Want to be inspired by entrepreneurs who are doing something great? Then read on. Each weekend we feature new entrepreneurs who are passionate about their business and who are living their dream.
Today’s entrepreneur is Judy of Judy Sall Originals.
When and why did you start your business?
I love doing creative things, and decided to try selling what I made back in 1989. In 1997, I decided to try my hand at tie-dyeing shirts, and it’s been my main passion ever since.
What do you love about being an entrepreneur?
I like the freedom I have to make my own decisions about how I want to spend my time creating.
Describe your business in 20 words or less
I create wearable art for the entire family.
Where do you get your inspiration from and how do you stay inspired?
I love color, and the free expression of dyeing… no two of my pieces are exactly alike, which means I offer unique items for any wardrobe.
What is your biggest success or accomplishment you’re most proud of in your business?
I have grown from a part-time crafter, selling at a local park, to someone with a following, who sells locally as well as nationally, with even a couple of sales going abroad, and I do it all… create the product, advertise, do the books, make the sales. I am a self-taught crafter and a self-taught business person.
What advice would you give other entrepreneurs when they are first starting out?
Take it slow… set some goals and do your research to see how to achieve them. Make a quality product that will be unique and attractive to buyers. Don’t get in over your head!
What is one mistake that you made that you really learned from and what did you learn?
After several years of mailing out orders without insuring my parcel, I lost a large order in the mail this year, and had to take a loss. I have learned that if the order is more than one or two items, it pays to insure it!
Where do you see your company in three years?
Good question! I am 64, and while I still enjoy the business, I am looking more to the possibility of teaching my craft and writing about my business experience to share with others who are trying to learn how to do both.
Do you sell your products wholesale and, if so, what is one strategies that you use to get your products in stores?
I have had some wholesale purchases, but it is not a large part of my business. A close friend who also has a craft business is very successful just making cold calls to gift shops nation-wide, and is ramping down her retail business in favor of going more to the wholesale side.
What is one thing you wish you knew about being an entrepreneur when you first started out?
My biggest challenge in the beginning was to find something I wanted to make that would have a market. Hand painted cigar boxes and flower pots drew interest from browsers, but few buyers. My decision to go to wearables was based on the fact that I observed where customers were buying, and it was at booths that sold things they could wear!
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