Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personalized gifts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Russell Miller, owner of Mugs As Gifts, located in New York, NY, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My Etsy shop name is MugsAsGiftsUSA. This shop started during the Covid pandemic during 'shelter in place" and is dedicated to creating fun and inspiring designs printed on coffee mugs. I offer a wide variety of designs that cater to a large audience with diverse tastes. From pop-culture memes to my famous paintings series, the quality in design and production is top of the line. My prices are below many of my competitors, and my turnaround is extremely fast.
Tell us about yourself
I come from a commercial graphic design background with 30+ years working in New York City's advertising industry. As with many, after Covid struck, I wanted to work more from my home studio. I came up with a coffee mug business concept and started an Esty shop. Coffee mugs seemed like a practical genre for a small new business. Low start-up costs. The first mug I created was inspired by my pet dog, Max. Max is a rescue, part retriever, and part mischief-maker. My first mug design was a Mug-Shot Parody, featuring Max as the example. I love art and design, and creating products that resonate with my customers is a bonus.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Over the last two years, I opened three separate Etsy Shops. MugsAsGiftsUSA, ChefApronsAsGifts, and more recently, PortraitsAsGiftsUSA. I would say my biggest accomplishment with these online shops is my positive customer feedback and a 5 Star rating on all of my shops.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
For me, the hardest thing as a business owner (and one I'm striving to work on) is staying on top of communications with customers and potential customers. Since many customers now compare transactions to Amazon Prime, "we" need to stay on top of fulfillment and communication to meet their expectations. If you fall behind, it becomes a compounding nightmare. At least it does for me because I want to offer the best customer experience I can.
The hardest part of starting a new business is the uncertainty. Until you have a track record with consistent sales and feedback, it's hard to predict how well your venture is going to play out. Once you have confidence that your audience likes your products, it's much easier to move forward with a positive attitude.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Tips for starting a business are... don't quit your day job. The fantasy of making a lot of money at the beginning of a new business often attracts people who are not financially secure. Speaking as a budding online entrepreneur, start slowly with your product or idea and see what the commercial reaction is.
One needs to often tweak their product line and/or image to become successful. Don't be emotionally attached to something if it's not working. Failure is not a bad thing. It's a stepping stone to success. One MUST be passionate about their product or service. Try not to reinvent the wheel. With access to everything under the sun on the internet, it's never been easier to gain market research. Lastly, be polite, humble, and accommodating to your customers.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
If you've started a business or are about to start one, it's likely that you're pretty self-confident. This is a good thing, but don't come across as arrogant. And it's okay to be quirky (or a little wacky) as long as your products and services are well-thought-out and you can deliver.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MugsAsGiftsOnEtsy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mugsasgifts/
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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