Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in fashion but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Stephanie Rado Taormina, Founder & CEO of Have Some Fun Today, located in Wyomissing, PA, USA.

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

My business is a positive affirmation lifestyle brand called Have Some Fun Today that sells unique, sustainable, statement pieces that help remind you to "have some fun" by putting this graphic on our totes, bags, clothing & accessories in a bold & stylish way. The HSFT customers are men & women who embrace the meaning behind the bold statement pieces we create. The actual customer profile is less age and more a mindset because the brand strongly emphasizes the intentionality of wearing these pieces and the energy that it creates.

Tell us about yourself

I have been in design & art my entire life. I attended Parsons School of Design and did the fashion program back in the heyday of NY fashion and while Parsons was developing its influence in the fashion industry during the 80s & 90s when some of the most iconic fashion houses were formed. Between my entry into fashion and now, I took a circuitous path from working on 7th Ave to eventually founding my own upscale bedding & loungewear brand in the late 90s. After starting my own family, I decided to close my business and focus on being a mom in the suburbs. This eventually led me to discover interior design, where I worked for the next 15 years until I was inspired to start Have Some Fun Today. My inspiration for getting back into fashion was my dad. He would end every conversation with the catchphrase. When he passed in 2014, one thousand people came to pay their respects and mentioned his catchphrase. I realized its impact was too powerful to die with him, and I created the first capsule collection 2 months after his passing. My father's energy pulses through me as I create beautiful, unique & fashionable pieces that not only inspire & remind the wearer to have some fun but multiply his energy with every person the brand touches.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Seeing the brand out there with people all over the world is truly amazing. My dad would be so proud that something he believed in and practiced every day is now a staple in people's toolboxes of how to be happier in life. I am proud when I see it on an A-list celebrity, but I am just as proud of what I've created when we are supporting charities like The Ronald McDonald House. Our brand has made a whole bunch of people smile and forget their troubles for a moment. It is in being useful that I feel the most accomplished in what I do.

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

I would say that a small brand has many uncertainties and challenges every day. This isn't the easiest climate to be operating in - every day, we have to make hard decisions regarding production, supply chain, marketing & design. We have to balance smart choices with having faith in what we are doing. That has been the hardest thing that comes with being a business owner.

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

  1. To start a business, I think you have to start by mapping out the architecture of the business. Identify the 'what, why & how' of each aspect of the business so you can develop a thorough business plan.
  2. You have to understand the commitment it takes to get a business up and operating through the ups & downs. Many things will be out of your control, and you will have to persevere and push through them.
  3. Make sure you completely understand your costs. It takes more than cash to create and operate a business. They say most businesses fail within the first 3 years, so I recommend having access to ample funding to carry you through the momentum of those early years.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://havesomefuntoday.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HSFTofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hsft_official/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/have-some-fun-today/

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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