Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in clothing but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Slater McLean, Co-Founder of Oliver Charles, located in San Francisco, CA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I'm thrilled to share our eco-friendly sweaters with you, made from seaweed and Yak Wool - the ultimate sustainable materials. Our sweaters are crafted in the USA using state-of-the-art 3D printing technology, resulting in a seamless and 100% waste-free garment. Looking and feeling your best should not require sacrificing your love for the planet. We take great care in sourcing materials that not only look and feel great but also have a positive impact on local ecosystems and communities. It's truly the best of both worlds—a single sweater for all of life. Our customers come from all over and share a deep love for the environment, high-quality items that last forever, and a simplified wardrobe.

Tell us about yourself

Growing up in the mountains of Colorado, outdoor adventure had a major influence on us. Throughout our lives, we've always preferred wearing durable, high-performing clothes versus wearing the latest trend. The truth is, the relationship we have with our clothes is personal, and whether we're cycling through exhausting work weeks, cooking with our partners, or lounging on Sundays, we want to look and feel our best. There's even a science behind the relationship we share with our clothes called "Enclothed Cognition" - the study of how clothes impact our well-being and determine our creativity, productivity, and happiness throughout the day.

Whether you're juggling big life decisions, powering through zoom calls, exploring the mountains, or going out to dinner, your Oliver Charles sweater will always be there for you. They are the most versatile pieces in your closet and let you quickly and elegantly shift between work and life, which is increasingly important as we blur the lines between the two. Every Oliver Charles sweater is made in Brooklyn, NY, on advanced 3D-knitting machines that seamlessly "print" each sweater in a single piece, making them lighter and stronger while reducing waste. Made from world-renowned materials, khullu ("coo-loo"), a super fiber from high elevation Tibetan Yak, and merino wool. They are known for being temperature-regulating and odor-resistant, ideal for repeat wear, and simplifying life. It's not just a sweater; it's a single item for all of life.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

The most exciting moment in the company's history was our crowdfunding campaign. We had spent over a year preparing for it and surpassed our goal in under 3 hours. I still remember the moment we went live. We sat together at our kitchen table, getting ready to push the Indiegogo page live. We had everything lined up and ready to go. Then we pressed the button, and the campaign went live. Slowly orders started to trickle in, 1, then another a few minutes later, and so on. It wasn't until we started emailing the lists we'd tirelessly been building for over 6 months that things really began to take off. Before we knew it, orders were flooding in, and we were well on our way to blowing past our goal.
In our excitement, I reloaded the front page of Indiegogo, and there we were — right there — trending on the homepage. A whole year of work culminated in seeing Oliver Charles trending on that front page. I think I may have shed a tear at that moment.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

I would say three things, in particular, make starting a business difficult. Managing your expectations, working with external stakeholders, and staying positive.

The one truth to starting a business is that nothing will work out the way you expected it to. No matter what, at some point along the way, something will happen that's completely unexpected, both positively and negatively. It's important not to dwell on these moments and move forward while learning as much as possible.

You'll have to work with external stakeholders. We are often taught that there has to be a winner and a loser in business negotiations. That never works. It's always better to devise a win-win situation. If you're successful, your partners should share in the success.

Finally, you have to believe that what you're doing will work. If you don't believe this, you'll spend all your time looking for assurances that whatever you're doing will work. This analysis paralysis will quickly kill any business, no matter how good the idea is.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Be someone that other people root for, not against. There have been countless times while starting Oliver Charles when the support of friends, family, old colleagues, and strangers has made all the difference. When we launched our crowdfunding campaign, the first $10,000 came from people we knew that wanted to support us. That first influx of money landed us on the front page, and the rest is history. If you go into starting a business with the mindset that it's you against the world, you'll never make it.
  2. Make decisions quickly. If starting a business is like climbing a mountain, then sitting around and thinking about things is like the small blister you develop along the way. Eventually, that little blister grows and grows and grows, becoming so painful that you're forced to turn around, never reaching the summit. Nothing is worse than inaction. Decisions need to be made quickly and with conviction.
  3. Spend time and money on your packaging. I once saw a quote from someone that said, "your packaging is the only thing with a 100% open rate." That was a profound realization for us. The package is a customer's first impression; we all know those are the most important. How they feel after receiving the package will translate to how they feel when they first experience your product.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.oliver-charles.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oliver.charles.clothing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliver.charles.clothing/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Oliver__Charles
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/oliver-charles/

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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