small business entrepreneurs

© Aunt Bucky

The sisters Rebecca and Whitney Wyatt decided to establish their kids lifestyle and fashion brand Aunt Bucky as a small family business in 2007 due to the apparent popularity of their handmade creations for Whitney’s daughter.

Currently, they do pillows, crib bedding and beautiful smocked dresses for little girls. Their colorful and unique designs are inspired by vintage fabrics and make them true feel good products. If you are interested to learn more about the inspiring story behind Aunt Bucky, please read our interview with Rebecca hereafter. Enjoy!

What were you and Whitney doing before?

Whitney – currently works as an Architect in California and has both a bachelor’s a master’s degree in Architectural design and theory.
Rebecca – currently working as a Flash Designer/Developer (Computer Programming), previously worked as an Art Therapist in the field of Pediatrics, and has a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art and a master’s degree in Art Psychotherapy.

To which extent did and does your professional experience influence your entrepreneurial career?

Very much so – everything is all intertwined and connected. We use computer aided design software to generate the patterns, to produce the pillow silhouettes & graphic software to produce logo designs, including our signature ribbon tape. Some of our fabric sourcing contacts have also been found through previous architectural relationships. 
Our company philosophy on sustainable design is also born out of architectural practices and thinking and our concerns for stimulating infant/child physiological development and well-being through their environment and design is a direct result of our work in art therapy and architectural theory.

Was there a triggering event for you to establish your label Aunt Bucky?

Actually the upcoming birth of Whitney’s daughter spurred things along and planted the seeds for Aunt Bucky. At Whitney’s baby shower I (Rebecca) made the very first Aunt Bucky Crib Bumper Set, which was to become the prototype for our signature Crib Bumper Set design. Later that year for Christmas I (Rebecca) made Whitney’s daughter two smock dresses very similar to what we produce now and after much praise from families, friends and even strangers we decided to ‘just do it’.

Is it an advantage to have your sister as a business partner?

Definitely – I know she has always got my back and vice versa. We also can fight like cats and dogs and then let it go and hug and make up without much hassle. There is also a little bit of a sort of short hand going on – we can just show each other images and get the idea without much more elaboration being required. I think we can also anticipate how certain tasks or issues might be better suited to one or the other, which makes for a little more efficiency and better time management, which is always an issue.

How do you split the work among the two of you?

80/20 split on the day-to-day stuff with each of us involved in all aspects, however Rebecca handles all graphics since she has worked as a graphic designer previously and Whitney produces all design patterns using skills gained as an Architect.

How big is your company, how many employees do you have if any?

Just two sisters for now, with the occasional help from a family member here and there. All of our photo shoots are shot with family members participating as crew.

In your view: what makes Aunt Bucky unique?

Our interest in and belief that design can stimulate a child’s development and growth without compromising style or functionality.

What's your objective and five year vision for Aunt Bucky?

We would love to be able to quit our day jobs eventually and devote all our working time to Aunt Bucky. We would love to be able to produce our own fabrics as well even though we love sourcing prints from all over the globe and working with constraints.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Everywhere – from old family photos, vintage magazines and catalogs, mid-century modernist furniture design, old movies, art, architecture, etc.

What has been the most challenging moment so far?

Starting a business just when the economy was taking a nosedive and getting ourselves out there and in people’s faces. The children’s fashion/bedding industry is surprisingly disorganized, uninformed and fragmented. It also seems like buyers at trade shows have tunnel and aren’t willing to look outside the box. We would like our customers to think outside the box and remember that their home/life is who they are and they should trust their love of what makes them happy not others. Our line touches hearts and one becomes very happy when celebrating their love of color/ patterns/and what makes them feel good all over.

What has been the most exciting moment so far?

Seeing our stuff in stores, shipping out orders & getting phone calls or emails from very happy customers after they have received their purchases. It’s so nice to know that there are others out there who appreciate what we make and want it to be a part of their lives. Creating photos that we really love to orchestrate and show the spirit of Aunt Bucky.

In hindsight would you do things differently?

Everything and nothing.

Any lessons learned?

Imitation is not a form of flattery!– there are always people out there who want to promote your ideas as their own and it’s a real buzz kill after you have put in so much time and energy in trying to create something truly unique.

Where do you currently sell your products?

We sell in stores in the US (small boutiques) and to anyone anywhere online.

Any plans to expand beyond your current line?

Yes, but the specifics are Aunt Bucky’s secret….let’s just say we want to expand on our clothing line and offer more stuff for little boys too.

What does it take to become/be an entrepreneur - in  your view?

Passion/focus, integrity, a strong work ethic & flexibility – it takes a lot of time and energy to make your business grow – particularly the way you want it to.

Any advice to other aspiring entrepreneurs?

Focus on doing something you absolutely love and don’t be afraid to take the plunge – if you don’t someone else will.

Anything else you want to share?

‘made with love Aunt Bucky’

You might also like our articles on some more truly inspiring small business success stories:

Small business entrepreneur Jennifer Dimmler and her label THE TRENDY TOT

Success story of small family business HAMBONE DESIGNS by accidental entrepreneur Lisa Marie Grillos and her brother Hernan Barangan

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© Sandra Eckhardt

Young fashion entrepreneur Anja Wuerttemberger established her small fashion business Aninaw a couple of years ago after she and her husband relocated from Munich/Germany to Dubai.

It all started with a visit of Munich's famous Oktoberfest when she decided to design herself a truly unique dirndl dress using exotic textiles such as Indian Sari fabrics.

But how exactly did the pieces fall into place, what made her turn her idea into a small business? And, what made her design dirndl (=Dirndl) dresses in Dubai? It’s not evident why you would go East to design traditional Bavarian costumes – rather the opposite. This is why we have contacted Anja to find out more about her story, the unique business idea and how things got started. Here is a summary of what she has told us.

What Exactly Made Her Decide to Design Dirndl in Dubai?

Anja's appreciation for Bavarian traditions had increased while living abroad (one thing all expats can very likely report, too) she decided to get herself one of these fancy and currently so popular Dirndl for a visit of Munich's famous Oktoberfest.

Unfortunately she wasn't the only one wearing said dress and she got quite disappointed. This experience triggered her desire to get a custom-made Dirndl  that is truly unique. In order to avoid any duplications going forward she decided to design it herself upon her return to Dubai, which offers an abundant choice of textiles and tailors. Said and done – once she was back she was searching for the ideal fabrics and for a tailor to make her dream a reality.

Due to previous travels to India and her admiration for saris, she identified them as the perfect match for her Dirndl – colorful and with delicate embroideries but at the same time harmonizing perfectly to give her Dirndl a classic touch.

Of course it was not that easy to come up with the perfect Dirndl made in Dubai at once. There are many tailors in Dubai but none of them ever worked on Bavarian traditional costumes before. It is fun to hear her talk about her early struggles such as communicating the Dirndl essentials using hands and feet as well as randomly asking someone passing by to translate as her tailors don't speak English.

Since her friends back home were raving about her unique Dirndl she realized that she might have found a niche. She did some more samples, which she tried to sell in Germany. The rest is history.

Did she never fear the competition – it’s a tiny market?

She says she never thought about it. What outsiders would call a weakness has proven to be her biggest advantage/strength. Not knowing the competition or the market size has allowed her the naivety to dare the risk taking. Only now she realizes how lucky she has been. In terms of distribution she for instance simply asked herself where she would like to see her dresses sold and went to see them.

Does she regret anything or would she do anything differently?

No, she really loves what she does. They only thing she would probably not not do anymore is doing business with friends. She says she would rather keep business relationships at a professional level.

Any other thoughts about running a start-up?

Sometimes you can’t envision what’s possible or how your business will develop. She for instance had no idea that her online boutique might ever work so well as Dirndl have to fit perfectly and with prices around Euro 1,000 they are quite an investment.

Anja's advice for aspiring entrepreneurs:

Listen to your gut feeling. There will always be someone criticizing or telling you to do and see things differently. You need to be open minded but be sure that you stay true to yourself. You can’t be everything to all. If you do what you like you are authentic and your customers will feel and appreciate that.

Isn't that another inspiring story about young entrepreneurship at its best? We really like what Anja has come up with so far and can't wait to see more. Besides Dirndl she designs lovely scarves, tunics and dresses using Arabian patterns, which she again interprets in a contemporary manner. Beautiful, we have bought one of her unique scarves and received plenty of compliments.

But go and see for yourself.

Enjoy!

You might also like our entry on:

Business success story CMARCHUSKA, an eco fashion start-up from the US

Business success story BUCKLETTE, a fashion accessories start-up from the US

Business success story RENT THE RUNWAY, a great fashion start-up from New York

Khrisna Justo of KAIJA NY - cute bags and the inspiring story of its founder

ALL BY N's hip scarves - versatile concept scarves from the Middle East

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© The Trendy Tot

« The Trendy Tot » is the kids fashion label of small business entrepreneur and stay-at-home mom Jennifer Dimmler that makes the awesome dresses shown above. We just like everything about the cute The Trendy Tot designs. Simply feel good products!

Because we were inspired by her lovely designs we have contacted Jennifer to learn more about her story, which is another perfect match for know what and where .com! So, please have a look at what Jen has told us:

What were you doing before and what is your professional background?

I have an MBA in marketing from Boston University's Graduate School of Management and have worked for over 15 years developing and marketing products for large consumer products companies like Ocean Spray Cranberries and The First Years (now RC2 Corp) to name a few. I'm what you call in the business a « classically trained brand manager ». It basically means I know a lot about finance, advertising, promotion, operations and market research, but I'm a master at nothing, LOL! Perfect training for running your own business, since as a brand manager, you are basically running a « mini business ».

You were a juvenile brands manager before?

Yes, I developed and designed feeding and soothing products like sippy cups, flatware, booster seats, etc, for a well-known baby gear company. I developed the award-winning Take & Toss sippy cup product line and it was one of my biggest successes there.

What made you decide to establish your own label? A passion for designing clothes, sewing, a lack of cool & machine washable clothes for your kids...?

This is totally cliché, but I had a baby girl and I just didn't see what I liked (especially in my price range) for her so I decided to learn how to sew and make her some clothes. I figured, « how hard could it be? » Kinda funny and very bold considering that I hadn't sewn a thing since home ec class in the 8th grade.

Did you always dream of or plan to establish a fashion brand? Why fashion for kids?

No. In fact, if you had told me even 6 months before this all happened that I would be doing this, I would have thought you were crazy. It was NEVER on my radar screen. However, I've always had a passion for developing products for kids, great design and marketing. So really, it shouldn't be that much of a surprise to me I guess. Now I can't imagine my life without it!

What's your role? Are you a one-woman-show?

Right now I am everything from seamstress and designer to marketing manager and finance wizard, but I'm in the process of looking to hire help in order to make the leap to the next step.

What's your source of inspiration?

It really comes from everywhere and can strike at any time. My kids, a trip to the supermarket, books, photos, etc. The key for me is to capture it when it happens.

Where do you sell your designs and what are your plans for the future?

Right now only on my etsy store, http://www.thetrendytot.etsy.com but hopefully in retail outlets soon! After multiple requests, I'm finally preparing to enter the world of wholesale. I also am working on putting together the finishing touches on my fall line.

What has been the biggest challenge so far?

Balancing a start-up business with two small children under 5. This was really supposed to be a hobby to keep my brain from turning to mush when I made the choice to stay home with my children two years ago. Well, so much for that! Now I just have to be careful that the business doesn't take over my time with the children.

What has been the coolest moment so far?

I absolutely love hearing from my customers and getting pictures of kids in my clothing. It truly makes my day! Also, The Trendy Tot was named one of the best etsy shops for kids by Tot Trends Weekly this past spring--that was a really big deal for me!

What are the lessons learned?

I'm learning that I just can't do it all. There just aren't enough hours in the day. If I'm going to get to the next level I need to delegate and hire help...took me a while to realize that. I'm kinda a control freak.

Any recommendations for other aspiring entrepreneurs?

I'm professionally trained in marketing, so I just have to say it--KNOW YOUR TARGET MARKET. Know who they are, how they think, shop and where to find them. Develop products with their needs/desires in mind and advertise and promote where they are. It's really fundamental, but so many people lose sight of it.

What are the advantages of being an entrepreneur? Any downsides?

I love being my own boss. I like that I can take vacations when I want to, spend time with the kids and work on the business when I want to. As a downside, I don't get a lot of sleep. Most of my work happens when the house is asleep at night.

In hindsight, would you do things differently?

I don't usually have regrets. Even mistakes are important because you learn from them. But if I have to pick one thing it would be that I wished I had purchased a better sewing machine from the beginning. It would have made learning to sew much more enjoyable!

Anything else that might be of particular interest for our users seeking inspiration?

I saw this somewhere and it's so true: « It's never too late to be what you might have been. » Never be afraid to try something new, you never know where it might lead you!

Isn't this another truly inspiring story for aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups or one-man-shows alike. But go and see for yourself.

Enjoy!

You might also like our article on:

small family business AUNT BUCKY by sisters Rebecca and Whitney Wyatt

business success story of start-up HANDCRAFTED BY MOMS

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