Tiffany Shown
Fair Seas Supply Co.
California
Where were you with your idea or business before joining Factory45?
I honestly had no clue what I wanted to make when I signed up for Factory45. I have no previous apparel experience, but I knew I wanted to start my own business and I felt like Factory45 could help me do it with integrity. I quickly, and pretty randomly, decided on beach blankets and ran with it. A mere four months after graduating from Factory45 my business was up and running.
How did joining Factory45 help you?
Factory45 broke down what seemed like such a daunting process into manageable steps with insider info on how to approach each specific vendor and scenario along the way. On top of that, I had an amazing group of entrepreneurs to interact with who were going through the same exact thing I was.
Starting a business has so many emotional highs and lows and it was invaluable to have a community to relate to everything I was going through and to cheer me on when things seemed daunting. I think Shannon is equal part business strategist / therapist for all of us!
What did you launch?
I make round, organic Turkish cotton beach blankets. Right now we have four colors available – all inspired by the various beaches I’ve lived near along the California coast. I source the fabric and fringe directly from Turkey and have it flown to a sew shop in California where the fringes and labels are sewn on.
What were some big or small milestones you hit after going through Factory45?
Aside from my first “non-friend” sale, the most exciting thing to have happened with Fair Seas Supply Co. so far is a solo pop-up shop with West Elm just three months after launching! To have that kind of validation from such a large brand that I am personally in love with, was just amazing and will keep me going for months!
Describe your business after Factory45.
First of all, it’s simply beyond amazing to actually be able to say that I have a business. This has been a lifelong dream of mine, and at 32 years old Factory45 was the exact thing I needed to give me the push to do it. I feel confident that I have tools and resources to keep growing my business as a result of Factory45. While the program has ended, I still feel a part of the community and I still benefit from Shannon’s advice and feedback constantly.
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