Brought to you byLG gram
From starting out to learning how to fail, five female entrepreneurs give us their top tips for turning your side hustle into a small business…
When it comes to female entrepreneurship, recent stats suggest that more and more women are starting small businesses.
In fact, according to the recently published Rose Review Progress Report 2022, over 140,000 female-founded companies were created in 2021 and this figure is growing by more than a third each year.
And while this is fantastic news for budding businesswomen, there are still a lot of misconceptions about what it takes to start your own venture – especially if you’re considering taking a hobby or side hustle to the next level.
From confidence to community networking, Stylist spoke to five business-savvy women about what it takes to get your small business idea off the ground…
“Having a support network is essential,” says Emily Austen, founder of successful PR agency Emerge London. “Not least for the emotional toll that running a business takes, but also for learning and sharing. In 2012, when I started my business, it was much harder to connect with other female founders.”
For Austen, the Hustle Hub by LG gram – an online Facebook community to help women network and discuss their business ideas – was an invaluable tool when starting out.
“The Hustle Hub provides an eco-system within which entrepreneurs can fast-track their business journeys as well as gaining confidence from connecting with like-minded people,” Austen says.
Irene Agbontaen, founder of fashion brand TTYA London, also believes that your friendships are another way to gain expert insight.
“Always lean into your network and ask questions,” Agbontaen advises. “When I started TTYA London, I had previously worked as a stylist, so I was confident in the practical elements of my job. However, I had no experience managing contracts with stores and factories, so I spoke to my friends who are lawyers and buyers and got their advice.
“No matter how informed you are, there are always people who can provide more insight and knowledge, so don’t be afraid to ask for help and lean into your friends or network for support.”
“When it comes to getting your side hustle or business idea off the ground, it’s important to cut through the noise and find your own style,” says Tia Talula, photographer and content creator.
“Find something unique that distinguishes you from your competitors and then do your research. When I started out, I looked at social media accounts in America and other countries to help develop my style and offer something different to local photographers.”
“You have to have a real passion for what you do and believe in your idea from the outset,” says Sally Mansfield, founder of inclusive fashion brand MannersLondon. “I love seeing women feel empowered by my clothes. That keeps me going on the days when juggling solo parenthood and business ownership get too much.”
Deborah Curwell, founder of east London’s Breathe Barbers, adds: “You also need to ask yourself why you want to take your hobby or side hustle to the next stage.”
“Don’t let money motivate you. Instead, ask yourself if you really love this idea enough to commit to it 24/7 for the foreseeable future, because that’s the reality of starting a small business. It’s hard work, but so worth it if you believe in your product and yourself.”
“It totally depends on your business but, generally speaking, technology is very important, in particular to streamline your processes and increase efficiency,” says Austen.
“Being on the go, hustling from a coffee shop, editing on your way to a pitch and emailing from your kitchen table are all facilitated by great tech solutions. Managing cash flow, invoicing and project mapping, as well as apps such as Slack to keep communication working, mean you have to spend less time solving tech issues and more time running your business.”
“You have to be prepared to always try something new when it comes to technology,” Talula adds. “I’m 45 and have had to bring myself up to speed with social media platforms in order to stay competitive. If you tell yourself you don’t understand something without even trying it out, then you’ve already set yourself and your business idea back.”
“Also, finding a laptop you love is imperative because it becomes an extension of you and your business,” says Talula, who swears by the stylish and lightweight LG gram laptop range for working remotely.
“We are a culture that promotes never quitting, but sometimes it’s important to acknowledge that things aren’t working,” says Austen.
“We put undue pressure on ourselves to play into a perfect ideal of what a business owner should look/sound/behave like. Failure happens in small increments every single day – it’s part of the journey. The goal isn’t to eliminate these things, it’s to master them. The goal is not to never fall down, it’s just to succeed more times than you fail.”
“Being aware of how events might take an unexpected turn and being prepared for that is a more valuable learning,” says Curwell, who started her small business during the pandemic. “It’s not failure if something doesn’t go to plan, it’s just a different route. And that new route could present a whole new set of possibilities.”
“Failing at some things was a massive learning opportunity,” says Agbontaen. “It showed me the key areas I had weaknesses in and where I needed to build knowledge. For example, using online resources to help scale my business instead of trying to do everything myself – which is time-consuming and exhausting – was a big learning for me.”
Austen reflects on the best piece of advice she received when starting out and how it’s helped her achieve her goals.
“Stop playing business and start doing business,” she says. “You’ve always got to have something of substance underpinning the ultimate goal for your business idea. Goals without plans are basically pipe dreams.”
And lastly, try and identify what success looks like for you and your business as this will be a key factor in driving your idea forward.
“I just wanted to create a space that lets me live out my passion every day,” says Curwell. “Living and doing your hobby as a career means that you care so much more about it.”
“Success for me can’t be an individual or material thing. It’s broader than that,” Mansfield concludes. “My dream of success is to get to a point when I can create spaces that lift other women up.”
“My advice for women creating their own business is to simply start at the start. Use your newness as your USP. Be prepared to put out ideas and socials that aren’t perfect. Just start, and if you don’t get it right, start again and again.”
From networking opportunities to inspirational content and expert advice, the Hustle Hub by LG gram is a community bringing together side hustlers and entrepreneurs in a supportive space, both online and in person. Click here to join the community.
Plus don’t forget to explore the full range of LG gram laptops. Stylish and ultra-lightweight, the range has a model to help get every business idea off the ground. Ideal for working on the go, the combination of portable design, long battery life and premium display is the perfect solution for those looking to turn their dreams into reality.
Copyright © 2010–2022 Stylist
About Author
