Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personalized gifts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Yvonne Lee, co-founder of PapaTrike, located in Monterey Park, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We mainly sell customized music boxes and some wood products on our website and Etsy. Most of our customers are domestic while some are international. When people are looking for meaningful and high-quality gifts, they will find satisfaction in our store. Sometimes, they share touching stories like looking for a gift for their friend who lost a baby, having a best friend marry, etc.
Tell us about yourself
This is Yvonne Lee. Customer service and a co-founder of PapaTrike. Another co-founder is Danny Ko, a designer. We started this business a year and a half ago. We think it's time to create a new business besides our full-time job since we have all the foundational business abilities to work independently. We found that our music boxes were so meaningful when the clients shared their stories and left us very touching reviews. The more reviews we received, the more we know we are on the right track.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
When we created a very successful design and saw the orders kept coming, it was our biggest accomplishment.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Keeping the inventory and managing the cost are the hardest things for us as new business owners. We have to review and forecast the sales and order materials on time in order to keep our sales up during those big sales days.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Time management. Unlike a full-time job, you have to manage your time very well, or your business will end up trashed.
- Cash flow. It's important no matter whether you are small or big.
- Spend every dollar smart. Ads are needed but not on all platforms. Keep tracking the conversation rate and spend the right amount on the right platform.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.papatrike.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PapaTrikeLA/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/papatrikela/
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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