Ever wondered how someone makes it as their own boss? What it takes to run your own business? Here at VIP we exclusively speak to some of Ireland’s top businesswomen to find out the secret to their success.
This week we’ve been chatting to Ailbhe Keane from Izzy Wheels on everything from managing the work/life balance to who inspires her most.
Have you always dreamed of owning your own business?
I always knew I wanted to be a designer but I never thought I would run my own design business.
What have been your biggest challenges you have faced?
I started the company when I was fresh out of college with absolutely no money. I had to think of clever ways we could market the brand and get it lots of exposure with no budget to work with. I also had no major business experience so I learned everything by doing and experimenting.
How do you balance work/home life as a business owner?
I’ve gotten better at making more time for myself. When I’m at home I try my best to not talk about work. I’m self-employed so sometimes there is the major temptation to work from home but I always regret not going into the studio! Working from home, no matter how busy you are, gets really lonely. I’m always so much happier when I’m surrounded by other people working.
Do you find that you often bring your work home?
It’s hard to escape it when you run an e-commerce store. I’ve started disabling notifications on my phone from 8 pm -7 am and found that that’s really helped.
What advice would you give a young woman who wants to be her own boss?
You need to find more people who are in the same boat as yourself. Join an accelerator program and you’ll meet tonnes of other founders. The connections you create become incredibly meaningful. If you don’t feel like an accelerator is the right fit then get a desk in a co-working space. You need to find other motivated, inspiring, like-minded women to surround yourself with. Don’t be afraid to share your ideas with other people for fear that they will steal them. The chances are that other people will help you think of things in a new way and develop your ideas into something even stronger.
How important of a role do your team play in your business?
You need other people to share the highs and lows with. My co-founder, my sister Izzy, plays a vital role in keeping me calm if we have any kind of situation. She is definitely the relaxed one and I know that if there is something bothering me I can call her and she always has great advice.
What do you wish you’d known when you first started out?
Collaboration is key! Working with other designers has been so instrumental to our success. Collaborations introduce your brand to totally new audiences. Your collaborator will share the work with their followers and bring lots more people your way. At the beginning, I was so nervous contacting other designers for fear of them saying no but I’m so glad I did. People love giving their time to meaningful projects.
What has been your biggest business mistake? What lessons did it teach you?
Your time is the most valuable thing you have. I spent ages wasting time on jobs that I could have simplified for example doing multiple runs to the post office every week, going into town every few days to stock up on stationery supplies, spending hours planning out what photos I should post on Instagram to keep our feed colour coordinated. The most useful learnings have been finding ways to simplify daily tasks to make time for the important things.
Some of my favorite solutions have been getting a courier to collect orders directly from our studio so I don’t have to keep making trips to the post office (this costs a premium but dear god has it saved me time). I stock up on stationery online and buy the products I use a lot in bulk so that saves us a lot of money. I started using an app called Planoly which allows me to visually plan out my Instagram feed before I post anything. It literally changed my life!
What has been your biggest achievement?
Last year we did a collaboration with Barbie where we created 4 limited edition wheel covers for Mattels new wheelchair Barbie. The wheel covers came in full size for kids wheelchairs and came with a matching mini pair for the dolls chair. Izzy and I were major Barbie girls when we were younger so it was a big deal for us!
What woman in business inspires you the most?
I’m totally obsessed with Iris Apfel. She is an American designer and fashion icon. She is nearly 100 years old and has the most colourful and outrageous wardrobe which I simply adore.
What are your plans for the next five years?
When a person who uses a wheelchair or has a mobility aid opens up a fashion magazine we want them to see people who look like them. We want to bridge the gap between disability and fashion and build a brand to celebrate that.
