We were lucky to catch up with Jennifer Hinze recently and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What were some of the most unexpected problems you’ve faced in your business and how did you resolve those issues?

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in September of 2019, just months before a global pandemic. I was 42 years old and considered young and healthy and able to undergo extensive surgeries. I tackled this by training two employees to handle tasks that they previously did not touch. We quickly developed strategies and plans for my absence. While we had no way of knowing at that time that these plans would also help me throughout the pandemic! I underwent a surgery every 6 months for the next 2 years with recovery times ranging from 6 months to 3 months each time. I went through times when I couldn’t grasp a pen or even my phone so everything that needed to be done was dictated with a family member to a staff person. Looking back, I’m amazed we were able to stay open and keep going. This is due to having key trustworthy employees who were able to be trained and take on very important roles.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I spent 17 in the legal field prior to starting my own business. I knew at a young age I wanted my own business and to be my own boss, and that was not happening in the field I was in. I was working long hours while raising young kids and missing significant pieces of time with my family. I visited a shop on my lunch hour one day and noticed the building was for sale. I had a random thought of buying the building as an investment opportunity and that rolled into utilizing the space to become a boutique. I already knew how to run a business, what I didn’t know was anything retail related! As most entrepreneurs, I am self-taught and ran into obstacles that made me second guess opening a clothing boutique. The clothing industry is not known for it’s ethics in manufacturing and I knew I could not sleep at night without sourcing my products from ethical manufacturers, so a year long project had to happen before I could feel right about transitioning to ethically sourced clothing, accessories and gifts. Many of the products we sell directly benefit survivors of human trafficking and support women who are in need. My focus with Polka Dots Boutique continues to be bringing ethically sourced products at a reasonable price point. I make sure that our manufacturers are paying their workers adequately and providing a safe work environment.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I have had to unlearn the thinking that I can handle it all and do it all. My background in the legal profession was held up by my ability to problem solve and tackle problems independently. When starting my own business in a completely unrelated field, I continued to try to do all things on my own. . .until a cancer diagnosis took me out of my business for months at a time. I suddenly was forced to hand over tasks and trust that I had trained and mentored my staff enough to keep my business afloat while I fought for my life. While initially that caused additional stress, I learned patience and trust in my staff and my customers. I learned to tell my store publicly and allow people to support me and boy did they! I’m still in business and thriving both in business and my health.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I have been working on implementing strategies from Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. I think the methods can be beneficial to many types of businesses. I am also working through the book Why We Buy by Paco Underhill. Understanding our own customers is coming in handy! I love self-help books so I’m always on the hunt for the best ones. Next on my list is Think Again by Adam Grant and Never Split The Difference by Chris Voss.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.polkadotsboutique.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polkadotsoldtown/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/polkadotsoldtown/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ polka-dots-boutique-4122b22ab