Today i have micky and rajohan, founders of Uneek Garmz, they share their story with us on how they started their company, their entrepreneurial journey and their plans for the future.

Enjoy the interview!

Hey Guys, how are you both doing today?

Great… “The sun is shining the weather is sweet, makes you wanna move your dancing feet.” (In actual fact it’s threatening to snow again, but hey ho.)

Can you give us some background information? About yourself? Who you are? What roles both you play in the company?

Micky: Hmmm… This is where we tell you about growing up in the troubled East London area and dreaming of getting out right? How we used to shoot up schools but we’ve turned it all around because a kind hearted old black man taught us how to play basket ball well and believed in us?

We’ll we’re not your typical Cinderella story. We are both from East London but contraire to the bad press it receives, we actually both love living here. We travel ALOT for work and despite visiting some wonderful places there really is no place like home and my ruby slippers be a tapping after a few days away!

Rajohan: Its true, the ruby slippers, the black Louboutins, the pink Dr Martens, the red Converse – Micky has a lot of shoes! Nah, but seriously, London is so full of talented people, I am so inspired by people who are creative and driven and doing what we do we get to meet those people first hand.

One of the reasons why we started Uneek was because we found it hard when Micky first started doing photography to network in industry and gain exposure for her work and the more people we did meet the more we realised we weren’t the only ones. That’s why we wanted to have a featured artist section on the website to help to give people who are truely talented a helping hand to getting their name out there.

Micky: The roles we play in the company are pretty simple really, I’m the eyes of the company and

Rajohan is the mind. He comes up with concepts for the branding, marketing ideas and deals with all the paperwork which would make my eyes go crossed and I put those ideas “onto paper”, I design stuff for the brand, the website content, I take and edit all of our marketing images and I create the final designs for the clothing.

What inspired you both to start the company?

Rajohan: Well we were only 21 when we started the company and for me that was the age when I actually really started think, “right what do I want to do with my life?” College was done and I knew I didn’t want to work a nine to five forever, I wanted to wake up and be inspired, I wanted to work for myself and I wanted to make a lot of money!

Coming from a street dance background I had already begun to decide that I wanted to do something creative as a career and something that would give me the freedom to be my own boss and I’ve always loved fashion so when Micky asked me to be her partner in crime I couldn’t say no!

Micky: Yeah, weve both always loved fashion but we realised a long time ago that the things we loved weren’t that easy to find in high street shops, not only that but I hate walking into a place to find 10 girls wearing the top I just brought from Topshop which is why I rarely buy high street anymore.

We’ve been customising our clothes for a long time to create things which other people wouldn’t have and we get loads of people asking where they could get stuff like ours so I started thinking about putting a label together.
The main difference I wanted Uneek to have was not only the designs but also the fact that they are true limited edition. Where most brands say limited but there’s actually a 50,000 piece run, our clothes actually are.

How did you get started in this business?

It wasn’t easy, it was loads of research and a lot of trial and error. You have to be dedicated and motivated, it’s not something that I would recommend for someone hoping to make a quick quid without putting in the work. We were both working fulltime jobs when we started Uneek and we had to put in late nights for no pay just to get everything done for the launch but it was definitely worth it.

Were you both exposed to entrepreneurship as a child or was it something you picked along the way?

Micky: Not entrepreneurship but definitely hard work. Both my parents taught me from a young age that you can’t plough a field by turning it over in your mind which is why I got my first job at 15. My mum and dad have always been a massive inspiration for me, they both had to struggle to provide for me and my younger brother and sisters.
I realised from a young age that you get out what you put in and also that I don’t want to have to struggle to get by, I want to be successful enough to re-pay them for all the opportunities they have given me and to make them proud.

Rajohan: I agree with Micky, I haven’t been exposed to entrepreneurship but my older brother and sister were great role models to me growing up. I know the value of money, like Micky I got my first job at a young age and working for a national newspaper I know what grind is, and what can be gained from hard work.

How did you finance the business?

The business was financed with our own money. We invested in it because we believe in it. What we’re doing is not only a business to us, it is a project that is grounded in all the things that we are passionate about and luckily other people are passionate about it too so it’s proven itself to be a worthy investment.

What was the most difficult part of starting the business?

The nerves, that’s why we named our first blog newbies, nerves and neeks! The hard work and long hours was nothing compared to the nerves of when the website went live and we were awaiting the public response. Uneek started as an idea in 2007 and we worked on it for a long time getting everything to our version of perfect but the hardest thing was seeing if people were actually going to appreciate it like we do.

I have seen loads of clothing line come out of the UK over the past year, what makes your business different/unique? Or s it just another clothing company?

A lot of people ask this and somewhere in all our paperwork is our original business plan which clearly has all our objectives and number one is to not be just another clothing company. The reason we started Uneek was because we had enough of all those carbon copies.

We wanted to bring something fresh to the table. We promote young artists, we provide services like photoshoots and styling, we put creative people in touch with other creative people and try to help the UK creative scene grow, and we do all of that looking fly in clothing that you can’t get at every boutique in Shoreditch. So are we just another clothing company? Ask our customers ;o)

What is an average workday like for you?

There are no average days, that’s what we love about it. One day we can be shooting for a magazine editorial with some of the most creative young minds in London, the next we can be in China sourcing new products, it’s crazy and exciting and tiring but we love it!

How have sales grown in the last few months?

We’re really lucky in that since we started the support has been huge, our customer base is always growing and a lot of our customers keep coming back to get more bits for themselves and as presents for other people! A lot of our customers have brought a few bits after they received their first order which lets us know that were doing something right.

What are the most crucial things you have done to grow your business?

Looking after the people that support us. We wouldn’t be here without our customers and our fans, once people sign up to the mailing list they are part of the Uneek Family and get exclusive discounts and news bulletins whenever we have shoots and things, we like to let our customers know when we need models etc because we like them to get involved in Uneek, they’re the reason for our success so it’s only right that they should share in it.

What plans do you have now to expand your business further?

We’ve got a lot planned for this year. We have a whole host of new products that will be on the website shortly and lots of exciting events that we’re going to be organising to give our customers a chance to get involved more. We’re also going to be doing some fundraising for charity. We believe that when you’re blessed in your life it’s so that you can bless other people.

How do you market your products or services? What has been your most effective marketing tactic?

Most of our marketing is done online as we are an online business and we don’t sell in the shops to keep our products exclusive. We’re on social networking sites as it not only gives us an opportunity to find new people that may be interested in what we do but it also helps us to keep up with our existing fans and customers.

What three pieces of advice would you offer entrepreneurs starting out today?

Micky: Be prepared to work hard, don’t get into this industry unless you have the drive to see it through, it’s not a quick fix to make money you do have to put in the hours.

Rajohan: Read, research and learn, even now, were forever learning – it’s what helps our business to grow, if you become complacent then that’s it, you won’t go any further.

Micky: Have fun, you have to be passionate about what you’re doing, enjoy every last second because there will be days when you’re working nonstop and feel like just jacking it in but it’s those days that your passion will get you through.

If you were to start another business, what might it be?

Micky: The obvious ones would be a photography studio, a magazine or possibly another clothing line, this industry is all linked and its where my passion lies but for me its not if it’s when so I cant give too much away.

That said, one thing which I would love to do is to start a charity that provides support and counselling for carers of people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Not many people know but aside from all this, for the last 5 years I was also a fulltime carer for my dad who sadly passed away in September from MS. I know firsthand how hard it is to live through that illness and I also know there’s not a huge amount of support available for carers as it’s not as well documented an illness as something like Cancer. I’d like to raise awareness about MS and help the people that have to live with this illness.

What are the biggest challenges you face now?

Keeping up with Uneek and finding the time to have a holiday! The label has already surpassed all our expectations and is continually growing.
When you find something that you’re so passionate about and it is received so well it can become hard to switch off and to delegate to other people. We know how we want everything done so it’s tempting to work, work, work to make sure it’s perfect for our fans but it’s important to find time for ourselves and our family and friends.
We need to delegate where possible because we can’t do everything on our own! This year were definitely going to be looking in to hiring more staff!

Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years or so?

Doing what we’re doing now but 100 times bigger.

Thanks for your time.

Check out their Blog: http://www.uneekgarmz.tumblr.com and Join their facebook Group to stay updated with their latest products.
Follow them on twitter

How many of us have girlfriends who spend over 40 hours stitching up canvases and over $300 having them made into belt, well now you know of one story, This marked the beginning of two roommates Peter Smathers and Austin Branson starting up a business that will focus on how they could make needlepoint belts at lower prices and of the highest quality.

I caught up with Peter and Austin to get some details on how it all began.

Enjoy the interview and let me know your thoughts.

Hi Guys, Welcome to YHP
Can you give us some detail about your company and what roles you both perform?

We both do a little of everything. Austin heads up and oversees all the design work and ordering for our company. Peter focuses on operation, sales, and product development.

How did you come up with the idea?

We both dated girls in college who made us needlepoint belts as gifts. We thought they were great products, but extremely expensive and time consuming gifts to make for someone. The girls (one of whom is Austin’s wife now) each spent over 40 hours stitching the canvases and over $300 having them made into belt. We were convinced if we could set up production to produce these belts at a lower price and the highest quality then we’d have a unique product to build a brand around.

Can you give us some background information about yourself?

Peter grew up in Maine, graduated from Deerfield Academy in 2000 and Bowdoin College in 2004.
Austin grew up in Washington, DC, graduated from Saint Albans Academy in 200 and Bowdoin College in 2004.

How did you finance your business?

Summer earnings and cheap rent (thanks Mr. and Mrs. Branson). After graduating from school we moved in with Austin’s parents to keep overhead low. We put all of our savings into getting the company off the ground. We used things such as airline miles and credit card points to get to Vietnam to set up our production. Our initial investment was pretty small and it has been the best investment we’ve ever made. We were and continue to be very frugal with how we spend our money—stretching a budget can produce great creativity.

What is an average workday like for you guys?

Every day is different and that is what is exciting about our company. It really keeps you on your toes. Right now, we are in the middle of our wholesale show season, so we are travelling a lot and meeting with existing accounts and hopefully open new ones.

How has your market changed in the past few years? How has your business changed to keep pace?

We’ve been continuing to grow during this difficult economy, but our market continues to be bigger than we ever expected. We’ve had to hire more people and expand our production and product offerings to keep pace.

How have sales grown in the last few years?

Sales have continued to grow over the past few years. The growth hasn’t stopped, but definitely slowed down during the crisis in 2009.

How do you market your products or services?

We sell to some of the best speciality shops and golf clubs in the USA, as well as off of our website.

What has been your most effective marketing tactic or technique?

We offer the best quality products on the market and have the customer service to match. Sticking to this simple fundamental principle has helped us grow a loyal customer base. Also, we are all about grassroots growth—it has built a great buzz and foundation for our brand.

What’s your definition of success, and do you believe you’ve achieved it yet?

Success is something that is very difficult for me to define—I think I will always be chasing it no matter what happens in our business. We’ve had some success with our business early on, but success can leave you much faster than you can obtain it—so we never get too comfortable.

Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?

Patagonia, Peter Millar

Would you say college is the perfect place/time to start a business?

If the idea is right, now is the perfect time to start a business. College can be a great time because odds are you don’t have a mortgage, spouse, children, or other responsibilities that might make starting a business difficult. Plus, you have so many resources at your finger tips.

What pointers would you give to fellow Entrepreneurial College students on juggling school and business?

Take advantage of the resources available your school—both the research facilities and faculty. The President of our college was supportive of our idea and arranged meetings for us with some industry leaders.

What have been some of your failures, and what have you learnt from them?

We have definitely had our fair share of failures, but all of the problems we’ve had in our business have helped us improve or have led us to something better. Pay attention to your failures because you can often learn more from them than you can from your victories.

What is the most exciting and interesting thing you like about your business?

Watching the company grow and seeing first hand what we can accomplish with the great team that we now have in place.

Any plans for the future?

We will be creating some new features for our website, and adding new products.

What advice would you give to aspiring and young entrepreneurs?

If you plan to start your business with a partner, choose them carefully. Even if they are your best friend, make sure you structure the dissolution of your business before you get going. We have been incredibly lucky in our business partnership, but we have also seen our fair share of partnerships sour quickly.

Thanks so much for your time guys.

Check out their website
Become a fan of SmathersandBranson
Follow them on twitter

It’s incredible how young entrepreneurs are constantly starting up companies, i mean it’s by the minutes these days, Oliver has started three companies so far and he’s not even out of the university, I can tell from the mood that he’s in i don’t think he is looking to stop anytime soon. He started his first company at 15.

He discusses the following in the Interview:

What Inspired him to start a business at age 15?
How he raised funds for his first business?
His Current Projects
Why he considers himself as a serial entrepreneur
What he thinks young entrepreneur should do before starting up a new business

How you doing Oliver, thanks for taking time to be with us on YHP
Can you quickly give us a quick background about yourself and what you do?

I’m 21 and am studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University. I’ll graduate in June 2010 and have accepted a job with a brand consultancy called Happen in London, where I worked over the summer – they do very interesting work in developing new products and services for all sorts of clients – including Cadbury’s and Tesco. When not at university, I live near Cambridge with my brother Thomas (who has just started at Edinburgh reading ecology) and with my Mum Lesley who works as a secretary for an architect.

That’s Great Oliver

You started your business when you were 15? How was that? What inspired to start up a business?

It was a daunting process but I was helped with the legal and official side of things by a friend of my mum’s – Paul, who joined the business as a director because I was too young at the time – being only 16. He gave me a hand with all the bank account opening and tax registration – he also took me to trade shows and to meet key suppliers – it wouldn’t have happened without him.

I mean it is always great to have someone who can help us especially someone with experience.

I was inspired to start the business by my mum, who when I was moaning about not being able to find size 13 shoes, suggested jokingly that I should start my own company. When I did a bit of internet research and found only weak competition, she was incredibly supportive and pushed me to go for it.

I’d always been interested in money and business – I had been giving my dad share tips since I was 11 and enjoyed reading about companies and that sort of thing in the newspaper. The idea of owning my own business excited me.

Let’s start from your first business? What made you go into the shoe industry?

It was really just because I had had the problem finding shoes for my own big feet – that’s what prompted the whole venture – it’s not like I had been looking to specifically start a business before the shoe issue arose! What sold me to the idea was a large trade show which we went to in Leicester which had a huge variety of different manufacturers and suppliers which convinced me that there was plenty of potential to turn this in to a tangible enterprise.

How did you raise funds for your business?

Since the age of 14, I had run a mobile disco along with a friend from school – we would do weddings, birthdays and that sort of thing. That is quite a lucrative little money spinner and it had given me plenty of cash which I used to fund Bigger Feet. It allowed me to purchase software to build a website, buy some initial stock, as well as pay company registration fees etc. When things got busy with lots of orders we did have some cash flow problems which led to me clearing every penny out of my bank account to pay bills, but luckily the cash all came back in and I didn’t lose out. If I had run the company for much more time I imagine that I would have needed more investment.

Why did you leave that business?

I was applying to Oxford at the time and doing a lot of extra work outside of my A level homework – reading whole piles of books in preparation for interview and all that sort of thing – I just didn’t have the time to keep the company going, and I also knew that whichever university I went to, it would be hard to run the company from home, and so the best idea might be to sell it early to allow for a smooth transition.

Tell us about your current business?

There are two projects that I am working on at the moment. The first is www.forge-properties.com – a French townhouse that my mum and I have renovated and which we are renting out to holidaygoers. That was a lot of effort in terms of DIY and a new learning curve being in a foreign country, but it seems to have paid off and we have had a fair few bookings.

The second enterprise which I have on the go is genderchecker.com – a site which tells users whether a name is male, female or unisex. Having got someone’s sex wrong on the phone after not recognising their name on paper, I thought that it might be an issue which other people might have. The site has had several thousand user visits since Easter, and has also generated a booking for the house in France – meaning that it has already broken even. Whilst this site won’t make millions of pounds, it has been an interesting learning process, and should hopefully show people what I’m about.

Would you call yourself a serial entrepreneur?

Yes. Though I don’t own a conglomerate of successful businesses, I can’t help but constantly think about new opportunities, and am actually working on a premium food product at the moment even though I’m supposed to revising for my final year exams. I think being a serial entrepreneur is as much about the mindset and hunger as it is about the actual success or visibility of one’s achievements.

If you were to start another business, what might it be?

I’m not choosy – as long as it can make money and not cause harm to a vulnerable group of people, I’m open to it. Ideally, I think it will be web based and involve products rather than a service, since this will allow it be up scaled very easily and cheaply – minimising risk and allowing for the biggest returns. I’ve got a couple of ideas up my sleeve, but am planning on working for a few years in branding and marketing with Happen before taking any of them to market.

What are the most crucial things you have done to grow your business?

I think maintaining a close bond with consumers – and making them feel valued is key. It makes them want to come back to you and gives you a solid sales base which you can build on with confidence. If you can put yourself in the consumer’s shoes then you should not lose sales to rivals unavoidably, and should retain a loyal and profitable repeat group. For Forge, this means calling up guests after their stay and having a casual chat about their stay as well as sending Christmas cards and that sort of thing.

What plans do you have now to expand your business further?

For Forge, we already have another property in Turkey under development at the moment – and are hoping to cross sell the two properties to holidaymakers.

For Gender Checker, I’m looking into the corporate market – foreign call centres and that sort of thing – to see if we can rack up large scale database enquiries which we can charge for.

What do you do in your spare time?

What every other 21 year old does! A mixture of sport, going out to clubs and bars, travelling (I went to Thailand this summer) and catching up with friends. Sadly, nothing too exotic, but I wouldn’t change it!

Who do you model yourself around?

I don’t consciously try to model myself any particular one person – but like to cherry pick people’s best qualities and try to emulate that aspect of them. I like the tenacity and audacity of sports stars like David Beckham, but I also appreciate the cool and collected manner of my Grandpa and the charisma of someone like Bill Clinton for instance. Obviously, we are all our own person but I don’t think there is any harm in aspiring to develop your character.

In a business sense, I don’t really have an explicit idol – I of course admire the success and daring of people like Richard Branson, but at the moment, having not worked closely with any other entrepreneurs, I think I base my business decisions around what feels right to me rather than what I think someone else would do in my situation. I’ve clearly got lots to learn, but at the moment, it’s the best decision making process I’ve got!

Where do you see you and your business in the next 5 year?

To be quite honest I have no idea what I’ll be doing in five years. Hopefully the holiday properties will be generating enough regular income that we can sell them and effectively take out all the equity and earnings in advance and use that to do something else with.

I don’t think that genderchecker.com will be a multimillion pound company, but then again, it was only really pursued as a learning tool for future projects.

I see myself in five years with a much sharper idea of how consumers think and how to respond to that in a business sense – which Is why I have a taken a job in marketing/branding rather than jumping straight into my own business.

What advice would you like to give to young entrepreneurs looking to start up their business?

Think things through. People all too often rush in to decisions and end up ether regretting them or reversing them soon afterwards – branding is an obvious example of this – new companies rebrand all the time!

If you are confident about your chances of success, you will convince others that you will be successful, and then you will be successful.

Thanks Oliver, I mean this is great, You are constantly turning your ideas into action which i think is key in continuous learning as an entrepreneur, I would not be surprised to hear you making tons of money in the future.

Let me know what you guys think of the interview, Are you doing something similar to Oliver , or are you currently on the verge of starting up your own business, let me know, Let a comment.

Check out his different companies

BiggerFeet
Forge-Properties
Gender Checker

Jake Nickell is a young entrepreneur.
Jake is the founder and CSO of skinnyCorp and Threadless.com, he is also involved in other projects online.

His company threadless sells more than 100,000 T-shirts a month.

Threadless uses the power of crowdsourcing to sell over 100,00 t-shirts a month, Talk about dropping out of college to run a multi-million dollar company.

To think that nine years ago, Jake was living in a small apratment and submitting his t-shirt design to an online contest, something that he did not think would blow up this much, he did not even know the business model.

How are you doing Jake?

Doing well, working from home today, writing a chapter for the Threadless book coming out next year.

What are your plans for the weekend?

It’s Friday – about to start! It’s going to be a crazy weekend. Tomorrow I’m flying from Colorado to Chicago to take part in our holiday party. My flight lands at 8:20pm, party starts at 9:00, I’ll be partying all night then my flight home leaves at 6:00am the next morning. Gonna be CRAZY!

What would you be doing if you weren’t doing this interview?

I would probably be writing for the book

Can you briefly give the YHP Readers some background information about you and what you do?

I started a t-shirt company called Threadless.com back in November of 2000 with $500. Today it is a huge, strong online art community with over 1 million users!

How do you define success?

In units of fun. It’s all about being happy.

How do you build a successful customer base?

For us its about building friendships and community. This happens very slowly but very naturally. And you end up with an incredibly strong community of people who share a common interest and trust the business.

How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?

I started dating my wife around the same time I started Threadless. I didn’t create Threadless as a business though, it was more of a hobby. It wasn’t really treated as a business until about 2004. So in a way I’m a bit of an accidental entrepreneur. Being able to transform a hobby into a business has been great for family life. There’s a different tone to the work I do that’s more about having a good time… makes it easier to be constantly thinking about ‘work’ like a typical entrepreneur does.

What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?

I made some pretty big failures on the accounting side of things. I’m horrible at that. It definitely taught me how valuable it is to have someone who is interested in the things you aren’t to do those things.

How do you find people to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?

At first we hired a lot of friends. Then we hired a lot from within the Threadless community. When we hire outside of the community, we make sure that we share the same values that are core to our business and the culture and the people.

How important have good employees been to your success?

Hugely important. We like independent workers that share the values of the business and have a get things done attitude.

What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?

Patience, drive and very little fear.

If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?

Hmmm. History was always my weakness in High School, I’ve never been much of a history buff. But I think I would want to speak with an inventor of some sort – maybe Edison… I would love to get some insight into the thought processes that went into coming up with a completely fresh idea that went on to change everything.

What is the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?
Probably when I flicked a booger when I was 12 and it landed on my grandma’s hand.

What three pieces of advice would you give aspiring entrepreneurs?

Constantly try to surprise yourself (push your capabilities), don’t make decisions based on fear and bootstrap your business – grow slow.

If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?

Absolutely nothing.

What’s your favourite holiday location?

Copper Mountain, Colorado – snowboarding !

What’s the worst place you’ve ever visited?

I lived in Houston Texas for a year and it was absolutely horrible.

Thanks for your time Jake, we wish you the very best.

Threadless Founder & CSO
Threadless: threadless.com | twitter.com/threadless
Jake Nickell: jakenickell.com | twitter.com/skaw

Who said bestfriends can’t make a business work would have to think twice and i guess once in a while you get that perfect story of a start-up business, Ashley and Danielle are two bestfriends after graduating from the university of washington quickly found success and fame after starting their clothing line.

Can you quickly give us some brief background information about yourselves?

Ashley Cook - I grew up in Colorado and graduated from Washington University’s Olin School of Business in 2008 where i double majored in Marketing and Spanish with a minor in Drama. Instantly fell in love with fashion at a very young age. As a little girl i would cut and sew any and every article of clothing i could get her hands on.

Danielle Dankner- I was born and raised in New York and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a major in English Literature and minors in French, Psychology and Modern Dance.

Firstly, how did you both meet?

As fate would have it, the two of us were set up as roommates at Washington University in St. Louis freshman year. We lived together for all four years of college and became best friends. After graduation in May of 2008, we both moved to New York City and soon thereafter started our company, ash&dans.

Did you both have any entrepreneurial background, how did you know that you wanted to start a business together?

Ashley was a business major at Washington University. We knew we loved spending time together and knew we wanted to figure out a way to involve each other in our daily lives.

I hear a lot of people complain about working with friends and family, was that a worry when you decided to go into business together?

Not at all. After living together for four years we knew each other so well, both strengths and weaknesses. We are very different but extremely compatible. We balance each other out well. We are both creative, self-motivated and extremely hard workers; we knew that if we set a goal and put our minds to it, we would do anything and everything to make it happen. And we did.

How have you been able to make it work so far?

Through dedication, perseverance and creativity. Our business has become our number one priority. For right now, we know that to make it work we have to put our heart, soul and time into ash&dans. That’s why it has been so successful thus far.

What would you say has been the best quality you’ve developed so far?

Dedication. We are both extremely dedicated to our business. We have developed a line that we are proud of and have the confidence to put it out there and share it with the fashion world.

What is an average workday like for you?

Varies from day to day. Typically we begin the day at the computer, returning emails and filling orders. We spend a lot of time in the garment district- we get a lot of our materials and inspiration walking around there. Our manufacturer is also in the garment district, so our days are very full and hands on.

What is the most interesting part of your job?

We do everything “in house” right now, so everything from design to marketing to PR to sales to accounting we do together on any given day. Every day is full and interesting because we do it all.

If you were to start again, would you do anything differently?

No, we are very happy with how our business started and how it has grown.

How do you market your products or services?

Our creations are original and easy to wear. We built our collection on the concept of embellished jersey- taking simple jersey in chic bodies and adding unique brooches, chains, lace and other unique pieces to dress it up. Our pieces appeal to a wide range of women and ages.

What has been your most effective marketing tactic or technique?

People love our story- two best friends moving to New York and seeing their dream come true. From the beginning, sewing our own pieces on the bedroom floor to now having our collection professionally manufactured and sold in such renowned stores as Bendels and Harvey Nichols, ours is truly a success story for the ages.

They was a lot of buzz when Leighton Meester decided to wear your brand, how did that happen and how did you find out?

We gifted Leighton the scarf last winter and about a month later one of our friends emailed us saying that she saw a photo of Leighton on one of the websites and she thought that she might be wearing one of our scarves. It turned out to be our “Niki” scarf, the navy wrap scarf with black lace trim.

What else do you girls do outside work?

Ashley- I am a actress and play competitive tennis.
Danielle - I am a dancer and writer; I have performed jazz, West African and modern dance.

What was the most difficult period so far in your entrepreneurial journey and how did you bounce back from that?

Luckily, the most difficult part was simply learning to block out the non-believers. There were people in the beginning who did not believe our business would take off. If we listened to all of the pessimists and gave up on ourselves, the business would not exist today. However, we are both extremely determined and motivated individuals. Once we set a goal for ourselves, we do anything and everything in our power to make it happen, no matter what people say. We knew from the beginning that we had a great concept and the personalities and work ethic to make it happen.

What are the most crucial things you have done to grow your business?

First and foremost, perfecting the quality of our product was crucial to our success. Second, developing our website with ecommerce capability was crucial to online sales and reaching the online consumer.

What plans do you have now to expand your business further?

We aim to continually create original concepts and designs that are both beautiful and wearable. For now we are known for our accessories, but we plan to expand into women’s apparel. We have a line of embellished jersey tees and cardigans coming out in Spring 2010.

What should we be expecting from you both in the future?

Our hope is that ash&dans will be a recognizable brand and we will have the freedom to expand our line to include any designs that we create. Hopefully we will have a consumer base with brand loyalty that keep wanting more and more ash&dans.

Thanks ladies,To get your hand on one of their collection, check out their website
Ash&Dans

Birmingham-based jewellery designer Lora Leedham talks to YHP about her life and journey as an entrepreneur.

Lora creates ethical, contemporary jewellery, all handcrafted or finished, making each piece unique and subtly different to the next. She uses high end materials such as sterling silver, gold, platinum, conflict-free gemstones, Kimberley diamonds and handmade Venetian glass.

Hello Lora, How has been your day been so far? Thank you for taking time to be on YHP

Absolutely no problem, and I am very well thank you, at the moment, it’s Christmas season with the orders, so everyday is extra busy!

Can you give us some brief background of yourself?

I started off believing that interior design would be the field which I would go into, however for my final project at college I had to base it on something which had no relevance to interior design. Something else which I really enjoyed doing was metal work and working on small scale pieces, so jewellery seemed like the obvious choice for me. I absolutely loved it from day one and knew that this was what I wanted to pursue.

What inspired you to start your business?

I wanted to create my own designs and be free to create what I wanted, as oppose to other peoples designs. My dad had his own business so I had an insight into what it involved. It seemed perfect for to set up my business and be known as an independent designer.

Can you explain to us what your company does and the roles you play in it?

I design and handcraft ethical and bespoke jewellery. I currently have 7 collections with a new collection being released soon. I supply stockists around the UK and sell internationally also. My sales come through my website but I also have my own gallery in Stratford-upon-Avon. I have a lot of roles in the business, I not only have to design and make the jewellery (although, I do have staff helping me with finishing on the metals, stone setting etc when I don’t have time) I also do all of my own PR, which means working on press releases and keeping an eye out for potential features, and I also do all of the day to day admin work. I have staff in the gallery but I also have to keep and eye on that side and work on press with that too. I meet with customers and discuss their requirements and I work on a very one-to-one basis to create a very special and personal piece.

What are your process in making sure your jewellery are unique?

All of the jewellery is handmade and therefore has the designers own style added to it. I particularly take my inspiration from my hobby of photography. I enjoy photographing nature and looking at the textures and forms which I find, the jewellery therefore has a very organic feel to it.

How did you get finance to fund your business?

I was set up with the help of the Prince’s Trust and was awarded £2500 to get started, I had to prioritise where to use the money and buy materials, business literature etc. A lot of the funding went into equipment and raw materials to produce my first collections.

What’s your USP?

The USP for my jewellery is that it is all individually handcrafted, care and attention go into every one of my pieces and I create the jewellery so that the customer is completely happy with their piece. I also use conflict-free diamonds and have an ethical ethos to my work, even the packaging is from recycled materials. Another USP would be that the jewellery is bespoke, you can change designs to your own requirements and change gemstones, etc. I also work on customers own designs or take old jewellery and create something new with it for the customer.

What do your range consist of?

I have 7 ranges of jewellery which are my main ranges. The collections are varied in themselves, one collection focuses on intricate wire work, whereas other collections are more solid, involving components making up the piece and have gemstones added for detail. The collections all use precious metals with gemstones and Venetian glass

Who are your competitors?

There are a lot of fabulous designers out there; however each designer creates something so different to the next. Every designer goes down a different route, depending on what they want to achieve

Who is your target market?

My target market is quite broad, the jewellery is purchased by all age groups and although women may buy the pieces for themselves, I have a lot of male customers buying for wives, girlfriends etc. The jewellery is very individual and anyone who loves and appreciates handcrafted jewellery are my ideal customers! I have created jewellery for the Royal Family and various celebrities, so this is also a target market and getting my pieces into catwalks, etc is vital for raising my profile.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy?

Generally talking to people, I find out what it is that people want and approach that area. I market the jewellery in higher end galleries and magazines as this is what my customer will be reading or going. My story usually is a great marketing strategy and gets a lot of PR, so it saves me paying for advertising, I have jewellery worn by celebrities, who the media are always interested in and so I get to market my work with a story.

What plans do you have now to expand your business further?

I hope to carry on raising my profile as a designer, I want have more celebrities wear my jewellery and then eventually create jewellery for celebrity events. I don’t necessarily want to become famous, but just respected as a designer, I want my name to be known for jewellery design and the unusual designs which I create. On the retail side, I hope to build up the website and also open more galleries around the country.

Apart from your company, what other company do you admire the most and why?

I can’t say that I have a company which I particularly admire, but I do hear of business people who have either started with absolutely nothing or lost everything by becoming bankrupt, and then picked themselves up and started again to then become successful. I admire any businesses who can overcome problems and difficulties and I think they are an inspiration to us all.

Do you have any favourite business related books that you can recommend to other entrepreneurs?

I have recently read a book called ‘Self Promotion for The Creative Person’ by Lee T. Silber. He is an American author and talks about how he promotes himself, usually for little money too. This is great for creative businesses, I always find that artists are fabulous at what they do, but when it comes to promoting themselves and generally the business side, they tend to lack business acumen. This book demonstrates the importance of promoting yourself and getting your name out there.

What advice would you give to a Young Entrepreneur starting their first business today?

I have some sayings which I always stick to, one is that ‘you get out what you put in’ and I definitely agree with this, sometimes you may need to motivate yourself, or get out there and sell, but basically if you put in as much hard work as you can, the rewards will follow. Another mistake which I often see is that people open a business to suit their lifestyle, whereas your lifestyle should suit your business. Don’t open a business for the wrong reasons, if you can put in the hard work, especially when it is new, then put in the extra hours, keep working hard and don’t forget to have fun!

What was the most important lesson you have learnt so far?

It’s a bit of an obvious one, but really just to not give up. You take a lot of knock backs with a business and especially in the fashion industry. You have to learn not to let your confidence suffer, because it is a key feature which you can have. You have to get up dust yourself off and go again. Persistence can be difficult at times, but there are times where your hard work pays off and it makes it all worth it.

What is been your proudest moment so far?

There have been a lot of proud moments so far, such as seeing my jewellery on live television being worn by a member of the royal family, but winning the Prince’s Trust Enterprise Award was a moment which I was really proud of. You don’t often get time to stop and think about what you have achieved, but when someone nominates you for an award, it is very flattening and winning the award makes you realise all of the hard work which you put in and being recognised for that is fantastic.

What should we be expecting from you in the future?

Hopefully a lot more! I hope that my designs will be seen in large high street stores soon, and I hope that my name becomes known as a designer. As I mentioned, I don’t personally want to become famous, but I would for my designs to. I would like to take part in more catwalks and get my jewellery at some really high profile events.

Thanks for your time Lora.

Contact Lora Leedham
Website

Having lived and worked in countries ranging from Haiti to El Salvador to New Zealand, Kyle, barley & birch’s founder, found herself wanting to continue to help the many organizations that she had worked with, all of which were working hard to improve their communities.

After earning her degree in environmental science, Kyle then also found herself wishing that the “organic” clothing that she was purchasing for the children of friends and family was a little cuter and a lot more environmentally and socially responsible. The solution soon became obvious: Kyle needed to create her own line, holding it to the highest social and environmental standards, and give the profits to organizations working to improve the lives of people all over the world.

How you doing Kyle, thanks for taking time to be with us on YHP

It’s my pleasure! Thank you for the opportunity!

Were you always a business person? What inspired you to start up your business?

No, I definitely wasn’t. My degrees are is philosophy and environmental science and I had only taken one course in economics! I was inspired to start the business after some scientific research into several different children’s products. I found that many of then, including children’s apparel, could be a lot better for the environment, the people making the clothing, and for the little ones wearing it! So I was determined to create a company with high standards across the board.

What were you doing before you start up your company?

I was in college. I started my company during my gap year between undergraduate studies and law school, which is what I am doing now.

I mean you’re still studying, and it’s law, and i know law students spend a lot of time reading, how do you cope, how do you balance your time?

It’s very difficult, because they both have highs and lows in terms of workload. When both are at a high, I just don’t sleep. Even when both are at a low, I am still swamped at all times, but I am just able to go to bed like a normal person.

Essentially, I am never done working. I am always frantically catching up doing something.

How did you finance your company?

I obtained a $10,000 business loan.

I’m sure they were days which you couldn’t sleep, what kept you focused and motivated?

Great question. I was motivated by my goals and mission of being able to donate money to organizations all over the world. But I think once you get to a certain point in your business timeline, all entrprenuers are really motivated by their idea and seeing it through, that giving up really isn’t an option. So it was a mix of both of those for me.

Do you ever think of taking a gap year to focus on your business for a while?

Yes—that is exactly what I did.

How many employees do you have?

We have 2 employees and 2 interns.

How has sales grown from the last year?

This is technically our very first year in business, which is wild and exciting!

How do you market your products or services?

We reach out to high-readership blogs and have been fortunate to have been featured in conventional and eco-focused magazines all over the world.

What has been your most effective marketing tactic or technique?

Sending pieces to mom-bloggers to review! We have a very high quality product, so they always like it and first hand reviews are really the best kind of advertising we can do.

What is the best advice you’ve been given so far?

Great question. I give lots of advice, but only rarely receive it. I think the best advice I have ever received was from my father, an accountant. He told me to be realistic about my budget and that it is easy to spend all of your money on lots of little things but that that has the risk of actually totally killing your business. It is so true and really the most important thing to remember while starting a business.

Who is your favourite entrepreneur at the moment?

Paul Newman in general. He knew how to create a high-quality business that made a lot of money to give to groups that did a lot to help people with it. A current entrepreneur I am always impressed with Blake Mycoskie, the founder of TOMS shoes, which gives a pair of shoes away for each pair you buy.

What do you do in your non-business hours?

I don’t really have any. But I do take my puppy (a German Shepherd mix) to a huge dog park along the shore every weekend. That is a great break from both school and work.

How does your business “give back” to the community or to society?

We donate at least 15% of our profits to environmental initiatives in order to make our line completely carbon neutral.

We donate at least another 15% of our profits to organizations all over the world improving the lives of others. We fund everything from girls schools in Haiti to sustainable agriculture education in El Salvador.

What should be expecting form you in the upcoming years?

A lot, I hope! We are introducing bedding, sweaters, and outerwear in our next few collections. We will also launch a new website and continue to add retailers!

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs out there?

I would tell them that whatever they do, don’t give up! You will absolutely encounter obstacles, everyone does. Your success will be how you handle and overcome them.

Thanks for your time Kyle.

Again, my pleasure!

Website: Barley & Birch

Meet Alice, A 12 year teenpreneur running a business called Frou Frou Flip Flops, where she decorates flip flops for charity, alice started selling decorated flip flops for charity in 2nd grade after we learned about the Southeast Asian Tsunami as an aid in helping kids who lost all of their stuff. Now she chooses a different charity each quarter to support.

Hey Alice, Thanks for taking time to be on YHP

Why did you decide to make ribbon decorated flip flops for charity?

I started selling decorated flip flops for charity in 2nd grade after we learned about the Southeast Asian Tsunami. I wanted to help kids who lost all of their stuff. Now I choose a different charity each quarter to support. I also run 5k races that benefit charities. Decorated flip flops are fun to make and to sell because they are great for pedicures, cheer squads, slumber parties, birthday presents and more.

What’s your biggest distraction?

Skype, because all of my friends have Skype accounts and we can talk for 10 hours straight and still have stuff to talk about. Or TV. There are always good shows to watch.

Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?

There is another girl who is an entrepreneur making bottle cap necklaces called Snap Caps. Her website is http://www.m3girldesigns.com/.

Maddie, the founder of m3girldesigns has actually agreed to do an interview with us, that should be coming out very soon.

What are your hobbies?

Running and writing poetry. I like to run because it helps me relieve stress. Poetry lets me express myself and poems are subjective so people can’t really judge what I write.

What qualities have you developed as a result of running your business?

I think that I have learned to manage my time better. I also have learned to appreciate people for who they are. I hear lots of peoples’ stories when looking at charities or when people order flip flops from me, and I know that there are lots of amazing people out there.

What has been your most satisfying moment in business?

I made flip flops for a whole cheer squad. It was over 20 pairs and we hand delivered them to their championship at Walt Disney World. That was pretty satisfying.

How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?

I don’t market it very heavily. My website ranks high on Google because my mom is great with web stuff and most people find me through the internet.

Who is your favourite entrepreneur of all-time?

My mother. She inspires me to work hard. She also makes me feel good when I’m sad and loves me no matter what stupid stuff I do. She balances her work with her life and family too.

What’s your favourite TV show?

Wizards of Waverly Place on the Disney Channel.

Who is your favourite singer?

Taylor Swift.

Where do you see yourself and your business in the next 5 years?

I see myself on the varsity cross country team at school, thinking about colleges, and still making flip flops for fun because I love to do it.

Thanks alice for your time, we wish you the best in the future.

Frou Frou Flip Flops
Twitter

Hannah Nguyen may only be in the fourth grade but she is already finding her way in the business world.

She is now selling rings she learned how to make in school.

During technology classes at school, Hannah has learned how to effectively and efficiently use the computer and Internet to conduct research. She said she used that knowledge to learn the vector-based illustration program Lineform. Nguyen then used the software to create several different ring designs that were inspired by various influences in her life.

YHP Spoke to Hannah and her mum briefly.

When did H-Artshop start?

It started December 2009 my dining room table Irving Texas me, my mom and dad, and my friend Jonathan Matlock. They have all been very helpful. I couldn’t have done it on my own.

What has been the response so far?

Pretty good. People seem to like it so far. They like my rings plus they seem surprised that I’m only nine years old and have my own business.

How many have you sold and how much are they?

I’m not sure exactly how many I’ve sold my mom handles the financial side of things, but my rings are currently $4.99, I also sell magnets that are $2.00.

How are you looking to expand the business?

I have lots of ideas, but next in line will hopefully be to print my designs on T-shirts.

How do your friends react to you running your business?

Alot of them want to buy my stuff. Mostly my friends still treat me just the same, and I like that. I don’t want people to treat me differently just because I have my own business. I’m still just the same.

What do you want to be in the next 10 years?

I would like to be able to continue on with my business and succeed. Making a million dollars would be nice. That would be nice because I could help other people with my money and pay for college.

Maria

How do you feel about your daughter starting a business at this age?

I’m am very proud, but I’d be proud of her regardless. I am extremely impressed and most days I can’t believe she’s really a business owner.

How does she balance her studies with her business?

Hannah is extremely responsible and still maintains excellent grades in school. School is first business is second. She is very driven.

How do you support her?

I try to encourage, but not push. I’ve told her before that if she was to wake up one day and want nothing to do with H-Artshop that I would be just as proud. I want her to want to keep up her business, but I don’t ever want her to feel as if she is her business. I help her in any way I can and will do so for as long as she wants me to.

What advise can you give other mothers in this situation and what should mothers do to encourage their children to follow their dreams?

My only advise would be to believe in their children’s abilities. Kids have huge hearts, huge minds, and great courage. I would also suggest that you encourage their natural abilities. Children are all born with their own unique gifts and abilities. We should encourage those instead of trying to push our own agenda.

H-Art Shop
Buy your Button rings

By: Joseph Ajilore

Chelsea’s story is an inspiration to anyone with a dream, Chelsea is an LD child that had to cope with losing three of her family members in the space of 5 months and losing 5 members of her family in total at only 17, She witnessed the death of her father while on the phone to him, Now 21, She is the CEO of Faithful Fish, a Christian based clothing line.

Chelsea, Nice of you to share your time with us, Welcome to YHP, how are you doing?

I’m Fine thanks

Before anything else, how does it feel to be part of the book “The richest kids in America” By Mark Victor Hansen?

Great, I have been featured in two books this year which is amazing. Mr. Mark Victor Hansen is the co-author of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series that has sold over 140,000,000 books. In the Guinness Book of records it is under the Bible for most books sold. Mark featured me in the Chicken Soup for the Soul For Extra-Ordinary Teens. It is so crazy, here I am a young girl in college in a book with Donald Trump Jr and other amazing young talent.

Can you please give the readers some background information about yourself?

Sure, I have a learning disability and went to learning disability schools and currently attend Beacon College the only four year accredited college in the US. LD is always with me, but it has made me take risks and focus on what my gifts are. When I was 17 I had three members of my family pass away within five months including my father on the phone with me. That was when I started thinking about my faith. It was my faith that helped me get through that awful time.

How was it like for a 17 year old with a learning disability starting up a clothing line? You’re also the online Money Advisor for Seventeen magazine?

I know, doesn’t make sense does it, but I am hoping to help people understand is that having a learning disability means you have a regular IQ, you just have problems in academic area’s like reading or math. Being one of the online money advisors for Seventeen magazine is fun. I am not giving stock tips, but helping girls think about saving, figuring out how to create their own business or just answering in practical terms their questions.

I mean you were Attending College while running Faithful Fish through her Blackberry and conference calls? How as that?

The beauty of technology. You interviewed a friend of mine Cameron Johnson and we both work the same way. Flash stick, blackberry’s and 1-800 conference bridges. Kids are so comfortable with this stuff that we don’t even think about having to be in an office.

You said that you and mark spoke to 1400 students at a middle school in Georgia, how did you feel?

It was really 1700. How did I feel? I was with Mark which always makes it fun. They were totally into what we said and one cute story from the day was a young boy about 13 came up to Mark. He handed Mark his business proposal and said he wanted to work for him. Mark laughed and asked him what he should be paid. He said $5 an hour, I said “No” that’s not enough. Mark told him that he would be very successful in life, pulled out a $100 bill and signed it. The kid was beaming, I know that he will remember that his whole life. I love to talk to students both about being successful with a challenge and also thinking about creating their own company.

You are everywhere in the news now, Fox & Friends, Dave Ramsey’s TV & tons of radio shows, and you are got a feature in business week in august, how is the feeling, the press, did you know your business, you as an inspirational figure will get this famous so fast?

That makes me laugh, I am not famous, but I have been blessed. I know call it God Media. I truly believe that adults and young people are looking for good news. There is so much bad news out there that when something positive comes up it makes for a good story. I do have a story, but my goal is to create a clothing line that gives to charity and to become a role model for students with challenges.

I mean losing 3 members of one’s family member in 5months is a lot for anyone, not to say a teenager? You also lost 2 additional family members? How did you cope with that, i mean how did you motivate yourself?

It was over-whelming. My nanny (Mom’s mom) passed away four weeks before my Dad so my Mom and I both lost a parent. I always went to Church on holidays and other events, but wasn’t really faithful. I just came to believe that it was a miracle that I was able to be on the phone with my Dad when he died of a heart attack. I took it as a blessing and he knew I was thinking about him when he went. I have an amazing family and great friends who really helped me through it. Then going to Church and quietly finding my faith was when I made the turning point to start healing My Mom motivated me, she would come in my room every morning and stroke my hair. She told me that it was up to me how my day would be. I had the choice to make it the best day I could or just wallow in sadness. I guess I am also a positive person which does really make a difference.

Who are your role model/influence?

My parents. My Dad went to every basketball and volleyball game I played in. My Mom is English, I am the first born American on her side of the family. My Mom is so funny she has that great English humour and she just doesn’t allow you to wallow in feeling bad for your self. As she always tells me “put your big girl panties on”

What is your favourite quote and book?

OK, you do realize you are asking an LD kid that question. Not to be funny, but I have trouble remembering stuff like that.

What else would you be doing if you were not doing what you are doing now?

That’s a good question. I probably would try and be a stylist or interior decorator

You donate portion of profits to Christian charities? Why did you decide that?

My parents brought me up to give back . My Mom has always volunteered for charities and sponsored charities that she believed in. From the very start of me wanting to create this company I knew that I would be giving back. It is built into our mission statement.

What can you say to anyone that is looking to start a business doing this economic down-time, someone that has lost a loved and unable to continue with their dream and passion, some one that being left in doubt from a tragedy from your experience?

That is really a hard question because I remember how sad I was for a while. Time is a huge healer, but doing something you love is a blessing. Starting a business right now is tough, but in some way it may be the perfect time. It gives you time to research your plan and allow you to start slowly and not get into debt too quickly. If you have lost love ones I would look to your faith whatever that is.

You just won the semi-finals of the Global Student Entrepreneur Award sponsored by Mercedes Benz Financial? How was the experience?

Scary and amazing all at the same time. I was nominated for the contest, but turned it down a couple of times. I just felt that with my LD I couldn’t compete against these amazing student, but the more I thought about it the more I realized that I had to take the risk. It was truly a big risk for me. I have very little self confidence in academics. We had to go through our business plan and then take a Q&A and then give a summary of the company. I had my mentor at college work with me, but I created the plan and just kept on reviewing it. There was one truly funny moment. We had to email our presentations to the organization by Tuesday and the presentations were on Friday. On Wednesday they sent an email out saying that the files were too big with all of the animation. I called my business manager and said “animation, I don’t even have stick figures, I am doomed”. We laughed. I am just so jazzed about going to the finals in November. I will have to let you know how it goes. Even if I don’t win, I already feel like a winner just by taking the risk and going for it.

So what should be expecting from you in the future?

BIG THINGS, BIG THINGS – I want to be a motivational speaker for students with LD while running Faithful Fish.

Thanks for your time Chelsea, they are some great advices here im sure the YHP Readers would love them.

Chelsea Eubank

Faithfulfish