We recently connected with Charis Nwanze and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Charis, thanks for joining us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?
I had traveled downtown early that morning for my very first business meeting to visit a rental space about developing their website. I was excited but also really nervous. I had DM’d them quite a bit and had let them know that their website needed work. I got to the meeting and, well, let’s just say it was kind of a waste of time. After feeling a little deflated but still glad I went, I walked into my favorite coffee shop. There was an artist selling these really cool resin prints. I went up to her, admiring her work, and asked if she had a website. She said no, so I pitched myself right then and there! She booked me, and that showed me that if I could have the confidence to walk up to a random stranger and pitch myself in-person, I had a business here.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi! I’m Charis, a 21-year-old founder and designer at Torera Designs. We specialize in Brand Design, Website Design, and Packaging Design. I started my studio with basically no design experience, but I really felt the Lord pointing me in this direction, so I just said “yes” and went with it. I spent some money and time learning UX, later found some more courses, and after a year, I started to take on clients! As time has gone on, I’ve learned so much, developed my skills, and grown as a person and a business owner.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
One of my biggest pivots was in starting the business altogether. I still work a 9-5 and a second job while running my business. I don’t treat my business as a side hustle, so it’s a lot of late nights and early mornings. I wasn’t prepared for the stress and discipline that having five clients at a time while working full-time and a second part-time job would require, and learning to juggle it all has been difficult but so fun. I decided to keep my job as I didn’t want to put pressure on my business to support my entire lifestyle right away, but rather give it time to grow and mature. And I’m so glad I did because it’s allowed me to change and pivot within my business without too much stress.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Lucky for me, my business didn’t require too much startup capital. I just needed a laptop and WiFi! My biggest first expense was the Google UX course I took to get started. Then I started paying for some other courses to help speed up my learning process. After I started to book more clients, I basically reinvested almost every dollar of profit back into my business through courses. (I did the math and I think I’ve spent $7,111 on courses this year.) It was definitely worth it. It’s never a waste to invest in yourself and learn both hard and soft skills.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.toreradesigns.com
- Instagram: @toreradesigns
- Other: TikTok: @toreradesigns
