Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Marissa Nordling, Owner of Little Roos MN, located in Chaska, MN, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Welcome to Little Roos MN! We are a small family-run business started in January of 2019 based out of Chaska, Minnesota, and online. We specialize in kid's fashion & handmade bows! You can also visit our retail store in north Chaska, where we have tons of books, sensory toys, and more!
Tell us about yourself
When I first started Little Roos, it was January 1st, 2019, handmaking baby booties and bows. I was a stay-at-home mom because daycare was very expensive in our area. We were living paycheck to paycheck, and I was looking for a way to help with bills while being able to stay at home and care for two little ones. I made a couple of bows for a Facebook live sale, and they went crazy!! I kept rolling with posting on Facebook and doing lives, and on March 4th, I launched our website. I could no longer keep up with invoicing individual people.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Shortly after our website launch, COVID hit, and with the online shopping boom, we grew even faster than I could have imagined. By 2020 we were looking for our first warehouse space for production and fabric storage. In 2022 we were able to get our first brick-and-mortar spot, and we launched a full retail store! I am so grateful to be able to run a business with my kids.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
I would have to say everything has its challenges. Don't be fooled; owning businesses isn't for the faint of heart. It takes nonstop work, no timeouts, and lots of heartbreak. But working through it all and reaching the other side has lots of rewards.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Hire out all the legal and accountant stuff right away. That is a whole different world of stress, and it's worth it to pay other people to handle it. Your main focus should always be your businesses and handing off tasks to others.
- Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Focus on the core 3 things that make your businesses. Try not to branch out too much because it can spread yourself too thin.
- Remember why you started the businesses to begin with. Mine was to be able to be with my kids. Don't let your businesses overshadow the reason why you started them.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://littleroosmn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleroosmn/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littleroosmn/
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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