Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Margaret E Liu, founder of Lady.E Décor & Design, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

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

We are in the business of home decor, home furnishings, interior design, and decorating. Our customers are people who wish to live their lives in relative comfort and style at a reasonable cost. We cater to customers who strive to make their lifestyles meaningful and elegant without having to pay an exorbitant price.

Tell us about yourself

We realized that Vancouver lacks stores that cater to good quality home decor and related products at an affordable price. There are many great products worldwide that the locals have not had the chance to try out. We hope to bring world-class goods and products to our community. I am motivated each day by the prospect of meeting customers, understanding, and filling their needs. I am always excited about making an impact on their lives and our community.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment to date is hearing feedback from our customers saying that they appreciate our boutique design and products and how Lady E is making an impact on their lives in a positive way.

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

Due to the pandemic, our walk-in traffic is small. However, notwithstanding the challenges that this brings, Lady E has been able to stay in business and continue to grow with each passing day. We thank our immediate community and neighbors for their unwavering support and encouragement.

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

  1. Deeply understand the products that you sell and how they can be used effectively in customers' lives.
  2. Take courage in letting customers try out new products even at our cost. Letting the customers touch, feel, smell, and experience.
  3. Build a good team that can deliver a great customer experience. (This is easy to say but hard to do. This is also the key to starting a new business)

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Coming from China originally and having been in the fashion business for over two decades, I thought of melding the taste and esthetics of the east with the local culture of western Canada. This is indeed the essence of a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural milieu. Although I needed to overcome my lack of English skills, I am able to communicate my ideas into a business model through the help of my organization and staff. Lady E is the result of my dream and aspiration of creating a brand in Canada that is uniquely west coast with definite influences from Asia.

Secondly, I have always believed that social media plays a strong part in marketing. I also need to be informed of international interior decorating trends, products, and customers.

I have to act as an effective purchasing agent for Lady E to acquire the most up-to-date and acceptable consumer products to be retailed to our community.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.ladyedecor.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lady.EDecor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladyedecor/

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.