Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Elena Gromova, co-founder of Fashion Business Lab, located in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.

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

Fashion Business Consultancy. We are helping to launch a fashion brand and turn it into a profitable business for everyone who is willing to do so but is missing knowledge, experience, or time. We build a strong business foundation from brand concept development to a ready-to-wear collection in a 1-on-1 mentorship way. Our clients are startups all around the world.

Tell us about yourself

I have spent more than 15 years in finance for leading international companies, but I have always dreamed of launching my own business. While preparing for the Stage of Tour de France cycling competition, I realized there was a lack of stylish female cycling apparel. And this is when I finally decided to launch my own brand. It took me a year to take courses, learn, research, overcome all the possible problems, find manufacturing, make mistakes, etc. But I managed. I launched my own activewear brand Nakeid in 2015 in London. The hard side of this starting path made me make a decision later to develop Fashion Busines Mentorship program to help all new Fashion Entrepreneurs to launch their brands in a faster and easier way. And now, when we launch a new collection every month and see how these new brands are growing, makes me feel absolutely happy about what I am doing.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Seeing my clients absolutely happy when they make their dream a reality and launch their own fashion business.

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

Responsibility. You become responsible not only for your own actions, but also, others. Lack of rest. As a business owner, you always have something to do. And, you need to learn to find time for rest, not to burn out.

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

1. Don’t doubt. Doubt is killing much more ideas then a failure.
2. Do what you are really passionate about. The idea of the project should resonate with you.
3. Research, analyze, investigate and collect as much information as you can to test your idea. Calculate.
4. Identify your goals and make a plan. It will always help you to move on.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.fashionbusinesslab.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fashion.business.lab/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elena-gromova-4119b914/

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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