be isolating and tough. Try to surround yourself with other business owners. Join a Mastermind. Join a business group. Find your people. It helps in the most amazing ways and keeps you motivated.

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

  1. Surround yourself with like-minded people. Other solopreneurs or other makers or people who are in your industry.
  2. Know your numbers. Don't be afraid of them. Track your expenses, know your margins, etc.
  3. Learn to plan. Plan your collection. Plan your sales goals. Plan your content calendar. Plan your budgets. Plan it all out. I learned this later than I should have, but planning things out has been the best thing for my business.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Running your own business can be hard. It can also be rewarding. It can be super fun and creative. And it can be draining and tiresome. Just remember to keep going. If you truly believe you have a product or service that can help someone, or solve a problem for someone, keep going. Keep sharing your idea, and keep believing. Believing in yourself and your product or service will get you where you want to go.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.dotty.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dottyclothing/

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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