We recently connected with Cindy Smith and have shared our conversation below.

Cindy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

When I was first starting out, I had the opportunity to work with a world renowned sportswear brand on a 5 figure project. But after some back and forth, the opportunity fell through because there were some details that could not be ironed out.. I was very disappointed and I didn’t think I was able to move beyond that. However, I continued to be deeply invested in my mission of uplifting runners and supporting a healthy lifestyle through running. So I kept going. I continued to create consistently, to make connections and to build community. Today, I have a patent pending product that many runners use on race day and people have given incredible feedback.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

While working at my dream job at Google, I hit burnout. I felt like I was just going through the motions, not really getting anywhere or learning enough.

That’s when I turned to running. At first, running a single block felt impossible, but I stuck with it, mile after mile. It became more than just exercise; it was my way of coping with stress, growing personally, and dealing with life’s tougher moments, like grief and self-doubt.

Our mission is simple: to create a million uplifting moments for runners. We want to be there for you during the hard times, helping you to keep going and find some joy along the way.

So, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been running for years, we’re here to make your journey a bit brighter.

Pen and Paces offers the, patent pending, Yell My Name bib kit, the first and only bib kit to put your name on your shirt so spectators can see and yell runner’s names for a boost.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My company, Pen and Paces makes uplifting products for runners and the lessons I learn from training for a marathon and being a runner are incredibly applicable in the business world.

Consistency, a deep interest in your industry and resilience are necessary for success in the business world.
Being an entrepreneur is about the long game and there are going to be high highs and deep lows so the ability to weather all the ups and downs is key to creating a business that you are proud to work on.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

Yes, I sell on Etsy, Faire as well as on my Shopify site. Pros:
– Platforms like Etsy bring you shoppers that go directly to Etsy and are looking for unique items that may include runner gifts etc. These shoppers will be able to see my products and purchase.
– The platform integrates many services like shipping, messaging, ads and it is all in one area
– Etsy’s community and advice are great to learn high level trends and small businesses get to benefit from their platform.

Cons:

– Feels like a flea market where customers can compare many items and just price shop.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.penandpaces
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/penandpaces/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCor1Q4H2yBvBBv2Xz-PJKIQ
• Other: Tik tok: https://www.tiktok.com/404?fromUrl=/penandpaces