Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Elysia Blackhart, Founder of The Hartful Company, located in La Porte, TX, USA.

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

We are a fusion business and perhaps the first of our kind. We are a group of innovators tackling everyday problems people face where there currently isn't an easy, satisfying solution on the market. We are currently focusing on pet-related products, for now, so anyone who has frustrations with their furchildren is our ideal customer. For instance, we have an anti-tangle, anti-twist multiple-dog walking lead, a product that keeps your electronic cords safe from indoor rabbits, a device that keeps cats off benches/countertops, and a product that stops dogs from jumping on furniture without your permission.

Tell us about yourself

I have always been an innovator looking for simple solutions to solve problems I've encountered in my life. The tipping point for me came the day I had to walk five dogs, and it took me 30-minutes to walk three blocks because of untangling leads from around my legs, other dogs, and every bush, tree, and post we encountered. After experiencing the frustrations of that day, I jumped online and searched local pet stores to find a multiple-dog walking lead, but all I found were couplers and dog walking belts, both of which have many shortcomings and did not specifically solve the issues I experienced. My brain immediately began working on solutions, and over 60 prototypes later, I had a viable solution to walk multiple dogs in a safe, organized manner. We rescue societies' unwanted pets, so we have a small zoo at home. With a multitude of animals comes many issues, and continually out-thinking a determined furchild can be challenging. We quickly realized that if we are experiencing these issues every day, other pet parents and pet carers must be as well. The desire to make our lives more simplistic and cohesive drives us to improve our lives and our furchildrens' lives through innovative products.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Knowing that we are improving the lives of humans and their furchildren while solving everyday frustrations is one of our top accomplishments.

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

There are so many I could list, but launching a new patented product tops my list. Customers want value for their money. We all do, but when you have been through the creative process of bench-to-business (turning a concept into a viable product for consumers), you understand how devastating it is when you launch a new product onto the market, and within six months, cheaper knockoffs outsell your products. For instance, our multiple dog-walking lead was in development for over a decade and cost us well over $200,000 of our money to perfect. The idea we will lose it to cheap, mass-produced knockoffs is disheartening but something we are determined to overcome.

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

  1. Embrace your passion.
  2. Be innovative with your strategies.
  3. Research everything. When I started this business, all I had was an idea. I worked hard and found an amazing team to help me.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Building a business from scratch on your own is hard but not impossible. I blog about my experiences and hope to build a network of resources to help inspire future business owners and inventors so their journey may be a little easier. If we work together, we can change lives.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://thehartfulcompany.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHartfulCompany/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehartfulcompany/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHartfulCo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-hartful-company/

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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