Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in clothing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Kimberly Brooks, Owner of Warrior Alpaca Socks, located in Fresno, CA, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Our business is Alpaca Wool Socks, and our customers are people who are looking to have a truly rewarding experience with performance and comfort.
Tell us about yourself
I began working raising alpacas in Western PA in 1997. After learning about the animals and their fleece - which was not widely known in the USA at that time, I stepped into making products, sweaters, scarves, hats, and socks. We opened our first store in 1999 and our first online shop in 2000. We still do many other items, all from alpaca.
Back in the 90s, fellow alpaca breeders saw what we had produced and wanted more. We began expanding and had the opportunity to participate with a group of people sending alpaca socks overseas for US service men and women. The military-issue socks were made from itchy wool and were neither comfortable nor warm enough for pilots, and servicemen on the ground found that their socks held moisture which caused blisters, bacteria, and odor. Alpaca socks outperformed those by leaps and bounds, and it was our pleasure to provide our socks to this effort known as the sock brigade.
I had a thought that while service members were our soldiers, everyone had a bit of warrior in them, or at least warrior spirit. I knew passionate hikers and horseback riders who were so into their sport, I knew teachers and doctors who were doing battle every day and seniors that were struggling with their feet, and I thought, we are all Warriors! Why not make the best socks for the battle every person is waging and give everyone’s feet a fighting chance?
In addition to our other alpaca brands (our parent company is Inca Brands, Inc., and we have five unique brands under this umbrella), we introduced Warrior Alpaca Socks in 2006 and haven't looked back since.
I love that people really benefit from what we create. We don't just create alpaca socks; we actually look at the wearer's needs and create socks for them. The cut, the padding, and the variation of materials are intricate ingredients in an ever-evolving recipe derived from years of experience. We use the same methodology with everything we create.
Partnering with the finest craftsmen who know how to work with alpacas and farmers who lovingly care for their animals is rewarding beyond measure. Our staff here in the US is a team, and I love interacting with them and valuing their suggestions, input, and collective hard work.
I have always tried to focus on endeavors that are win-win-win, and this is that! We aid alpaca farmers by creating a demand for alpaca fleece, thus allowing them to sustain their way of life and live as they choose in their ancestral homes. By working with talented craftsmen, we allow them to not just earn a wage but create a little work of art. The farmers win, the craftspeople win, and our customers win because they have quality alpaca socks - second to none, that keep their feet and their sports or jobs or just their comfort firmly in focus - we win because of this.
That’s what I love.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment is knowing that I only know a little. I can't be everything, nor should I. Our company is substantial because of the many people who come together, bringing their talents, experience, and passion to the mix. My job is to allow them to do their job. I am more a servant than a master.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
There is nothing quite like designing or researching or having a really good meeting of the minds, but there is nothing quite as bad as the mundane! Insurances and all the intricacies (and expense!) that entails, be it health, property, claims - UGH! Having to do the chores of business that are as important but not the essence, as the owner, is the worst. For me, as much as I dislike the chores because they are associated with the bottom line financially, they are important, and I don't delegate them.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Figure out what you don't know and find people who do. Partner with them.
- Don't be too rigid or filled with expectations on any aspect of your vision. Allow for the organic nature of life to unfold, which includes successes and failures; they all work towards good, embrace and learn from them.
- Buckle in! Be willing to wear many hats, do your homework and try to make small decisions that add up. If you dive in, check the water first, but better yet, put in one toe at a time, it's easier to reverse if needed (or in the case of an alligator). Overnight sensations take roughly a decade or at least 10,000 hours.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.warrioralpacasocks.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarriorAlpacaSocks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warrioralpacasocks/
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.
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