Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Renee Trepagnier, Co-Founder of Here I Am Box, located in Long Beach, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Here I Am Box is an online boutique for people who value handcrafted goods made by independent artists and makers from all over the world. We sell highly unique, curated gift boxes for people who are curious, creative, and conscientious about the products they purchase and consume. From the artists we choose to work with to the boxes we ship, in every detail, we prioritize our values to promote diversity, sustainability, and social equity.
Tell us about yourself
I am the co-founder and CEO of Here I Am Box. My partner and I started this business near the end of the pandemic because we wanted to reconnect with people, especially explorers, risk-takers, and people who see the truth, speak their minds, and follow their hearts. At our core, we believe in the power of delightfully surprising experiences and want to share those experiences with others. Our commitment to diversity, sustainability, and promoting social equity is foundational to what we do. Being able to elevate the work of diverse artists and create a community around them is why we are here. Our mission is simple: to spread beauty, spark curiosity, and create a more equitable, socially responsible, and sustainable world.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Bootstrapping and learning every aspect of how to launch and maintain a business is a huge undertaking. We are still on the upward journey, but looking back at how far we've come is inspiring. Having the opportunity to promote other small businesses, especially solo entrepreneurs, has been the best part.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Patience and doing things methodically instead of trying to do everything all at once. There is so much enthusiasm when you are getting started and expectations to be an "overnight success." But the truth is businesses are built one step at a time.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
For the logistics of getting your business set up, I recommend connecting with your local small business development center. They have a ton of information to help you get started. For growing your business, be sure you get the foundation in place before you start spending a lot of money on advertising. You'll learn a lot from those first few sales, and it will really pay off once you start expanding. And finally, in general, never lose sight of why you started in the first place. If you aren't having fun, then take a break and reconnect with your motivation. It should fill you up, not tear you down.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://hereiambox.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hereiambox0
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hereiambox/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HereIAmbox
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/here-i-am-box/
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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