There is often more than one right answer, and this seems to be particularly true for the question of whether folks should lean on family and friends for support with the brands. Your circumstances, relationships and other factors can determine what’s right for you – but we wanted to get a conversation going on the topic as it’s something that comes up often in our chats with entrepreneurs and creatives in the community.

Sophia Woode

I personally don’t ask my friends & family to support my business, I present my ideas, passions and designs to my friends & family and also to the public and just let people organically support my work. I’m open to suggestions & ideas, see what the people like and make improvements. One of my biggest collaborations came from my friend wearing her AFRICA sportsbra to her Cycling class and Tunde Oyeneyin saw her top and asked where she got it from. Tunde was about to move from Los Angeles to New York and try out to become a Peloton instructor. Fast forward Tunde is wearing Top & Bottom AFRICA by SooFire sportwear to teach the 1st ever Afrobeats Cycling Class for Peloton. Tunde a women that I have never met before gave me one of my biggest boost in sales and everything happened organically. Don’t create work expecting support from your closest friends and family, sometimes your support could come from a complete stranger. Your art captivated them by being your true self. Have low expectations and do what will make yourself smile, no matter is someone claps for you or not. Read more>>

Daniela Umunnakwe

It feels amazing to involve my family and friends when it comes to my mobile bartending business. I just recently did a soft opening this past year, when I officially I decided to venture out. I believe the appropriate way is to do a soft opening, by inviting your close friends and family, including small light bites, while curating a cocktail signature menu of drinks that you would make. Finding innovated ways to provide raffles in return of google reviews to get you in the right direction. Have as many content captured so that you have traffic driven to your mobile bar Instagram page. Honestly, my years of working with different businesses and experiencing how they work with their employees to write pros and cons of what I experience myself. It allows me to build the appropriate team needed for future events so that I have well representative individuals that can represent my business the successful way. Read more>>

Erin Diehl

This is such an interesting question because I think about this a lot. I feel very OK with asking friends and family to support our business when it comes to things that are easy, like social media for example. I send a post that we create on Instagram to a group of about 10 people every single day asking them to like and comment because it just helps the algorithm show the post to more people. And the more likes and comments you get within the first hour of it being posted, the better it performs overall. So, things like that I am very comfortable asking friends and family to support. Read more>>

Elizabeth Hucker

I attribute the early success of my business to the support of my friends and family. From the moment I had the idea to start a soap business, I’ve relied on my closest family members to help guide me with getting my business up and running and to keep me on track moving forward. I’ve leaned on my sister, Alex, for her opinion and advice on my website design, product design, branding, packaging, ect. My mother, Karen, is a small business owner and natural soap lover herself and has helped tremendously, especially with the formulation of my soap and helping me pick the best ingredients. She is the biggest fan of my soaps and loves to spread the word – many of her friends have become repeat customers. During the Spring when her greenhouse was open for business, I did pop-up markets and that was a great way for me to gain new customers. Having her referral helped me connect with her customers and gain their trust and business. Read more>>

Francesca Villardi

In my business it’s all about connections and referrals. So we have to ask friends and family to support us by telling others about what we do, especially since they get so many perks as in their own homes organized. Read more>>