Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in clothing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cathy Rust, founder of Cool Your Sweats, located in Montreal, QC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We help menopausal women suffering from night sweats sleep better. Our sleepwear is made from a unique fabric that rapidly wicks moisture and manages heat so that women with hot flashes sleep less disturbed. Our products are natural, easy to use, drug-free, and use only petroleum-free fabrics. We make all our products in Montreal.
Tell us about yourself
My experience in green building - where I wrote about green building materials for over 15 years - helped me look into using natural fabrics to solve a problem near and dear to my own heart. I suffered from night sweats for over two years, hoping they would go away on their own. I became increasingly sleep-deprived, and my quality of life was horrible. I had been writing about natural building materials and how effective they were at managing moisture and heat within houses - in particular clay, straw, and hemp. I knew hemp was also made into the fabric, so I started looking for hemp-based sleepwear and found nothing suitable. I was kind of stunned, to be honest.
As I dug deeper, I noticed that there was a dearth of products to help menopausal women cope with many of their symptoms. Sure there is hormone replacement therapy and herbal supplements, but for some (myself included), these were not an option.
After doing some research on hot flashes and night sweats, I discovered that lifestyle tweaks could make a big difference in their severity and frequency. I tracked my night sweats using a journal to figure out the triggers, found some eco-friendly hemp fabric, and made a nightgown. It took a couple of tries to find the right fabric but eventually, I did, and the night sweats effects reduced, and I began sleeping through the night again.
The solution was so simple and easy to use that I saw an opportunity to help other women. Up to 80% of all women experience some form of hot flash or night sweats. For some, they don't last too long. For others, like myself, they can be debilitating. It bothered me that there was so little available for women who were suffering. It firmed up my resolve to create a product to help provide solutions for problems that affect so many people.
Whenever I receive a note or a review of someone who's now sleeping better due to lifestyle tweaks and wearing the nightgown, it thrills me to the bone that I was able to help our customer sleep better again.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Starting a company is an overwhelming task, from looking after the mundane administrative tasks (such as dealing with local tax authority) and learning some basic bookkeeping skills right through to creating the actual product you are going to sell. In my head, I would say, "oh, we're going to sell sleepwear," and voila! The sleepwear was created. Well, it's a lot more complicated than you think. The list of tasks and decisions that need to be made is endless. However, as long as you stay true to your mission and values, you eventually produce what you intended. For me, getting the nightgown out into the eCommerce sphere was a huge feat, and I have to remember that every time I hit a roadblock.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Being a solopreneur, as I am, can be a very lonely experience. Your negative self-talk can really interfere with your confidence and hold you back on making decisions - and decision-making, in general, is something you must be doing every day. There are a few ways to stave off the loneliness and self-doubt - one is to join one or more small business groups that are out there or form your own group with people you know on the same path and schedule weekly calls or meetings in person. Since I started, I've been doing this, and it's been a real lifesaver. You can discuss any obstacles you've encountered and help others with their challenges. It also makes you feel better about your own journey to hear about other people's experiences. The other thing I do is listen to a lot of small business podcasts. These are extremely helpful. Many will tell you about the tools they're using and how they got over early hurdles. A final thing to consider is that it is not a race. Go at your own pace and enjoy the ride. When you listen to founders of successful start-ups, many of them say that the early days were the most fun.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
When you have an idea, start by doing research into potential competitors - both online and off, then figure out your point of difference. Once you've decided on a product or service, create your set of values and your mission. These will help prevent you from getting side-tracked by the "shiny object." It doesn't mean you can't introduce new products or services, but they should align with your mission and values. Your customers will be your customers in part because they have the same values as you do.
Have patience and ignore the YouTubers who say they will have you up and running a profitable business in less than two weeks (or whatever timeframe they're talking about). Sure, it's always a possibility, but for beginner entrepreneurs, there are so many details involved in starting a business that it takes time - but it's worth it. My journey has been a lot of fun, and I've met amazing people along the way who I wouldn't have met otherwise. I also look back to when I started this adventure, and I'm amazed at the new set of skills I've learned along the way.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Sometimes it's better to start a business with a bit of ignorance and a load of optimism. Yes, you have to do your research to see if your time and money you're about to invest in it will be worth it, but if you knew all the things you have to do to start a business, you might just talk yourself out of it.
The journey is interesting, challenging, fun, rewarding, discouraging, and encouraging - it's a real mixed bag. But life should be about experiences, and this is one way to get out there and try something new, gain new skills, learn a lot and see an idea that's in your head become a reality. Once that happens and your vision is live, you can feel proud of yourself no matter what happens. Most people have great ideas, but few can turn them into something concrete.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://coolyoursweats.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coolyoursweats
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/cathyrust/
https://www.instagram.com/coolyoursweats/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathyrust/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.
