Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Janice Shokrian, CEO and Founder of Tausi Brands, located in Lake Oswego, OR, USA.

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

Falling asleep in the wrong position can be a real pain in the neck, literally. That's why people of all ages are falling for Tausi. Tausi of Tausi Brands is a reinvention of the pillowcase. Tausi provides head, neck, and back support with our built-in patented foam insert.

You can use Tausi for travel (no more useless neck pillows). Use Tausi for reading in bed, no more fussing with lots of pillows. Tausi is great for watching tv, recovering after surgery, lounging by the pool, or for raising up your computer for a better sight line. Tausi is the comfort you always dreamed of with the support you always needed. Tausi was invented for an aging parent, but everyone loves to be comfortable with Tausi.

Tell us about yourself

I started my business in 2018 after visiting my father in a memory care community. He was slumped over in a geriatric chair and looked uncomfortable. Not finding a solution in the marketplace, I invented Tausi, a pillowcase that can be stuffed or not and strapped to a chair to avoid the neck slump and roll.

Knowing that Tausi is meeting the needs of customers who want to travel more comfortably, want to give a gift of comfort for a friend following surgery, or for those who say that their neck no longer hurts when working on their computers as they don't have neck strain...this keeps me going. Tausi comfort is available for everyone!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment is being awarded my utility patent. This process is arduous and less than 13% of utility patents were awarded to women in 2022.

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

One of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner is not being able to grow as rapidly as I would like because of being constrained by time and money.

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

  1. Build your brand. Claim your social media, start engaging with an audience, and be authentic.
  2. Connect with other entrepreneurs, support each other, share with each other, and uplift each other.
  3. Look back from time to time to recognize how far you've come. Taking a moment to appreciate all that you have accomplished can give you that boost for the next arduous task.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://tausibrands.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TausiBrands/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tausibrands/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceShokrian
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janiceshokrian/

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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