Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in a clothing line but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Barbara Zabawa, founder of Pursesuitz, LLC., located in Mc Farland, WI, USA.

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

My business is Pursesuitz, LLC, and we serve women who want to venture out hands and worry-free. Pursesuitz Pocketwear aims to level the playing field between men's and women's clothing by providing functional pockets in shapewear that can be worn as an undergarment or standalone activewear clothing. Too many times, women are denied the same freedom men experience because we carry our essentials in an external bag. Bags are not always allowed or practical, particularly when being active. Pursesuitz Pocketwear provides a safe, secure place for women to store their essentials without sacrificing style.

Tell us about yourself

I am a lawyer (who also owns a wellness law firm). About ten years ago, when one of my cases went all the way up to the US Supreme Court, I had my first opportunity to sit in front of those nine highly regarded justices. But, my team of lawyers was told to leave our bags back at the office, so the two women on the team left our purses behind. When we arrived at Supreme Court security, they asked us to show our identification cards. My heart sank. My ID was in my purse, which was back at the law office, several miles away. My male colleagues sailed through security because they had their ID on their person, inside their suit pockets, as always. At that moment, it dawned on me that despite our best efforts to achieve equality in the workplace, hurdles still existed in unexpected places. Something as simple as functional pockets can make a huge difference in allowing women to excel as well as men. I set out to solve that problem and eventually came up with Pursesuitz Pocketwear.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Not knowing how to sew and not having any connections in the fashion world (my world is wellness law), in the two years since I started Pursesuitz, I have been able to create a viable product and offer it for sale. The Pursesuitz Pocketwear Tank Top is my "hero" product, and it is already changing women's lives for the better.

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

Persistence and patience. It can be tempting to give up because making an idea a reality is hard work. It takes a lot of investment of time and money, and inevitably there are moments when you wonder why you are doing it, especially when money and time are short.

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

  1. Test your idea by talking about it as much as you can and really evaluate the feedback.
  2. Based on the feedback, listen to your gut (or "tug" as my book refers to it).
  3. Keep moving forward, even if very incrementally.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I wrote a book called "The Tug: Finding Purpose and Joy through Entrepreneurship." I use my experience owning both a service-based business (my law firm, the Center for Health and Wellness Law, LLC) and my product-based business, Pursesuitz, LLC. It offers insight into some of the most important decisions you can make in the earliest moments of the entrepreneurship journey.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://pursesuitz.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pursesuitz/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursesuitz/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pursesuitz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarazabawa/

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.

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