Before you read, check out All That It Seams! They have such amazing products and SUCH a great cause!
Without further ado, here's our interview with Caitlin Childs!
Q- When did you start your business, and what was your
biggest challenge at startup?
A-“All That It Seams was officially started in the fall of
2016. Although we are still a young business, we have already received TWO
celebrity endorsements in the short 10 months since our inception. My biggest challenge
at the beginning was definitely my website. I wanted something that looked
professional, but I had NO budget for a website designer. However, I was
determined not to let that stop me. I got on YouTube and watched a four hour
long tutorial about how to build a professional ecommerce website from scratch.
It took me four days to create, but it remains one of my proudest
accomplishments.”
Q- What inspires you to create your products?
A- “As cliche as it sounds, I get my inspiration from everyday
life. I’ve noticed that in the women’s accessories business, you have a choice
between fashionable and functional, but rarely get both. I wanted to bridge that
gap. If I think of something that would be functional for everyday life, it
immediately goes onto my ideas list. From there, I challenge myself to think of
ways to make that functional piece just as stylish. “
Q- Your company donates 10% of your profits to no-kill
shelters- when did you begin this and what shelters are your biggest partners?
A- “That has been a factor in my business from the very
beginning. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I started my business. Seven years ago, my rottweiler,
Bruce, showed up at my door. I welcomed him in immediately and claimed him as
my own. Unfortunately, a neighbor called the animal control on him and he was relocated
to a local shelter. I went to the shelter to officially adopt him. When I got
there, I was heartbroken to see that my sweet boy was now consumed with panic
and terror. He couldn’t wait to get out of there. Since my husband refuses to
let me adopt every single animal in the shelter, I made it my life’s mission to
do whatever I could to make sure that those animals are provided for both
physically and emotionally. By doing what I love, I am also able to fulfill
that promise that I made to myself.
My brother is
actually a board member of a local shelter called CARA (Community Animal Rescue
and Adoption). We started off by partnering with them, and are still able to
donate to them frequently.”
Q- How long does it take you to design a new line?
A- “I only launch two product lines per year: a Spring/Summer
line and a Fall/Winter line. As soon as I launch one product line, I
immediately get to work on the next product line. There is so much work that
goes into it. From formulating ideas, planning a cohesive line, creating
patterns, bringing those patterns to life, photographing and marketing these
products, there is months and months of work poured into each line.”
Q- Speaking of new lines- you've got a new one coming in the
fall. What sneak peeks can you give us into this line? What was your biggest
inspiration when creating the new line?
A- “For this line, I was greatly inspired by the mountains.
When I was younger, one of my favorite vacations was when my family would go
skiing in the Rocky Mountains. I absolutely loved bundling up against the cold.
This product line has clean lines and rich colors that is reminiscent of a
mountain scene with a heavy focus on warmth and coziness to get you through
those cold winter months.”
Caitlin was also kind enough to send us this special sneak peek of her new line:
Caitlin was also kind enough to send us this special sneak peek of her new line:
Q- If you ever had doubts along the way, what did you tell
yourself to keep yourself going?
A- “Being an
entrepreneur is an absolute roller coaster of emotions. In all honesty, I have
major doubts at least once a week, but I also have incredible feelings of
accomplishment to balance those out. Probably the main reason that I keep going
is because I would rather crash and burn doing something that I absolutely love
than to be successful at something that I had no passion for. If for whatever
reason my business was to close tomorrow, I could look back and say, “I gave it
everything I had.” To me, having no regrets and laying it all out there on the
table is worth getting up every morning and giving it all I’ve got.”
Q- As a successful businesswoman, what words do you have for
young girls who also want to go into
business when they grow up?
A- “We’ve all heard the term “Knowledge is Power” but there is
absolutely no place where that saying is more relevant than it is in business.
Never stop learning. You have the entire internet at your fingertips. You can either
use it to better yourself, or you could waste your time watching countless
hours of cat videos. Okay, maybe there’s time for a few cat videos. The point
is, if there is something that you don’t know how to do, Google it. If there’s
a new skill you want to learn, look up a tutorial on YouTube or Pinterest.
There is no limit to your potential. The
more you learn, the further you will go. “
Q- What's the hardest part of running your own business?
A- “That’s a tough one. The hardest part for me would probably
be learning the financial side of business and the dreaded taxes. Gross. One
day, I hope to hire a business manager who can overtake the financial side of
the business so that I can focus on the parts I love to do. “
Q- What's the most rewarding part of running your own
business?
A-“ That one might be a tie. I absolutely love getting to
donate to animal shelters and seeing those precious fur babies get the care
that they so greatly deserve. However, I also find it extremely rewarding when
a customer tells me how much they love their purchase. Knowing that something I
created from scratch with nothing but an idea and a few materials brought joy
to someone I’ve never even met is such a fulfilling feeling. “
Q- Is there anything else you want us to know about All
That It Seams?
A-“I like to say that we don’t have customers, we have a
community. Our tribe consists of women who are tired of the same old boring
products that everyone else has and who want products that are not only tailor
made for their everyday life, but also allow them to showcase their own
personal style. If you would like to join our family, you can find us on
Facebook or on Instagram. Of
course, our website is www.allthatitseams.com. We love interacting with our community!”
OFT would like to extend a special thanks to Caitlin Childs for allowing us this interview with her! We encourage you all to check out her store and social media accounts! Remember, each purchase from her store donates 10% of it to no-kill animal shelters!
We look forward to her Fall Line!
Did you like this interview? Got your own questions? Let us know in the comments!
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Thank you all so much for reading and I'll see you in our next post!
Stay lovely!
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