Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Philippe Charlebois-Gomez, founder of studio botté, located in Montreal, QC, Canada.

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

studio botté (always written in lowercase) is a design and manufacturing company that handcrafts one-of-a-kind light fixtures through the art of upcycling. Our customer base resides within a 650 km radius of our workshop.

They are design lovers, people who have waited patiently to find the right piece to complete their home decor and who care for where their purchase comes from. They are local businesses that want to engage with local artisans and believe in the effect handcrafted unique creations can have on the spirit of their business and day today.

Tell us about yourself

I feel I am at my smartest when I see something that has been tossed out, and I can instantly predict its future through a new idea or creation. I was working as an employee for a Montreal-based high-end lighting company just before starting studio botté. I would play around with upcycling in the evenings. Accumulation of reclaimed materials pushed me to look for a space where I could live and keep the exploration going. The space I found was instrumental to the growth and confidence-building that came after.

I studied industrial design and have always had a passion for lighting and the role of light fixtures in our homes as pieces of art. With time, living in Montreal, I realized this city has a curbside tossing culture that needed some addressing. I thought, what better way than to use design as a form of solving the problem - on my small scale - and see where it could take me.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I think my workshop and my studio space would have to be my greatest pride in a more physical way. I walk in every day and find myself knowing the 16-year-old me would be impressed, and that counts! But certainly, the greatest accomplishment would have to be how my community has taken studio botté into account and how they remember our mission and come to us with donations knowing we will stretch the lifespan of these obsolete objects. I am proud of having a positive impact on small families and young couples who are challenged with today's eco-guilt by offering them a local/responsible option they can't seem to find in many other places.

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

The hardest thing is almost never on my mind until I am asked about it. It's pushing back against the expectations others have of growth. I started studio botté so I could work on my ideas, on my time. We are expected to ride the wave of any success we might have in order to go higher and further. I try to hold back on that and avoid the traps of business being synonymous with growth, growth, growth! I prefer quality, pride, relationships! But, it's not easy because some days, it's tempting to think I'm an anomaly; therefore, this whole ship I think I'm building could sink.

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

  1. Start yesterday!
  2. Beware of ''growth'', but don't beware of finding a great entourage of supporters from the get-go. People who understand and support your vision, not your success.
  3. Don't think there won't be a crowd for what you will offer. If your offer is one of great quality and comes from an honest place, people will join in.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Social media has helped my business quite a bit, but there is nothing like being face-to-face with clients and collaborators. I enjoy meeting each client and sharing my story with them and hearing theirs; it makes it much easier for them to remember studio botté and share our mission.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.studiobotte.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studio.botte/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/studio.botte/

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.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.