Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Laney Ruddell, creator of Design by Laney, located in Denver, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am a wedding invitation designer, and I also teach aspiring invitation designers, so I have two main customer profiles:
- Engaged couples who love color and want to make something unique for their guests!
- Anyone who wants to start or grow a wedding invitation design business!
Tell us about yourself
I learned how to do calligraphy and papercrafts from my Grandmother, who was basically a crafting genius - if there was a craft out there, she was a master at it. I love using her tools every day in my own business, from scissors and calligraphy pens to sewing machines and embossing tools.
My inspiration comes from my clients, generally. I love to hear their love stories and learn what they want their weddings to feel like for their guests. I want to make it about the overall experience, not just about the look of the paper goods.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I have taught several hundred thousand other business owners, and I get giddy every time one of them books a new highest-paying client, quits their desk job to start their art business full time, or handles a situation they never thought they could before! It makes me so happy to teach other creative entrepreneurs (mostly women) how to take themselves more seriously as business owners.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
It's tough not to want to do...everything. Most entrepreneurs are people who love to dive in, learn, and DIY, so we also have a tendency to think we're the best people for every job. But if you try to do everything all at once, you'll end up neglecting something, and that can be detrimental to your business. You have to learn to let go of things and not to follow every single idea that you have!
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Stick with it for some amount of time! Things take time to build. You're not going to get there in a day.
- Learn to Google things. Learn to find answers. Learn to try things and trust yourself. You're not going to be able to get the "right" answer to every problem or question that arises, and if you're waiting for that - you're not going to grow.
- Pay for things that will save you time, money, and stress. It's worth it.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://designbylaney.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/designbylaney
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designbylaney/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/designbylaney
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.
Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.
