Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in home care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Thomas Brown, Owner and CEO of Dutton Brown Design, located in Minneapolis, MN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Dutton Brown is a high-end home decor company that specializes in colorful, made-to-order lighting and hardware. All products are designed and assembled in-house by a team of artisans and sold DTC to a customer base that consists largely of interior designers, architects, electrical distributors, renovators, and homeowners.
Tell us about yourself
My partner Zach Dutton and I had grown weary of trying to climb the corporate ladder. I worked as a chemical engineer and Zach as a display designer at West Elm, and we decided to collaborate on a bespoke lighting collection in 2013. The line sold quickly once posted online, so we decided to quit our jobs to teach ourselves more about the lighting industry and develop more product lines, including hardware. We thrive on learning how to make things in new ways and constantly work to iteratively improve our products. We've now found our niche in colorful decor and are motivated to continue developing a system of producing color-coordinated home decor.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Our biggest accomplishment is the effective implementation of our trade program (www.duttonbrown.com/trade). Our program currently consists of 5,000+ trade professionals with approx. Two hundred new members join each month. This group keeps us motivated with great feedback and repeat business, and they continue to impress us with how they position our products in fun and interesting projects and content.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
We often say we have a condition called "never enough" syndrome. When you raise the bar for yourself and exceed your own expectations, you set the bar higher each time. It can be a challenge to know when to be satisfied or to know when to stop or take a break.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Ask for help. It's ok not to know everything.
- We often say to ourselves, "Don't get stuck." In other words, don't let perfect be the enemy of good enough.
- Know your worth. Underestimate that, and you'll never get what you deserve.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.duttonbrown.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/duttonbrowndesign
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duttonbrown/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_duttonbrown
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/duttonbrown/
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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