Simone LeBlanc - The ups and downs of a gift box business? 16-employee SIMONE LEBLANC

How I Built My Small Business

While serving as a personal life stylist for a wealthy LA client, Simone was tasked with curating gifts for special events and holidays. In 2014, she seamlessly melded her experience and artistic vision, birthing her eponymous gift box business, Simone LeBlanc. She has helped notable clients such as the Obamas, Jamie King, Taylor Swift, and more with curating gifts for their family and friends, the media describing her as the "gift giver extraordinaire." Her business has been featured in The New York Times, In Style Magazine, Vanity Fair, Goop, Architectural Digest and more. Turning gift-giving into an art form, she's now the go-to for Hollywood's über-stylish, sharing her creative journey on Instagram @simoneleblanc.
Tune in to hear her story - from personal stylist to building a thriving brand.
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Website: https://www.annemcginty.com/
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Chapters

1. Intro (00:00:00)

2. How did Simone get into the business of selling high-end gift boxes? (00:01:35)

3. How long did you juggle your side gig with your full-time job before going all in and starting a business? (00:04:25)

4. First significant order (00:06:29)

5. How did you handle a sudden influx of orders? (00:08:26)

6. Starting a private label business without private labels at the beginning (00:09:18)

7. How did your first client hear about you? (00:09:55)

8. What is your division between custom clients and online orders? (00:10:15)

9. How did you allocate the funds from your angel investment? (00:14:33)

10. How do you handle operations for a growing business? (00:15:35)

11. How do you maintain a balance between uniqueness and mass appeal? (00:16:32)

12. Where do you source your goods? (00:18:57)

13. How do you find your manufacturers? (00:20:22)

14. What has been the hardest situation that you have come across in your business? (00:21:08)

15. What strategies do you use to promote your brand? (00:26:18)

16. How are your sales divided up throughout the calendar year? (00:28:33)

17. How far in advance are you lining up your products for peak holidays? (00:29:37)

18. When did you decide to shift to a fulfillment company? (00:31:25)

19. Was moving to a fulfillment company cost beneficial? (00:34:58)

20. Who are your biggest competitors and how do you differentiate your brand from theirs? (00:36:33)

21. Is there enough space for a new business to start-up? (00:38:39)

22. How has Amazon impacted your online business? (00:39:44)

23. How do you balance the creative side of your business with the operational and strategic component of your business? (00:40:02)

24. Which of your custom clients have been the most meaningful to you? (00:42:18)

25. 80-20 rule (00:44:25)

26. How do you maintain and enhance your customer relationships? (00:45:41)

27. What is the vision of the future of your business? (00:47:12)

28. What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs or to your younger self? (00:47:53)

29. Key Takeaways (00:49:30)