Being an Entrepreneur Means You Are in for the Long Haul

What I have realized in the process is that although the landscape around me will change every few years, my principles and work ethic shouldn’t. I started treating my movements as a way to explore new opportunities, meet new people, find new inspirations make new connections.

1. Tell us more about your company and your journey.

Dstampss is a crafting co that was born in 2017 in the USA to meet the ever-growing demand for Islamic products in the crafting world. Our vision is to make Eid a mainstream celebration here in the North Americas, just like the way it is in India.

Born and raised in India in a business family, entrepreneurship was instilled in me from a young age and that led me to be a business owner at the age of 21. Since then, I got a degree in business management, got married, had a kid, started this business and moved 5 times across 3 countries in just the last decade and still in transition (the world is my oyster).

Despite all the relocating, I have held onto my love for crafts, culture, language and entrepreneurship. And hence my co Dstampss, we design and manufacture arts+craft supplies that keep women and kids creative with products that reflect their faith and culture. It feels great to see yourself represented, right?

2. How did you come up with this idea and go about executing it?

I was conducting a crafting workshop back in 2016 in Edmonton, Canada, where I was helping people make cards and gifts for their loved ones for Thanksgiving and New-years

There was something magical in the air that evening (that could be glitter flying around and or I was intoxicated by the fragrance of Pumpkin spice and cardamoms).

Everyone was having a good time chatting away with a table full of strangers about the plans they had for family reunions, the holidays and the smiles grew wider and wider each time they would finish stamping a card for their dear ones, showing it off proudly, giving ideas and inspiring others to make more.

They were making connections, sharing stories, sipping lattes all while crafting. In an instant, I knew I wanted that magical feeling, that satisfaction of a handmade creation, the smiles and the joy.

I knew at that moment I wanted Muslim women and kids to have that for EID. I wanted to make making it easy (by supplying endless ideas and inspirations, by collaborating with makers and creatives).

I knew that I wanted to design an entire line of Eid products that would help a beginner to start crafting, to bring families together on a table to share stories and for an experienced crafter to finally see their faiths reflected in the products.

3. What has been your biggest challenge that you faced and how did you overcome that?

Besides the fact that we move every 2 years, uprooting from one city and sometimes even country to temporarily set up base in the new one, the biggest challenge has been mindset.

This new and evolved mindset helped me move on and adapt faster and that’s reflected in my products and designs. So in fact, my biggest challenge has only helped me realize my tenacity and that Geography will not restrict me.

Also, being an online business gives me the opportunity to connect virtually with my audience while giving me the freedom to live anywhere on the planet as long as there is good wifi.

4. What do you think are the most important qualities of a successful entrepreneur?

Resilience. Being an entrepreneur means you are in for the long haul. You face obstacles, you hurt, you recover and repeat. Putting yourself out of your comfort zone, doing the hard things.

Not getting distracted by people around you and settling for mediocrity. And that entails having unwavering confidence in your vision and a will to pivot in order to achieve that.

The Ability to Pivot. There are going to be roadblocks and even dead ends. Have the ability to change your strategy to meet the needs of the hour without compromising your vision.

5. What are some of the most important factors for running a successful business?

Team Building and outsourcing. "Individual commitment to a group effort--that is what makes teamwork, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." --Vince Lombardi.

Finding the people whose vision aligns with yours is the key. Now trusting them and giving them their creative freedom is another factor that will determine success. Surround yourself with people who support and uplift you. And NO NO to micromanaging your team.

You can and you will do it all, undoubtedly, but should you? There are freelancers that will do the job almost as well and in half the time or even less. Utilize them, use their expertise and make wonders in your area of genius. Defining your Audience/Niche. If you try to serve everybody, you serve none.

6. What are your tips for the first time and aspiring entrepreneurs?

Start today, start now. Now is better than ever. Failures are inevitable and an integral part of the learning process. Fail fast and fall often, get up, dust yourself off and move on. Also, the perfect product or the perfect time is an illusion.

You can only get better if you have something to better. Think of the 1st iPhone and compare it to the iPhone XI. And you can tell, engineers and designers are still working on improving the design and efficiency. It's still a work in progress.

But imagine if they kept waiting for the perfect iPhone and would have never launched the first one, we wouldn't have anything today. Can you even imagine a world without an iPhone??

7. How can one overcome a hurdle of lack of funds when starting up?

Social media is free. Advertising and building an audience on social media doesn’t cost a penny. Utilize and explore all channels and platforms of marketing on social media. Tap into the free online resources.

Collaborate with like-minded entrepreneurs, share and exchange ideas and products. Go all in, blood, sweat and tears.

Interview By - Amatullah