Kim Isley, owner of Trees For a Change.com, plants trees as gifts for all occasions. Her trees are planted in U.S. National Forests to restore areas that have been devastated by wildfire.
Trees For a Change offers personalized certificates and cards, recycled wood frames, an on-line Tree Registry for gift recipient names, and free shipping on all orders.
Kim is thrilled to have the opportunity to follow her dreams of being her own boss AND helping the environment.
Here's Kim's inspirational story...
Kim, who is your target audience? Anyone who needs to give a gift and sees the value in giving a personal, thoughtful gift that will also help the environment.
What makes your business unique? Just the nature of my business is unique, I think. Beyond that, I did a lot of research before I started out because I wanted to make sure that I could offer something better and more interesting than the handful of competitors out there. So, I worked hard to make sure that our certificates were more beautiful, our Tree Gifts were less expensive, our paper goods were all made of recycled paper, our customer service was excellent, and our trees were being planted by a very reputable and trustworthy organization that was actually planting trees. rather than just scattering seeds.
Kim, what inspires and motivates you as an entrepreneur? From where do you draw inspiration? I have always wanted to run my own business. The prospect of having a more flexible schedule and being my own boss is always a motivation for me. Also, being in nature makes me feel connected to something grand and I love the idea of my business making a positive contribution to the environment.
What is the most remarkable thing you did to get to where you are? I am starting to see good ideas as a gift, given to us to do with as we wish. How many good ideas have you had that you never acted on? I have had plenty. The most remarkable thing I did in opening this business was to overcome my fear and act on a good idea. It is so easy to fantasize about what could be and never take the steps to make it reality. I decided that in the long run I would be more sorry if I had never tried than if I did try and the business ended up a failure.
What was the most difficult business decision you've had to make? Good grief—every single one! When you have no business partners and you decide to open a business on your own, you think “Great! I will have total control, and I can have everything exactly how I want it.” What you don’t realize is that there will be a million decisions, and that every single decision, big or small, is yours, and at times that can be overwhelming.
What's the best advice you've received? To remember that as with most businesses, the work to set up an online business is intense in the beginning so it will be less intense later. Every hour spent in the beginning is an investment in the future success of your business. It is hard to remember this when you are in the thick of it, when you have a mountain of decisions to make and things to do and there seems to be no end and no pay off. All of that energy, if you do things right, will eventually come back to you in the form of business and afford you the type of work life you are hoping for.
I think there is a tendency with a new business to think that you have to do it all at once, and all at the beginning. I have come to realize that growing and improving a business is a never ending project, and so some things can wait for a week or a month because you will never finish them.
What is the biggest challenge you faced and how did you overcome it? I have been teaching high school full time and running this business all by myself for the last year. It has been incredibly stressful and exhausting, but trying to maintain balance in my life has really helped me get through.
What books are on your nightstand? Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. The Collected Poems of Emily Dickenson. 101 Ways to Promote your Website by Susan Sweeney
What one thing would you like to learn this year? One? Ha! How about 30? I'll start with improving my Google rating and getting a grip on the whole scary world of SEO.
What do you wish you had known when you first started? I didn't realize it would take a year to make a profit, and I didn't know I would spend way more money than I planned to open the business. Also, I did not expect that I would have to work so hard to promote myself in the real, face to face world to help make my business a success. I have never considered myself a sales person, and it has been a real challenge for me to walk into situations where I don’t know anyone and stand up in front of large groups of people and talk about my business. Thankfully, it gets easier.
What was the most innovative thing you did to drive the business? Ask me in five years. Right now I am still trying out the basics.
Do you have a secret to your professional success? Be honest, operate with integrity, do right by your customers, and go the extra mile to make sure they are happy with your product or service.
If there is one piece of advice you could give to other women entrepreneurs or women just starting out, what would it be? I am certainly no authority, since I have only been in business a year, but I would say join a women’s business networking group, as you are likely to find incredible support, advice and inspiration there. Also, don’t expect to make any money or even know if the business is going to work for at least a YEAR. It is hard, but just hold your breath and keep working!
Recent Comments