Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Allison Warren, founder of Modernplum, located in Chicago, IL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Modernplum is a textile design and manufacturing studio based in Santa Barbara and Chicago. We make linen bedding, table linens, and cushions with an enriched use of color, pattern, and sewing details. Our customers are design enthusiasts and interior designers - those who love beautiful things and value quality and American-made goods.
Tell us about yourself
As an artist and painter, I have always worked with color. I founded the company in 2014 after making a suite of linen bedding for my home. It was a mid-century glasshouse with a distinctive connection to the outdoors. The linens I made from natural materials (linen), in colors from the landscape, and in simple designs, like the house itself. That experience defined Modernplum's design approach and ethos.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is slowly revealing itself every day. And that is, I am still standing. After eight years in business, it's been a learning and growing journey like no other.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The hardest thing is keeping all the balls in the air. As a business owner, I need to see and manage all the parts of the business on a daily basis. A functioning and healthy business, like a machine, really needs to have all parts (creative, sales, marketing, operations, production) functioning together. It's challenging to keep all those parts in sync with one another!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
My top three tips are:
- Stay on Course.
- Keep Learning.
- Find a Mentor.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.modernplumhome.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernplum/
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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