Day two of our re-launch week, and I’m so excited to share my interview with one of my favorite bow makers, Sandy of Zozu Baby. Sandy has been such a kind and genuine Instagram friend from the get-go. I have really appreciated her spirit of making friends in a competitive world [#bowmakers can be fierce lol], and her bows are just so cute. You can never have enough bows right? To top it off, Sandy is not only a mom and business owner, but this is just her side hustle. She is a full-time wedding coordinator!
I can’t wait for you to learn more about her story. Enjoy!
Hey guys! My name is Sandy and I am the owner and designer behind ZoZu Baby here in Northern California. Aside from being a bow maker, I am a wife to my high school sweetheart, mom to two amazing tots and two pups, and a full-time wedding coordinator. I am so excited to share this crazy journey that I am on with all of you!
#pressplay below to watch our recorded Skype interview, and check out her answers in written format as well as pictures of her beautiful creations.
Enjoy!
What did you do before ZoZu Baby? How did you decide to start your own business?
I am not sure how far back we want to go because technically, I am still doing what I did before ZoZu Baby was born! I graduated from UC Irvine with a degree in Psychology and Social Behavior and worked in the hospitality industry as a Disneyland Cast Member as well as a server at a local restaurant. Once I graduated, I landed a job working as a banquet manager and part time sales director for an event venue. I had no background knowledge of the wedding world; I just knew how to be friendly to people and that took me a long way! Fast-forward nine years later and I am still working full-time as an Event Director at a high end winery here in Northern California.
Can you give us a brief history of ZoZu Baby How long have you been in business? What has your growth looked like? Can you tell us a story of some of the “unglamorous” moments just starting up?
ZoZu Baby began in 2013 as a hobby and I never dreamed of owning a bow business. After the birth of my daughter, Zoey, I finally found my passion – being a mom! I loved everything about having a little girl and dressing her was at the top of that list. Bows however, were not an accessory my husband was a fan of (he very much dislikes big/gaudy bows that take away the beauty of the child). One day, I picked up some fabric and felt from the craft store and made my daughter a few pieces, pieces that complimented her rather than “steal the show” and something even my husband approved of. Once I did that, I started making some for friends and family members and the next thing I knew, I had an Etsy shop! I never knew I had the entrepreneur bone that my dad possessed, but to my surprise, I did!
The growth of business was slow at first. It was just a fun thing I did on the side of my “real” job (what I used to call it back then). I would be so excited when I’d get 12 orders in a month. It wasn’t until I signed up for Instagram and saw the community of small businesses that it really took off. In April 2014, I had a really awesome and unexpected feature on Small Fry Blog that showed me the power of social media and after that I was hooked. In August of 2014, while on maternity leave after the birth of my son Sebastian, I really started networking and growing my social media presence. Quickly after that business took off and has been growing each and every month.
What’s your big picture WHY? What motivates you to work hard and build your business? What is your ultimate lifestyle goal?
My family is the reason I do this. They are the motivation behind my late nights and helping me build this business. I want to be able to give them everything that I was given growing up. I want to make memories with them and if that means I am working two jobs right now to do it, then that’s what I am going to do.
Where did you find your mentors, or resources to help learn about entrepreneurship and running a successful business?
Surprisingly I have found mentors in lots of great places. My dad has always been self-employed and until now, I don’t think I understood exactly what that meant. I only saw the glamorous side to him owning his own businesses and never knew all of the work that he put into it. My husband is also an amazing resource and really helps me stay afloat in this business. He looks at my business through the eyes of a businessman and helps me stay focused with goals and ideas. And then there are the wonderful women I have met while growing ZoZu Baby. Every Facebook Group I belong to provide me with more knowledge that I could ever obtain on my own. I am so thankful for the friendships I have made on this journey.
Can you tell a story of a specific failure you encountered while building [your company]? What did you learn from it? What would you consider are your strengths as a business owner?
I have learned that not all ideas work and that it takes many drafts at the drawing board to get things right. As frustrating as these failures may be, they have taught me to keep moving and to learn how I can do things better I know that I am not perfect, and there is so much still to learn. But I do know that I have customer service down. Maybe it’s from my years in the hospitality industry, but I am a firm believer that a happy customer will be a returning customer.
Do you currently have 1099s or employees? Or are you a onewoman show? If you have help, what advice do you have to give about scaling your business and outsourcing responsibilities through hiring to help grow?
As of last week, I was the sole employee of ZoZu Baby (aside from the help of my generous family members), but I finally pulled the trigger and hired my first 1099 seamstress. I wish I had advice to give about hiring someone, but I am still in search of advice. It’s such a scary feeling, putting the trust of your products in someone else’s hands, but I know it’s for the best of my business.
How many hours per week do you work? How do you balance family life with work?
This is a tough one. Wednesday through Sunday I am working as a wedding coordinator, which is anywhere from 40 to 50 hours a week. But seven days a week I am working on ZoZu Baby after the kids go to bed. Some nights I will work five hours and other nights I have worked eight. The days are definitely long and I am still trying to find how to balance my family life. I really think hiring my first seamstress will allow me the flexibility I have been looking for.
I’m Like Brave is about creating an uncommon life. What does an “uncommon life” you love look like for you? How does your business help create this ideal lifestyle?
My uncommon life would be for me to make ZoZu Baby my sole source of income. As much as I love the wedding world, I want to be able to work from home and be with my kids. I want to be the one picking them up from school and taking them to swim practice. I want to be there on Saturdays and Sundays when they have games. Right now my schedule wouldn’t allow for that and that is what I am working for. ZoZu Baby will give me that flexibility.
What has been the most exciting thing to happen to your business so far?
There have been a few exciting moments and the first being when Small Fry Blog listed ZoZu Baby as one of the top six bows to get your hands on. It was so unexpected and so exciting that it really gave me the motivation to grow my business. Since then, seeing my bows pop up on and #ohjoydressingthebabe was really exciting!
What is your ultimate vision for your business in the coming year? Where do you see Zozu Baby in 5 years?
This year, I am focusing on creating a more streamlined approach to how my bows are released. I want to be known for releasing monthly items and I’d love to see that gain some traction. In five years I’d love to grow my business so much that I have multiple seamstresses and I am one of them working alongside of them.
What is it that you need help with right now, and if you could get free advice that would solve your problem right now, what would it be?
Right now I need help with production of my bows. Sewing takes so much time and since my time is already limited, it’s going to be nice to hand off these few hours of work to someone else.But now, I need help with finding out what to give them to sew. Do I give them 20 of each fabric and tell them to have at it? Do I give them orders as they come in? I am so thankful I am working with someone who is flexible and willing to work and learn with me.
If you could sit down with any entrepreneur for a 2 hour lunch and pick their brain, who would it be and why? What would you ask them?
If I could sit down with anyone I think I would choose Amy Richardson Golia from June and January. I was a fan of Little Hip Squeaks from day one and have loved watching her grow. I have become “friends” with her on social media and love the way she interacts with her customers. She is so real and down to earth. I’d love to ask her for her advice on how to grow a business.
What advice would you give your “just starting a business” self knowing everything you know now?
Be patient. Your business is not going to grow overnight and if you expect it to you are going to crash hard. I have had a few shops come to me who are just starting out and stress out because they aren’t getting the sales, they aren’t growing fast enough. And I just want to tell them to slow down. It will happen.
Jamie Tardy, podcaster at “The Eventual Millionaire” says millionaires share 2 habits: they all journal and they all have a morning ritual. What does your morning ritual ideally look like?
Ha! I would love to have a morning ritual and I really need to focus on developing one. If I had one, I’d love to get up and workout for 30 minutes as well as sit down and read for 20 minutes. I think both of those things would help clear my mind for the day.
If you could do anything in the world, with no possibility of failure, what would it be?
Run ZoZu Baby full time!
What’s been the best business book you’ve read?
Sadly, none. I’ve looked at some great ones with the thought of reading them… but again, there are only so many hours in a day!
What’s your favorite success quote and why?
“I only see my goals, I don’t believe in failure. Cause I know the smallest voices, they can make it major.” – Lukas Graham (Once I was 7 Years Old). I know this song is pretty recent, but this line hit me at a time when I was feeling defeated with ZoZu Baby.
Closing thoughts to other entrepreneurs or those on the verge of starting a business:
Take it day by day and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Things won’t happen overnight and they won’t happen if you don’t try. If I have learned one thing, it is to not be afraid to ask. I have reached out to bloggers, businesses, random mom’s with adorable kids and asked – asked for them to take a chance on my shop. Some respond, some don’t. But if I don’t ask I will never know what is out there and may miss out on something great.
Well if you didn’t already know about Sandy and her business before, I’m glad you do now. You can find her online store here, and on instagram @zozubaby
Be Brave,
Hillary
