Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jackie Zumba, owner of Jackie Z Style Company, located in St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I own several businesses, including Jackie Z Style Co (a brick-and-mortar store), Zstacks (a jewelry line), and jackiezstyle.com (an e-commerce boutique). I have a very wide range of customers that span across the world. The majority are either full-time or part-time Florida residents.
Tell us about yourself
I grew up on Long Island, New York. As a young child, throughout young adulthood, I was constantly taking trips to New York City for a variety of reasons. This exposure to “the fashion capital of the world” ignited a “passion for fashion” at a young age. After moving to Sarasota, Florida, at age 17 and graduating high school, I started my own marketing company. That passion for fashion remained, and after two years of running my own marketing business in 2010, I decided to open my first retail store in Sarasota, Florida. What motivates me every day is running businesses that I started on my own and knowing that I am setting an example for my daughter that with hard work and drive, dreams do come true.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is that I have been able to grow my businesses during the pandemic when so many retail and other businesses were not able to continue.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
One of the hardest things about being a business owner is finding and making time to step away from my business. Due to the nature of communications with my customers, whether it is through social media, texting, phone, or email, I make myself available to them almost 24 hours a day. I feel obligated to assist them with whatever it is they need. This makes it difficult to make time for myself and my family.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
The three tips I would give to start, run and grow a business are:
- Have a financial plan and stick to it.
- Don’t give up on your dreams.
- Show your appreciation to your customers and employees.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://jackiezstyle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JackieZStyleCo/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Jackiezstyleco/
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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