Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Krystal Bleu, co-founder of Kori Parker, located in El Segundo, CA, USA.

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

Kori Parker is an online retailer carrying vegan leather handbags, jewelry, sunglasses, and other accessories. Our customers love trendy items at affordable prices.

Tell us about yourself

I launched Kori Parker in June 2020. I still pinch myself in amazement that I launched this business during a pandemic! What started as an idea back in 2019 became a reality in 2020. My career has always been in eCommerce, and I wanted to take my 11 years of experience and use it for my own business. I picked accessories because I love them, of course, but also, it really is the thing that elevates your look. It's the start and finish of a head-to-toe look. I wanted to put together a collection of products that were fun, modern, and of high quality for a range of prices. Every single product on the site was selected by me for the customer! I have so much fun curating the products, getting reviews back, creating a community on social. I'm motivated by that but also yearn to succeed.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The biggest accomplishment is definitely launching the site! It took a lot of time between working a day job to get it up and running. Another big accomplishment is making it to my first year in business and everything I learned. I'm now at the place of getting monthly orders regularly, and that is a dream come true.

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

To keep going and not give up! Being a small business owner isn't for the faint of heart. I still work a day job to keep afloat as I grow my business. I'm working 9 hours in the day and working 4-6 hours at night. There is so much that goes into running a business, so many ideas I have, things I know will move the business forward, but bandwidth is the number one issue.

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

  1. START!
  2. Don't worry about a niche; find a company that you aspire to be and do something that makes you different and sets you apart.
  3. Make sure you love the business idea, the product you offer, the service you give because if you don't, it's too easy not to give your all.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Don't let fear stop you. Don't let a "saturated" market stop you. They don't have you, and you bring something special to the table. There is enough out there for everyone to win, but it has to be something you are really passionate about. Do something that

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.koriparker.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Koriparkerco/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koriparkerco/

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.