Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Krystle Pagkalinawan, owner of Plant Lab Botanical Design, located in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Plant Lab Botanical Design is a plant and gift shop in Winnipeg's Exchange District. We are focused on inspiring you to find meaningful self-care in plant care and helping you design your life and spaces.
Tell us about yourself
I left my full-time job due to the stress on my mental health, and I found so much self-care in caring for plants, so I launched Plant Lab to help others realize the amount of healing plants can bring to your life. I'm motivated by my connections with customers when they come into the shop or when I engage with them online.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Launching Plant Lab Botanical Design and opening my storefront during a global pandemic. It wasn't easy and is still quite a struggle, but so many other business owners have had hard times during the pandemic. I know many businesses have to shut down operations permanently, so I'm grateful and proud that I'm still standing.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
As a solopreneur, it's difficult to get past the loneliness. While being your own boss can be great, you're burdened with handling many things on your own.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Plan your goals. I think successfully reaching your goals comes with lots of planning. Things may not always go to plan, but it at least pushes you in the direction you need to be going.
- Collaborate. I think it's important to collaborate with others. Find businesses that have the same values as you and your business and reach out to them to see if they are willing to work with you on a project or giveaway. Most business owners know what it's like initially, and while you do not always get a yes, you never know what opportunities are out there.
- Find your support. I found my people in the Made To Grow Community. They are a group of amazing women business owners that I can connect with and reach out to when I have questions or just need to talk to. Friends are great, but other entrepreneurs get it. They understand a lot of the things friends and family may not be able to. I'm also able to find people to help hold me accountable and even challenge me, which can be difficult when you're always working alone.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
The biggest shift in my business came with my biggest shift in mindset. Instead of always asking, "what's the worst that could happen?" a mentor of mine, Shery Sobey, suggested I start asking, "what's the BEST that could happen?" and I've never looked back since.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.plantlab.design/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plantlabbotanicaldesign/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/plantlabdesign
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.