Introduce your business and tell us your story: How did you decide on what to sell, and how did you source your products?
Nisolo started because we wanted to wear quality goods that had been made ethically, but still had beautiful design. We wanted the same level of transparency that we get about the food we put in our bodies for the clothes we put on our bodies, and we wanted our purchases to matter. All of our products are handcrafted in Peru and Kenya. We source from experts with generations of experience and we treat our producers and customers with dignity.
How did you earn your first sales? Which channels are now generating the most traffic and sales for you?
Word of mouth was huge for us starting out. We went on small road trips around the US introducing our products and ethos with family and friends. Once they were excited about our brand, it started to spread quickly. We love being based here in Nashville and surrounded by a supportive community that is consciously seeking quality, in both product and sourcing. Our online store is definitely our biggest outlet. It is so exciting to feel so connected to the world and have a global community. We are also opening our storefront in Nashville soon, and so look forward to connecting face to face with our customers.
Tell us about the back-end of your business. What tools and apps do you use to run your store? How do you handle shipping and fulfillment?
We love Shopify! With its inventory management, customer profiles, and ability to run reports, nearly all of our departments use it on a daily basis. Spotify is another must. Setting the tone for a work day is always dependent on what music we have playing. Our amazing fulfillment team in-house handles all of our shipping. This includes the intake of our large shipments from Peru and Kenya.
What are your top recommendations for new store owners?
My biggest piece of advice would be to take time to really build your brand. Know who you are and have clear vision of what you are trying to build. I've always thought starting a brand is very much like sending a teenage to middle school. At first, you are going to try to do what everyone else is doing -you'll want to be "cool" and accepted. But trust your gut and strive to be unique. Knowing who you aren't is just as important as knowing you are.