Here’s a woman who knows what it takes to be successful! I loved that I could feel her confidence oozing from every answer she gave. What a great reminder to all of us! As women we want to be great moms, great wives, great providers for our families and great business owners, but since we all struggle to find balance, we make excuses and apologize a thousand times a day.
Not Gabrielle Krake. Her extensive retail and business experience has helped her feel confident in her efforts to start Shop Wise Bags, a business that has only been running for four months. Her bright colored and well designed products are sure to put a smile on your face! What I also loved is that she also confidently shares that her success and her future lie in the hands of a Higher power. Though she admits there is still a long road ahead (don’t we all feel like that?!), she is relishing in making her dreams come true. Thanks, Gabrielle, for the reminder to continue to be positive through the Startup process and all the best to you!
Name: Gabrielle Krake
Hometown: Boise, Idaho
Education: 4 years of University (BFA)
Professional Background: Lots of retail, organizing large volunteer groups & several personal businesses, including a cafe, organizational service, landscaping, outfitter, & presently Shop Wise Bags.
What you wanted to be when you grew up: a veterinarian, a tycoon, an industrial designer, and an artist.
What you are: AN ARTIST, mom, wife, writer, seamstress, designer & NOT a tycoon.
Brief Summary of your Start Up: It was a whirlwind 9 days, in that time we developed our initial website, created a branding solution, applied and received our business license, created our shopping cart, started the trademark process, got 3 downtown stores to commit to orders, developed the prototype, and went to work. It’s been 80 days since creation and the business feels like it’s been around for years. Our team is fantastic!
Company Website: www.shopwisebags.com
What inspired you: Beauty, FORM & FUNCTION
How long have you been in business: 3 months with Shop Wise Bags
How did you fund it: Out of pocket, one CC and an investment loan from an uncle.
Do you have a Fairy Godmother (or Mentor): My mom!! (she works with me)
Do you belong to any Business Organization or Networking Groups: Not yet, but soon.
Current Business Challenge: Space
What are you doing about it: Praying for the ability to add a second story to our home, so that the studio can be “just the studio”
Favorite motivational quote: With effort, we can do anything!
Family: Husband, 4 children that we home educate, my mom
If so, how do you balance family and business: Precariously! I have to write everything down and stick to a plan.
Favorite book: Bible, Count of Monte Cristo, Watership Down, The Power of One
What do you do to relax: Think
What do you want to change most about your world: That we share more.
What are you most proud of: My husband – his ability to keep going out into our depressed economy and press on to provide for his family.
What advice would you like to offer other Start Up Princesses: Plan, Plan, PLAN. You have to have your business plan, your design plan and your work plan in place and follow it or you will simply flounder.
Favorite Magic Wand (tool/resource): Prayer, whenever I am truly stuck, I take time to just pray and think until things loosen up.
If you could design a tiara, what precious stones would you use: Coffee colored diamonds, funny I really have never had or wanted diamonds.
What else do you want us to know: I believe in a community effort, I believe that if we would pull together and truly help one another with our endeavors that our society would be richer for the efffort. I have been writing a book about Seeking Proverbs 31, how if each of our households would come together to complete the big tasks of life, such as garden planning, remodeling, spring cleaning and event planning, that as the “household community” we could accomplish and bless one another so much more! We have been practicing this for several years and it is fantastic! Our business is a result of this vision.
It’s awesome to read this with all that has happened since we did the interview. We have made some changes and keep working hard to get our products noticed. We have done so much networking and so much helping others with their own business adventures.
Thanks again for the great interview!!! 14 months and still going strong!
.-= Gabrielle´s last blog ..Porch Makeover =-.