Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in clothing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ashley McBride, co-founder of MidWest & Beyond, located in Evergreen, CO, USA.

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

What began as a father-daughter project in Geneva, Illinois, has quickly become a company that we couldn't be more proud of. MidWest & Beyond is a hat company, and I make the art that winds up on our hats! Our designs are hand-drawn, painted, or photographed - all mixed-media based. We have a website where we sell direct to consumers, but our focus is selling wholesale to retailers- we get more exposure and build brand recognition.

Tell us about yourself

My dad and I started our company five years ago when we noticed a lack of sophisticated Midwestern pride "gear" on the market. After that, we quickly expanded into other states and outdoor genres based on demand. My brother fly finishes -so I started drawing flies! I love being outdoors, so my artwork began to reflect what we love to do for fun, as well as where we are from, and places visited. I have an art degree – so I might as well use it!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Opening new retail accounts and getting reorders - and they are always bigger than the one before. Our products are out there, selling and becoming more in demand. That's the proof in the pudding. But what gets me the most excited is seeing a stranger on the street wearing one of our hats!

We love seeing where our products ship directly to the consumer via our website. We ship across the country and have even shipped two orders to London!

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

Juggling. My dad and I have to wear a lot of hats (literally and figuratively), and some of them don't fit very well. I draw with a pencil and paper, so Excel spreadsheets are not naturally my strong suit. But we have learned to adjust, give ourselves some slack, and have grown so much as a result.

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

  1. Set yourself apart and don't compromise your vision, but also keep an eye on what the retailers and consumers gravitate toward. Just because you like it doesn't mean everyone else will.
  2. Bury your ego - every opinion has value, whether you agree with it or not. We have come up with some of our best ideas and sales based on listening to others. What sells in Ohio may not be in Colorado (and vice versa), but that doesn't mean you shouldn't cover your bases and adjust regionally. Listening to advice from people we didn't agree with has also been tremendously helpful in honing on who we are as a company. For example- we could sell more hats in bulk if we went with a lesser quality hat, but that is not our target consumer. We sell the best quality on the market (in our humble opinion), and the art on them sets them apart.
  3. Focus on your strengths in the beginning, and don't expand/over assort too quickly. If your core idea works, then you can build a brand or company from there. If you're all over the place, it confuses the consumer as well the retailers, you are selling to. We introduced apparel too early, and that was a lot of inventory to carry for a young company. So, we decided to focus on the hats. Now that the hats are more established, we are getting calls for apparel, and this is a great time to revisit.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

If it's what you are good at and what you love to do, then you're already ahead of the game.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.midwestbeyond.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mwandbeyond/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mwandbeyond/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MWandBeyond
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-mcbride-02846519b/

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.