Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in arts and crafts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Madeline Pollock, co-founder, and CEO of kit & sis™, located in San Francisco, CA, USA.

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

kit & sis™ delivers creative experiences for young girls to explore their creativity and imagination through crafting with their dollies with our subscription craft kits! I founded kit & sis™ with my twin sister, Gabrielle Pollock, and childhood BFF, Kate Lally, at 13 years old out of our childhood love of dollies and crafting! As young girls, crafting allowed us to discover that we have the ability to create something with our own hands. It instilled a sense of confidence, curiosity, and creativity in us. In a generation full of screen-time, we are a female-founded company that is dedicated to sharing the joy and creativity of hands-on crafting with children.

Tell us about yourself

My name is Madeline Pollock; I am 20 years old and the co-founder and CEO of kit & sis™. I am a business student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. I founded kit & sis™ with my twin sister and childhood BFF at 13 years old out of our childhood love of crafting and playing with our Dollies. As we got older, we wanted to share the creativity, imagination, and fun behind Dollie + Me crafting and founded kit & sis™.

I have always been a creator, and founding kit & sis™ fuels and excites the creator in me! I love being able to bring our visions to life, whether it be our newest craft kits, summer camps, or collaboration events! As an entrepreneur, I love being able to test my own limits and uncover my potential!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is growing kit & sis™ with Kate and Gabrielle while being full-time students. I am so proud of all that we have accomplished, our determination and dedication to making kit & sis™ a reality, never taking no for an answer, and bringing our vision to life! I know our childhood selves would be so proud of the fact that we never stopped creating, chasing our curiosity, and sharing our passion with other young girls!

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

Two of the hardest things that come with being a business owner are learning to take breaks and not taking business failures personally. As an entrepreneur, it is easy to 100% identify with my business. We have created and grown kit & sis™, and it often feels like my child. When we reach an obstacle with the business or experience a business "failure," I really struggle not to take it personally. Over the years and with the continual help and reminders of my co-founders, I have been able to step back and separate my feelings and sole identity from the business.

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

  1. Be excited about taking risks; risks lead to growth! This is the best advice we have ever received. It may seem simple, but we have learned the most and experienced the most growth when taking risks. If you do fail, you have so much time to pivot, learn and redirect your business because failure is not permanent.
  2. Pitch yourself, don't wait for others to find you. When you are passionate about something, you want to share it; you'll be proud to share it. Since day 1 of kit & sis™, we have never waited for a media outlet, influencer, or store to reach out to us. As a small business, it's difficult to discover and recognize by newspapers, magazines, and writers. Rather than waiting for them to approach us, we find them. When you are passionate about your business, you will want to share it with as many people as possible! Ask for help!
  3. Lastly, ask for help when you need it. Don't be afraid to reach out to successful business owners or mentors when you need help or advice. Being able to ask for help and advice is a strength, not a weakness.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://kitandsis.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kitandsisofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kitandsis/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinepollock/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.