Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in clothing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Julie Wu, co-founder of Somn Home Inc., located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sömn advocates mindful living through the use of natural materials for everyday living. Our mission is to make wellness-obsessed home textiles widely available for the discerning clientele without compromising the environment, comfort, and ethics.
Using only sustainable materials - we create and offer a range of premium bedding, bath towels, and kitchen linen that are designed in-house and produced by our carefully chosen partner manufacturers in Europe and Japan. From the choice of raw materials to the finishing details of Sömn bedding and towels, we have a consistent goal of making one's home as relaxed and peaceful as possible.
Our customers are confident, engaged, conscious consumers who invest in and are always on the hunt for quality, well-designed, ethically sourced products. They live an intentional lifestyle and love their home.
Tell us about yourself
Sömn came from a previous venture I had with my husband, Örling & Wu, a lifestyle retailer founded in 2009-2020. The business recognized that natural fiber goods, specifically made from flax, were not readily available in Vancouver. Our linen offerings were one of the many reasons why customers kept coming back. From there, we expanded our linen bedding collection. Eight years on, in 2017, Sömn Home was born.
I love learning about our customers and helping them find their perfect set of bedding. They stand behind the mission just as much as I do. They have shifted their shopping habits to be more intentional, and they decorate their home to reflect their values and which contributes to their conscious lifestyle. They inspire every new piece we bring to the world. I am so grateful for their commitment to making their home more sustainable and peaceful.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Having transitioned from a 10+-year-old traditional brick-and-mortar business into an online retail model under a sister label. Growing the Sömn brand from zero to multiple stockists and retail partners across North America in less than two years. We are excited to announce our Vancouver showroom opening this year in April 2022, offering bespoke in-store shopping service by appointment only.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
There are many; the one that stood out the most personally in recent years would be dedicating time to taking care of my personal health, making it a priority.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Get to know your market do your due diligence.
- Establish your 5-10 year goal in business and see how that reflects your personal goals.
- Know that tough times will come, but they will also pass.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://somnhome.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/somn_home/
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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