Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in retail but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Asher Boates, Founder of Vaughan's General Store, located in Halifax, NS, CA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Vaughan's General Store is a community-centric business bringing ethically made and environmentally sustainable clothing to Halifax.
Tell us about yourself
After years of working different unfulfilling corporate jobs, I finally felt like I was ready to go out on my own and open a business; I just needed the right idea. I have always cared about how I looked and what clothes I wore, but I struggled with the fact that the brands I was wearing were taking profits at the expense of their workers and the environment. The idea finally clicked after talking to others who had the same issues as me, so I set out on a mission to find products that are made with respect for our planet and the humans we share it with and bring them all together under one roof here in the North End.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
It's a funny question for such a new business to be the biggest accomplishment: the gratitude we receive from many first-time customers wishing for a business like ours that provides not only fashionable products but also a global and local conscience.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For me, it is how isolating it can be. You work long hours, often alone with no one else to turn to for support. I have been lucky to connect with some other amazing local entrepreneurs, which helps normalize what you go through as a new business owner.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Don't do it unless you really love what you're doing. You will work more and harder than you ever have before, but it is so rewarding to build something you're passionate about exactly how you want to.
- Walk before you Run: No matter how good an idea seems, I believe it's better to try it at a small scale before going all in. You learn so much from a first attempt, so take it as a learning experience and then double down once you've tested the market and worked out some kinks.
- Don't be afraid to try new things and fail. The best lessons I have learned have come from the biggest mistakes. Everything is data and an opportunity to grow and improve if you're willing to do the work!
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
We have an area in our shop that we love to use for pop-up shops/shows. If you are a local maker, artist, or business looking for fun ways to get in front of more customers, please reach out to us at shop@vaughansgeneralstore.ca.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://vaughansgeneralstore.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vaughansgeneral
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaughansgeneral/
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3ORpn43
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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