We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kateryna Sheremet a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kateryna, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?

Like many startups, our initial clients were primarily friends and family members, which is a common starting point for anyone venturing into business. Our very first client came even before we officially launched our website. It was a B2B sale comprising 12 orders for a law firm, intended as Christmas gifts. Interestingly, this initial client happened to be my former boss from a previous job.

I vividly recall our first customer after the official website launch. This time, it was an individual who purchased an Eco Pedal Boat for personal use through our Ads. However, this order was akin to the old saying “The first pancake is always lumpy.” Our system encountered an issue, but we sprang into action to address it promptly, ensuring that our customer’s needs were met. Ultimately, we resolved the problem and improved our customer’s experience. She went on to enjoy her experience gift for herself, and everything turned out just fine.

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

Emotcia – More Than A Gift is a company that believes in the power of positive experiences to change the world. We cherish and encourage everyone to cherish memories over material possessions because they are timeless and unforgettable. Personally, I have a deep appreciation for giving and receiving unforgettable experiences.

Given that many individuals often grapple with the question of “What gift to give?” and, more importantly, what the recipient will truly appreciate, we have developed an innovative concept that allows you to offer a selection of 5 experiences to choose from.

Here’s how it works:
– Select up to 5 different experiences from our website.
– Only pay for one of them.
– Present it as a gift (complete with the option of physical gift wrapping).
– Your recipient can then choose the one experience that resonates with them and enjoy it to the fullest!

With Emotcia – More Than A Gift, you’ll never again find yourself struggling for gift ideas, particularly when it comes to providing unique and thoughtful gifts for your loved ones.

We launched at the end of January 2023 in San Diego, and as of now, we already offer 50 experiences across 5 primary categories: Adventure, Tours, Classes & Workshops, Photography, and Spa, for you to choose from.

Christmas is coming, and you can delight your loved ones with a unique and unforgettable gift in San Diego from Emotcia – More Than A Gift!

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

“Emotcia – More Than A Gift” is my third business venture. I don’t want to pay much attention to my second business because the first one is a family business with my husband, and it’s running smoothly. The second business was an online fitness project where I collaborated with two other business partners. I learned a valuable lesson about business partnerships during this venture – it’s crucial to discuss everything thoroughly before diving into the work.

Since it was my first experience with a non-family business partnership, I made several mistakes and endured a year of stress. However, after a couple of years, I decided to give business partnerships another try, and this time, it worked. Now, we have “Emotcia – More Than A Gift.”

What I want to emphasize is that business partnerships require just as much effort as family partnerships. Each partner should understand this and be prepared to address not only various company issues but also to work on building and maintaining a healthy partnership relationship. Communication is key; if you sense that something is amiss or you’re feeling uncomfortable, talk to your partner about it.

What else should we know about how you took your side hustle and scaled it up into what it is today?

Absolutely, I’d be happy to share my story. I had been nurturing a business idea in my mind for a couple of years. As many founders can relate, you often grapple with thoughts like “It’s not the right time” or “I don’t have everything I need to start; I should wait.” These thoughts can create mental barriers that prevent you from taking action, and your brain tries to keep you in your comfort zone.

At the time, I was working in law office as a paralegal. However, I came across a person whom I believed had the potential to be a great business partner. I started observing her closely, and one day, I mustered the courage to make a significant first move – I offered her a partnership, which she accepted. We began working part-time on our company together.

After nearly a year of working on our startup, it became apparent that part-time dedication wasn’t enough. I had a conversation with my husband about leaving my job to focus on developing the company full-time. Fortunately, he supported my decision, and that’s when I transitioned into working on the business full-time. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my beloved husband, Andrii, for the unwavering support he has provided on this entrepreneurial journey I am currently undertaking.

During this journey, I heard some advice from an attorney who is also a co-founder of his company. He said, “The biggest mistake a founder can make in the early stages of a company is working part-time.” Of course, when you’re just starting, working part-time might be necessary to pay the bills and maintain your daily life. However, there comes a point when you must ask yourself a crucial question: “What’s next? Should I take the risk and commit to developing my company to achieve success, or should I close my company without giving it a chance because I’m afraid to take the risk?” It’s a pivotal moment that every entrepreneur must face.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.emotcia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emotcia.sd/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emotcia.experience
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/emotcia/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmotciaMoreThanAGift