Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Heather Mannas, owner of Sloane & Blake Inc., located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My business is Sloane & Blake, and I design, create and provide silicone products for HER, babies, and children. Our Bracelet Key Rings for HER are made for busy individuals and mothers such as myself. With two children and a dog, my hands were constantly full holding things, and I was always searching for my keys in my pockets, backpack, and stroller. With our Bracelet Key Rings, you can slip them on your wrist, hold them, and clip it on a purse or bag. It’s a super functional accessory every person needs!
When babies first get their teeth, they chew on everything! We provide safe and cute teething products for little ones. Living on the West Coast with children and a dog, I’m often outside at parks, playgrounds, and beaches. There is so much plastic waste and broken plastic beach toys in these areas. Our Silicone Beach Toy Playsets are the alternative to plastic toys. Made with a high-quality silicone that is more flexible and durable than plastic, we can help reduce the number of broken plastic pieces found at playgrounds, beaches, and the ocean.
Tell us about yourself
Before children, I played hockey for 15 years. In 2016, when my eldest daughter, Blake, was teething and chewing on everything, I searched everywhere for a silicone teether with a hockey design and could not find one. Again, in early 2018 when Sloane was teething, I was still unable to find one. After extensive research, I discovered there were no hockey designs and was motivated to create one for a market that overlooked the interests of parents who might have played sports, such as myself.
I did a lot of research and finally opened my business in January 2019. I currently have five silicone teether designs: hockey net, hockey jersey, football helmet, basketball, and compass. As an advocate of living an active lifestyle through sports and being outside, I built my business to encourage little ones to share the same passion through my designs and products.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Taking an idea, drawing it, and turning it into a physical product that ends up in retail stores for everyone to use has been a huge accomplishment as a business owner. It has been an honour to work with many wonderful retailers in Canada and US. One of my biggest moments as a business owner was becoming a vendor with Indigo after 1.5 years of operating.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Doing it all and doing it right with very limited time. Many of my items are handmade, which takes a lot of time to assemble. As a business owner, I do everything behind the scenes, from emails, marketing, creating products, shipping, inventory, etc. I’m a full-time parent with another job on top of my business. Finding time to do it all and taking care of my mental and physical health has been one of my hardest challenges.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Research, research, research! Do your research before you start. Depending on your business, you may need to check existing copyrights and patents. As a business owner selling baby goods, it’s so important to understand the safety requirements and liability before selling. Unfortunately, I’ve seen a lot of baby products on the market that doesn’t pass safety standards being sold to parents and shipped worldwide.
- Be original, be creative, and do it because you love it.
- JUST DO IT. (-Nike).
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://sloaneandblake.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sloaneandblake
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sloaneandblake/
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.