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Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Matt Cardosi, Co-Owner of Runlocker, located in New York, NY, USA.

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

RunLocker is a subscription box service dedicated to help runners of all levels achieve their goals. Our mission is to provide the right tools and best advice for runners and athletes, which will allow them to train better, run harder and recover faster. We ship our 'locker' boxes each month to customers of all ages, and all running levels, across the US.

Tell us about yourself

As a runner myself, I have been fortunate enough to complete several marathons, and with that comes the pre-race ritual of visiting the marathon Expo to pick up the race bib and view all the coolest new products on the market. That was my 'ah ha' moment. I figured why not get these products in front of as many runners as possible, and what better way to do that than via a subscription box model? With that, RunLocker was born.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

As a small business owner, I would say the biggest accomplishment was when we had our first customer. Having spent months setting up the business, building a website, finding product partners, and designing the brand, amongst several other tasks, when that first order came through, it really felt like the business was real.

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

Wearing so many different hats. I also have a day job, so spending my evenings and weekends working with influencers, figuring out social media for business, navigating the marketing, and keeping up with the financials as well as customers inquiries, packing, and shipping boxes is a lot. You have to stay organized, committed and continue to have passion and drive, or your business will not succeed.

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

Put the customer first - always. The power of Word of mouth marketing truly helps build trust, credibility, and a loyal customer base.
Stay on top of financials - you might think you're making a lot in sales, but once you factor in the cost of goods, overheads, and general expenses, you might be surprised. If you're new to accounting, I would recommend spending time learning how to balance a budget.
As mentioned, stay organized and recognize success doesn't happen overnight. If you build on small successes over time, you will build a great business.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://runlocker.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/runlocker/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/runlocker/

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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