Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in toys and entertainment but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Blake Baker, Owner and CEO of Fortress Of Solitude Toys & Games, located in Tyler, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We're the premiere independent toy & collectibles store in Northeast Texas! Our customers are from all over due to our weekly online shows. They're toy hunters, collectors, nostalgia geeks, and parents buying for their kiddos. We get to share our passion for new & old toys every day!
Tell us about yourself
I first got into collecting as a child and have been into it for as long as I can remember. After a corporate layoff in 2018, I decided to do my own thing, and this just made sense...
I'm really excited every day to do what I do. I like not being boxed in and working in a cube. Our mission is to help as many kids and young adults as we can in the areas of education, equality, mental health, and overall well-being.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Besides our charity work, which I'm super proud of, it's probably the fact that we have 10Xed the size of our operation in the six years since we started. That and the fact that we're relatively debt free...
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Staying motivated, for sure. It's all about staying focused on the mission and showing up every day ready to do those things that others aren't willing to do.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Stay on top of your socials. Engagement is HUGE.
- Hire some help. You got to have a team around you. It helps if they share your vision.
- Remember that no one is going to work as hard on your dream as you.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.fortresstoys.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortresstoys
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortresstoys/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fortresstoys
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blakebaker5/
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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