Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in publishing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jason Sommer, Publisher & Editor-In-Chief of Featherproof Books, located in Chicago, IL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We are an independent press publishing books of strange and beautiful fiction and nonfiction and post-, trans-, and inter-genre tragicomedy. Our customers vary widely because our books vary widely: they're young, old, of all races and places, but generally into reading some sorta weird stuff.
Tell us about yourself
The press was actually started by Zach Dodson and Jonathon Messinger. I got started at Featherproof basically as a volunteer intern and stuck around long enough that when the previous owners stepped away, I was there to keep it going. None of us ever did it for the money, though (because there really isn't any when you're doing what we do). It was always about putting books out into the world that other people couldn't or wouldn't, and we really wanted the world to see them.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Honestly? Keeping the lights on. Keeping the press going. When you operate on such a small scale as we do, if a book doesn't sell well (and it's nearly impossible to know what will sell and what won't), the press can survive if/when another book does sell well. But if two (or god forbid three) books come out in a row that doesn't sell well, there's no guarantee the press would be around to put out the next one.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
As this small business is really a nano-sized business, the hardest thing is being responsible for everything at the company, not just the fun stuff: accounting, sales, marketing, operations, administration, production, fulfillment, etc. You gotta be the CEO and the janitor (and everything else in between).
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Everything is pretty much DIY at the start, but don't be afraid to tap into your network when you need help, and you're probably not the first person to do whatever you're doing (so google it when you got questions). When you're looking to grow your staff, most skills can probably be taught - but enthusiasm for your business & a willingness to learn new things is much harder to develop in someone who doesn't already have it. Take advice on the process when you need it, but don't compromise your vision.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: http://www.featherproof.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/featherproof/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/featherproof_books/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/featherproof/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/featherproof-books/
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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