Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with George Estreich, Founder of Beau Industries, located in Long Island City, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Beau Industries is a performance parenting gear brand that designs and manufactures premium parenting products for active and adventurous families. Our products are made with 100% recycled material and designed to last far beyond the first years of parenting, with the versatility and feature set to remain relevant and useful long past the baby stage.
Tell us about yourself
I am a former science teacher with an advanced degree in Industrial Design from the Pratt Institute. There, I developed a passion for soft goods design and the inspiration to begin a fruitful and exciting career in the bag and accessory design. But it's being a parent that inspired me to develop Beau Industries. As a young dad, I didn't feel that the market offered what I was looking for, namely a diaper bag that didn't look like one, with better features and quality than what was available. So, I designed and developed my own! After a couple of years of testing and refinement, I launched the Beau Pack R1 and its associated accessories. It's the best high-performance diaper bag on the market, and it's one dads (and moms) everywhere would be proud to rep!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
My biggest accomplishment as a business owner is, without a doubt, starting the business. Ideas have a habit of living inside one's brain without ever seeing the light of day. Beau Industries was an idea before it was a brand, and the journey between those two identities was the hardest and most rewarding of any part of the business development process. It takes guts to start a brand; that barrier can often hold people back from that goal. I'm proud that I was able to realize my dream of starting my own brand. It was not easy, but it was worth it.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For me, the hardest part of owning a business is the marketing piece. Since product design and development come easily to me, and the "nuts and bolts" of business management are not too hard with a small crew to manage, the marketing piece continues to be a challenge. Brands need oxygen to grow, and that oxygen is provided by spreading the news about the brand to potential customers. Keeping that line of communication open, fresh, and interesting is a significant challenge.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Keep your mind on the goal, but focus your eyes on one step at a time. It's easy to get overwhelmed!
- Know your story. Why does your brand exist? What does it offer that separates it from the competition? What is the mission of your brand? All of these answers should be crystal clear before setting out on your business adventure.
- Keep an open line to your customers. The din and noise of today's media ecosystem are enough to drown out your message easily. Personal communication with customers, timely discount offers, and tasteful marketing content can help your brand rise above the competition.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://beau.industries/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beau.industries
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beau.industries/
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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