Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in fashion accessories but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kate Doheny, Founder of Doheny NYC, located in New York, NY, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Doheny NYC features my original whimsical illustrations and designs as accessories: enamel pins, earrings, and keychains. My customers tend to be any age, anyone who is planning to make a statement! Customers also order pins for weddings as wedding favors or for the bridal party to wear on bridesmaid bouquets and groomsman lapels. Many customers purchase pins to wear on backpacks, denim jackets, neckties, lapels, and even pant buttons!

Tell us about yourself

I started my business with consideration for my love for drawing, bright colors, and packaging design. I originally began Doheny NYC as a way to share my ideas in a tangible form. My professional experience is in graphic design, which I love, but it usually requires multiple rounds of revisions for clients and tends to end up looking very different than how I may have pictured it originally. I love that my business allows consumers to either purchase my product as I intended it.

Now in 2022, people from all over the world have purchased Doheny NYC accessories. It still feels so special to me that people would order one of my products. I am especially thrilled when people comment on the packaging since that's my career!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I'm proud to have my pins in multiple retail stores in the United States. I also make custom pins of the Best in Show winner for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, sold exclusively on-site every year. Most recently, I've become a Barnes and Noble College vendor with custom pins at the Georgetown University bookstore...hopefully, more colleges to come!

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Ensuring deadlines are kept tight and constant communication with customers and clients. Communication itself is easy, but staying on top of all of it can be difficult.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. The hardest part is literally to START. If you have an idea, start doing it. You will figure out a lot along the way, even (especially) when you make mistakes. Looking @ my cousin Bea who originally shared that "start" advice with me.
  2. A lot of your ideas for your business may be bad at first. If you really believe in it, KEEP GOING.
  3. You're already doing more than most people by putting yourself out there. Get used to commentary, learn what feedback to pay attention to / that may be helpful for getting stronger, and learn what feedback to ignore / that may hold you back (aka plain haters hating!!)

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/dohenynyc/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dohenyc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-doheny/

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.