Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Jorge Hoyos, Founder and Owner of Sapiens Child, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
Sapien Child is a Vancouver-based brand that sells compact furniture for babies and toddlers. We specialize in designing furniture and products that support babies' and toddlers' development, and we aim to foster emotional connections between the parent and the child as much as possible.
Our customers are parents or caregivers who have one or two young children and who care deeply about their development. They live in cities where space is tight (Vancouver, New York, San Francisco) and, therefore, really appreciate compact pieces that do not mess with their home's aesthetics.
Tell us about yourself
My name is Jorge, and I live in Vancouver. If you know anything about Vancouver, it is that renting a place is expensive, so most people can afford a small space. I was working in Arctery'x as an engineer when COVID happened. I got laid off and found myself with time at home to create and do woodwork which is what I really enjoy. I started with a few wooden toys for my one-year-old, but then my wife, who is a certified Montessori guide, asked for a Montessori compact weaning table and chair for our baby. She mentioned how most Montessori furniture she found online was very large and could barely fit in our apartment. As soon as I finished it, our toddler sat on it right away and couldn't stay away from it.
I thought if we had this problem of finding compact Montessori-inspired furniture for toddlers, then many others might have the same problem. I started to offer the product in the Facebook marketplace, and little by little, we got more and more requests. I got excited and started launching more products, always testing at home first and getting my wife's Montessori approval. Today I have my own proper workshop in Vancouver. We are the only ones who manufacture all our products here. We sell to many parts of the world with a portfolio of 7 different products and more to come soon. This has definitely been a journey, and I couldn't be happier and more fulfilled.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
The creation of an amazing, inspiring brand that people resonate with. And certainly growing a company from a first-year selling $20,000 to $500,000 annual sales a year.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
The constant sacrifices and risk management you have to make by living both a business life and a personal life. The tough part is trying your hardest every day not to affect any of the two and maintaining a balance.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be absolutely clear about what you want to accomplish. The "why" your company exists. If you don't have this clear, you might get lost on the way.
- Keep in mind that in order to have success, you need discipline. In order to have discipline, you need to sacrifice. In order to sacrifice, you need passion and constant motivation. Make sure you love the process and not only the end result. I'll give you an example. Before Sapiens Child, I started a company called Heilu. I wanted to launch a super sustainable protein powder made of insects. The idea of the product was so inspiring to me, but the process of creating it was so exhausting and uninteresting that I ended up not pursuing it. It included reading multiple papers on chemistry, biology, testing compounds, etc. Not my thing.
- Find people who have done what you are doing and have been successful. Ask for their advice and support. Find mentors in the field. Build your own professional network.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://sapienschild.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SapiensChild/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sapienschild/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sapiens-child/
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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