Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Nadia Pinder, Founder of StuyDYED, located in Brooklyn, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
StuyDYED is a Black woman-owned, Brooklyn-based tie-dye business founded in BedStuy. Folks around NYC and beyond turn to StuyDYED for hand-dyed custom garments, one-of-a-kind pieces, and incredibly fun workshops and hands-on crafting experiences.
Tell us about yourself
I started tie-dyeing holiday gifts with my roommates over seven years ago, and I simply never stopped. I was working at a cafe, constantly ruining my own clothes from bleach stains, spilled wine, and pens exploding, and tie-dye was the best way to refresh those garments so I could keep wearing them. I would say the opportunity to bring new life to well-loved items (those past, present, & future) and the chance to show folks how to have fun and play while making wearable art are the most exciting parts of my work.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I'm really proud of how my successes have given work opportunities to other women. I love that I get a gig or a big order, and I can make clear choices to collaborate with or hire other women who are mothers, artists, and creators. There's nothing like building a support network filled with creative women.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Patience is hard. I'm always feeling I have to be extra patient - as a young Black woman - in all aspects of my business. It's most difficult to be patient with myself as I learn new things, try and fail, try again and fail slightly less, and keep trying until I figure out what works for me. And that's not something I can do alone. Many people have worked really hard to remind me to be kind and patient with myself and my work as I run my business. It's especially hard to save yourself the bandwidth to navigate business operations and management while having enough creative juice to do the very work my business runs on. Running a tie-dye business by myself is a lot of reconciling the shortcomings or mistakes of Nadia, the businesswoman, and Nadia, the artist, because you really must be patient with your co-worker when you work with yourself.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Find someone to believe in you.
- Decide that you believe in yourself and your vision enough to take risks.
- Be patient with yourself and your business.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.stuydyed.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stuydyed/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadiapinder/
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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