Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Haley Pavone, Founder of Pashion Footwear, located in San Luis Obispo, CA, USA.

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

Pashion is a disruptive footwear company that has created fully convertible heels. That's right, stylish heels that turn into comfortable flats - and let you swap heels to create custom looks, dressing your shoe up or down for any occasion.

Tell us about yourself

I got into this industry to solve my own pain point. The biggest love/hate relationship in my life was simply: heels. I am a huge heel lover but was constantly ending up barefoot or lugging around backup shoes to accommodate for the inevitable foot pain. I noticed that every woman I know also deals with this problem...and yet, there really was no marketable solution. I did some research and realized the high-heel market hadn't seen any innovation in 200 years, is largely run by male executives, and has always taken a polarized marketing approach between style & comfort. I saw no reason why women couldn't demand that their footwear not only look good - but feel good, and also keep up with them in their daily lives. So, I set out to create the solution myself - and every day, I am motivated to keep pushing, thanks to the rave reviews of our loyal customers. It's wild to say this, but a great pair of shoes can really have a game-changing impact on your daily life. Our unmatched versatility does exactly that.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'm very proud to be a Utility Patent holder in the US, EU & China on this invention. When I got started, I was told by everyone I met in the footwear industry that this concept was impossible to produce. My biggest accomplishment is proving them wrong.

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

Learning how to take the ups with the downs! Starting a business is a very personal journey - your company feels like your child in a very literal sense. Separating your own identity as a person from the company can be a real challenge, but it is a necessity in order to keep the level-headed perspective required to successfully navigate a business to success.

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

  1. Just start! I meet so many entrepreneurs who are waiting for the "right time" to get started. You will never have a "right time," only "right now,"...so make it right.
  2. Listen to your gut. The only times I have ever regretted a decision was when I deferred to someone with "more experience." At the end of the day, you know your company better than anyone else...trust yourself!
  3. The only difference between success and failure is never giving up. Running a business in an ever-changing world is always going to have its challenges. All that matters is how you navigate them.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://pashionfootwear.com/
Instagram (Personal): https://www.instagram.com/haley_pavone/
Instagram (Company): https://www.instagram.com/pashionfootwear/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleypavone/

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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