Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Ashlee Dozier Kraus, Owner of Anuket Luxury Apothecary, located in Tampa, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Anuket Luxury Apothecary is a fine fragrance company offering natural luxury alternatives to traditional perfumes and colognes for the self and home. Our customers range, as we offer unisex products, but are ultimately for anyone wanting a taste of luxury while supporting a company that is woman-owned, cruelty-free, natural, and luxurious.
Tell us about yourself
Anuket began after I left an abusive relationship a few years ago. I took a solo trip around the world in a (successful) attempt to rediscover myself and gain the strength and independence I knew I had. While traveling through Egypt, I found myself visiting a perfumery with intoxicating fragrances made from Papyrus Oil. When I returned to the US, I couldn’t pass by a single soul without a compliment about the perfume I was wearing, asking what the name was or where someone could purchase a bottle. This was when the lightbulb went off: I was able to experience something SO unique, I had to share it with as many people as I could, and this is when Anuket was truly born!
The motivation for Anuket stems from the love of the Papyrus fragrance and the Egyptian culture; they’re the ones who deserve the credit! They were such wonderful people during my visit, and I hope to share a little bit of them through the company. I remember the emotions that were emitted when I first smelled the Papyrus Oil, and I hope that others can feel the same when using our products.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as the owner of Anuket is really bootstrapping the business and creating a brand all on my own. Anuket is truly a product of hard work, and I am so honored to say that I built this from just an idea that I loved, with the hopes that others would come to love it as well. I credit Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, as an inspiration to myself also, as she too, built her company from the ground up, with no exterior investment, and continues to use her company to better the households she is in!
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Anuket is 100% my baby, and wearing all of the hats is quite difficult, but not impossible! On the contrary, delegating and knowing when to let go is also very difficult at times, which is why it is important to establish a team when you can that you trust and can delegate some tasks to.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Start: Start NOW! You’ll never truly “be ready,” so the sooner you start, the sooner you can share your product and grow!
- Run: Listen to your customers, not your critics. Don’t let other people tell you how to run your business. Run it based on the feedback of your customers, this is what will help you scale!
- Grow: Scale at a pace YOU are comfortable with but don’t be afraid to take risks. Some people are afraid to grow and are afraid they cannot handle the growth, so they never try. But, in the same way, you don’t know if you can handle something, like scaling, until you try it. Also, when it comes to scaling, don’t go straight into a single big-box store without proper infrastructure, this can really handicap your business if you let a “big name” have too much control.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://anuketluxury.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anuketluxury/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anuketluxury/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/anuketluxury/
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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