ADVICE FOR ENTREPRENEURS IN THEIR FIRST YEAR OF BUSINESS

The most important advice I can share with new entrepreneurs is to maintain focus; have a plan and stick with it. I absolutely hate planning and writing plans, but through lots of trial and error I’ve learned, sometimes the hard way, that focus is key. I think anyone who has an entrepreneurial spirit is naturally is a big thinking, creative person with tons of ideas. Focusing on the most important parts of your business and the things that are most successful are key. Trying to do or accomplish too much right off the bat can be dangerous and can undermine what and where you talents are. By then plugging in those key talents into a well-written plan, it then makes it easy to execute. This also helps you establish a tight brand message that is also essential in the beginning of a business. Who are you and what do you do better than anyone else?

AMERICAN COTTAGE INDUSTRIES: Teaching and Sustaining Vocations

Training and careers for everyone in our society is so very important to me. Everyone needs a vocation, something that they are good at that makes them feels accomplished, worthy and that helps them contribute to their family and the greater good. When I founded Rebecca Ray, I originally sewed everything myself. But, as the business took off, it became clear to me that I couldn’t continue to grow and scale the business without getting assistance from skilled artisans.

My husband, Derek and I made two very conscious decisions and a commitment at that time: We would make everything in America and that we would form a company that, to borrow a well-known phrase by now, “Does Good While Doing Well.” Companies need to be part of the fabric of our community. It is not easy to keep made everything in America, nor is it always the most lucrative approach but where there is a commitment there is a way. And our customers and fans are keenly aware of our story and make a choice to support us.

The techniques and crafts we are using are dying arts in this country; hand sewing, bench made leather work and harness making. We have found communities where generationally, artisans are struggling to keep these crafts alive and we’ve been able to tap into this and keep these arts alive. We have many women and men working for us in small rural, agricultural settings, where they are able to stay in their homes with their families and they earn livable wages with us. We learn and grow together. Our lead seamstress, after whom the best-selling Mary Ann bag is named after, has been with us since the beginning – for almost 14 years. .

The Seven Barks line, which is a letterpress stationery line that is owned by myself and my brother, a printer, is packages and assembled by a private workshop of differently abled adults who are paid by us to learn a job skill in a safe environment.

AUTHENTIC DETAILS

One if the things that we pride ourselves on at Rebecca Ray is our authenticity. We use all of the original harness and equestrian pieces everyday while we are riding and working in the barn all of the time. We take those authentic pieces of solid brass hardware, bridle leather and usable tack and turn it into hard working fashion pieces and accessories. The topstitching is all done with harness grade threads by a master harness maker on a hand-operated machine. Each piece is made one at a time; this product is never mass-produced. There is an artisan putting together YOUR piece of Rebecca Ray.

CREATING AFFORDABLE LUXURY

I never make anything that I don’t have and use in my own home. We test all of our products with friends and family, who often carry and wear our prototypes to test them. I look for affordable luxury. I want everything to feel luxurious and wonderful to the hand. Our leathers should feel like the same leather that your fine bridle is made of, because it IS the same leather. All products should be responsibly sourced and as natural as possible. We use cotton webbing; leathers that are tanned by water, not chemicals and create pieces of art that should last forever. Remember – it’s the details that count. Its not done until it is done correctly.

We’ve learned a lot about that along the way, and as we get better at scaling our business, we’ve been able to pass those savings along to our customers. We’ve gotten smarter about our buying and ordering and our harness teams have helped us get smarter about how we make things. Additionally, we never have waste. We are able to use almost ever piece we buy. All of this helps. But it is important to recognize that luxury doesn’t have to be unaffordable. It may be a bit more, but we should expect the best from those companies with whom we do business. We make the go-to the items that are everyone’s favorites and last forever.