Women In Business: Jordan from Jordandené

Too often in our society, people picture men in their heads when they hear words like, “boss”, “entrepreneur”, or “CEO”. Being a small business owner has put me in touch with so many successful female business owners and entrepreneurs that when I hear these words, I often picture a woman or I just don’t assume anything at all. Women are obviously just as capable as men when it comes to the business world and it is high time that women business owners and entrepreneurs are more visible in the media in our society. This is where the idea for Women in Business was born. Women in Business is a bi-weekly feature that highlights female entrepreneurs and business owners. Not only is it a fantastic opportunity to learn more about small businesses in various fields, but it is a great shopping guide for supporting small businesses.  

Tell us a little bit about your business. What exactly do you do and how long have you been doing it? 

Jordandené started as a fun way to put a nerdy twist on traditional vintage goods. Our first product was a geek chic apron that let you dress up as your favorite superhero while doing boring household chores. We’ve expanded in the past four years to include other home goods, kid’s toys, and hand-lettered clothing for babies and adults.

Do you have a favorite product or design you have worked on so far?

I really really love our hand-lettered tanks. I partially love them because of how fun they are to wear, and partially because of the collaboration that goes into each one. I was lucky enough to marry a wonderful designer who letters each shirt’s quote with a brush and ink. Then I get to work with one of my best friends to screen print each shirt at a local print studio. To me, they’re wonderfully unique.

What do you do when you need some inspiration?

I actually have most of my best ideas on long subway rides. I listen to a lot of small business podcasts that always spark a ton of new ideas for products, social media campaigns, or ways to improve my day-to-day business life. Maybe it’s because I’m completely disconnected from the rest of the world (no cell service underground!), but if I sit down on the train with a blank notebook, I’ll almost always leave with a page of new ideas.

What are some of the challenges you experience while running your business? How do you overcome those challenges?

My biggest challenges so far have just been figuring things out. I studied elementary education in college, so I came into the business world with no idea of how to do anything. Over the past four years I’ve struggled through applying for a patent, paying sales tax, navigating wholesale contracts, and simply setting up all the systems that make a business work. I recently took my first business class (Marie Forleo’s B-School), which I absolutely should have done years ago. Since then, I’ve found other pockets of small business experts and bloggers who can give amazing advice about how to actually run your business.

What are the top three things you could not run your business without?

I couldn’t run my business without a support group, iPhone apps, and a designer on my team. Any amount of success I’ve had is completely tied to my community of supporters. From friends and family who helped me get off the ground, to local events and businesses I’ve been able to work with, to other entrepreneurs who have advised and supported me, this is hands-down the key factor in my success. I also do about 70% of my actual work remotely, so being able to keep up with social networks and conversations and check in on website stats from my phone is a necessity. Finally, making things look good is one of the most important aspects of a successful business, and I would not be able to do that without my designer.

How do you define success as a business owner?

For me, success as a business owner is being able to support yourself financially and feel good about what you do to make that happen.

What advice would you give to someone who is looking to become an entrepreneur?

My top advice for anyone interested in becoming an entrepreneur is to find a support group asap. I had no idea that there were so many Facebook groups and communities out there with the sole purpose of helping each other succeed. Having a place to ask questions or request feedback from a trusted group of peers will be an invaluable asset as you start to grow your business.

What goals do you have for your business over the next three years?

One of my biggest goals is to set up a real studio that my team and I can work from together. Right now we’re pretty scattered and have to rent out different spaces for various projects. I’d really love to have a place where we can produce and store everything we make in the same place, as well as throw some awesome parties and events!

You can find Jordan here: Jordandené | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest |Instagram