Hi Nancy! Let’s kick things off—tell us a little about yourself. (How many kids, your favorite part of MI summers since you lived in LA for a bit) How did your journey as a mom and business owner begin?
Hi! I was born and raised in Grosse Pointe Shores, Michigan, and I went to College in Fort Collins, Colorado. I spent my summers in Aspen, enjoying nature. Then, I lived in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City, but my heart called for me to return to my roots, so I moved home to Michigan. Now, I live in Birmingham with my husband, Jason, and our eight-year-old daughter.
In terms of my professional life, when I moved to LA, I taught yoga, Pilates, and also at Tracy Anderson. Yoga has always been so important for me for the mind-body connection. But after an accident, I found Pilates, which was the only workout I could do. It healed my body and really changed my life. I was actually able to recover. After teaching, I worked in sales and marketing for activewear companies, so I have experience both in the fitness world itself, and behind the scenes in retail.
What inspired you to create Sticky Be Socks? Was there an “aha” moment when you knew this was something you had to do?
Actually, I was consulting for several brands, and an opportunity to launch and take over Sticky Be Socks came up: I was ready to take it to a higher level. I knew it was in my wheelhouse. It was a no-brainer. Eventually, I ended up buying it. I decided to take the chance because my consulting wasn’t what I really wanted. I grew it based on my own vision of what I knew it could be, starting from a smaller beginning, and feeling clear I could make it thrive.
Sticky Be Socks combines both function and motivation—those quotes are everything! How do you come up with the phrases for your designs?
They are everything! They’re definitely what differentiates our brand. The “be” sayings help in everyday life, in a small, subliminal–but important—way. If you’re in a tough workout class holding one of those long, long planks, you can look down and see: “Be Strong” to keep you motivated. Or, if you’re feeling stressed out and see “Be Calm,” it’s soothing. It’s little, but it can really change your mood. I always think it’s helpful to wear the socks of the energy you want to embody. And everything from our shorter crew length and mid-calf to Mary-Jane styles has the inspiring quotes on them. There’s a Sticky Be Sock that’s right for every occasion, feeling, and activity.
How do you involve your daughter in your work? Does she have a favorite part about Sticky Be Socks?
I love including my daughter in SBS. She loves to create sock designs on her own with paper and colored pencils. And, she’s so helpful with the mantras too: She likes to give me a list of different be sayings to use for my designs.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to other moms dreaming of starting their own business?
One of the most important things I learned is simple: In business, focus on your strengths, and then hire people to help your areas of weakness or growth. Building a community of support is essential, and gathering experts and assistance only strengthens your brand, company, and success.
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