Interview with:L. Rumbalski [bearhaven]
ENTREPRENEUR
 | What is the business idea that you are working on right now? How did you come up with it? children's retail and party planning. I came up with it by combining things I am good at |
| Is there a website, blog or social media link where we can see more about your project and/or yourself? www.bearhavenboutique.com |
| What is your professional background? What were you doing before? I studied English and tutored international students. I also have librarian, research assistant, and retail experience under my belt |
| How did the entrepreneurial spirit rise up in you? Were you exposed to entrepreneurship in your family or your social environment when you were a child? Honestly, I have no idea. I just wanted to do something where I could be with my children and have a career as well |
| Do you have partners working with you on this? How do you split the work with them? no |
| Describe your business plan as briefly and simply as possible. Providing stuff a plush parties and children's items that are hard to find in the area I live while also making it affordable |
| What have you achieved up to now? What have you yet to achieve? Working my way to having a storefront. Now I need to get my website off the ground and let more local people know I exist |
| Are you looking for investors? What are you offering in exchange for what? not at this time |
| Do you have employees or people that you outsource tasks to? What do they do? no |
| Entrepreneurs have a reputation as "control freaks." How do you avoid that? I try to take a step back when overwhelmed |
| How do you balance work with relaxation? still working on that |
| What is your main motivation: being your own boss, adventure and discovery, getting rich, doing good for others, or is there something else? my motivations are creating a legacy for my children and also helping my community by encouraging people to shop local |
| What do you think of big corporations? Would you work for one? I think it would be easy to get lost in the shuffle. I don't know |
| Describe two moments of maximum fear and maximum satisfaction that you have lived through in your business adventure. Maximum fear: this past February when the weather forced me to close for most of the month and was afraid we would not be able to pay our bills. Also when I opened the storefront. It was scary and exciting at the same time.
Maximum satisfaction: the look on children's faces when I am entertaining them at their party. Also knowing I did such a good job when their friends want a party too! |
| When you need guidance or advice, where do you find it? my husband and my mom |
| Up to what point is luck is important? How do you attract it? I think luck is somewhat important. I mean, you are hoping that your idea is received well. I think planning is more important. Attract it by talking your idea up and being positive! |
| What do you do to maintain morale and continue persevering in low times? tell myself that I am just beginning and it will be ok. I also listen to peppy music |
| Which well known entrepreneurs/enterprises do you admire? Why? Honestly, the entrepreneurs that I admire are not well known to the world but are small town business owners from my hometown that I admired while growing up |
| What other types of businesses are you frequently tempted by? fashion |
| Are these times of crisis good for beginning a business? yes and no. Many people are laid off or in my situation trying to find a way to make extra to help family, so a low cost start up business may be a good solution. However, if you do not have the time, patience, and extra money to invest, then no it is not a good time to build a business. It is rough and there are many obstacles, and it is easy to be discouraged at times. |
| How important have PR and social media been for you? I am just getting into the PR aspect, but social media has been awesome! It is getting me more hits to my website and more traffic in-store |
| What would you call success? Where would you like your business to be five years from now? Success would be where my business is paying for itself, and I can hire someone to help. Also if it is bringing more people to the downtown, even better!
I would like for my website to be generating traffic and to have more than one storefront in five years. |
| What skills would you advise a want-to-be-entrepreneur to acquire? Entrepreneurs need to have good people skills and internet skills. Honestly, if they know something about business, marketing, or web design, even better! |
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L. Rumbalski
Pennsylvania
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