How did she start her business?
Sources:
Here are some insights on how different women started their businesses:
-
Kathleen Griffith: Kathleen started her entrepreneurial journey after feeling unfulfilled and overworked in her advertising job. Inspired by a friend's comment, she decided to pursue what she loved. She took a year to prepare financially and began working on her company during nights and weekends. She named her business "Grace" after her grandmother and started with small steps like creating a website and forming an LLC 1.
-
Ouidad Wise: Ouidad and her husband, Peter, opened a small salon in New York in the early 1980s, specializing in curly hair. They managed to scrounge together loans and cash to start the business. Ouidad focused on cutting hair and formulating products, while Peter handled the business operations. Over the years, they expanded the salon into a multi-million dollar brand 2.
-
Janice Bryant Howroyd: Janice started Act One, an employment agency, with minimal funds and a strategic location in Beverly Hills. She borrowed money from her mom and used her strong networking skills to find clients and job opportunities. Her focus on word-of-mouth and the power of interviews helped her grow the business 3.
-
Jaclyn Johnson: After losing her job, Jaclyn utilized her network to secure a few clients and start freelancing. She eventually shared office space with another freelancer, which led to more clients and the formation of a company. Although there was no initial strategic plan, the business gained traction and grew organically 4.
-
Lauren Bosworth: Lauren started her personal care brand driven by her health struggles and desire to help women. She began with a small range of products and operated solo for a while, building her website herself and engaging small manufacturers. Her dedication and community involvement led to substantial growth 5.
These stories highlight the importance of passion, networking, perseverance, and adaptability in starting and growing a business.