We were lucky to catch up with Laura Biggerstaff recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Laura thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One deeply underappreciated facet of entrepreneurship is the kind of crazy stuff we have to deal with as business owners. Sometimes it’s crazy positive sometimes it’s crazy negative, but crazy experiences unite entrepreneurs regardless of industry. Can you share a crazy story with our readers?

Hope this inspires! It CAN happen to you! Put yourself out there! One year ago (2021)….
I was looking forward to attending my very first BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC Supplier Diversity Conference in South Carolina. It was still a couple of months away…I wondered how in the world I could stand out in a crowd of over 2000 people. I watched past videos of the conference and noticed that everyone had on suits and dark clothing. Figured that to stand out, I needed to go out of my comfort zone and wear a hi-visibility vest with my company name all over it. A walking billboard that showed instantly what IRON ELK was all about – SAFETY. Also figured, what do I have to lose? I’m 59 years old and I only have one shot at it! Well, from the moment I walked through the doors at the convention center, people started commenting on the vest. It was working! I also strategically sat in the front row of the breakout sessions so attendees could see the back of the vest with IRON ELK in big bold letters during the session. At lunch, I intentionally sat by myself and waited for folks to sit at the table. All of a sudden a lady walked up to me and said, “I want that vest!” We talked through lunch and became great friends. Fast forward one year later and this happened…,.IRON ELK and my friend, Dr. King, were featured on the big screens at this year’s BMW Supplier Diversity Conference (see video attached). Just WOW! Posting this from the heart – Laura Biggerstaff – IRON ELK

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

Laura Biggerstaff is the owner of IRON ELK, a family-owned safety products company headquartered in Greer, SC. We recognize that when it comes to safety apparel, one size
does not fit all!
Following a successful career in the manufacture of protective apparel, Laura launched her
own business in 2016 in the field of safety in the workplace. There was a need in the
industry to have safety apparel that fits both men and women. IRON ELK has partnered with
manufacturers that have expanded their safety apparel to include sizing for women. IRON
ELK is very proud to be a Certified Woman-Owned Small Business (WBENC).
As a huge supporter of women in the trades, Laura offers her time to several groups that
support the importance of encouraging young women to take on non-traditional roles. Laura
is the co-founder of Women Confidence Builders in the Upstate of South Carolina. Our
Mission is to Educate, Mentor, Disciple

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I’d rather stay at home… Don’t be afraid to show up! Go to the events – meet new people – be present!
Building relationships is such a huge part of a company’s success. People want to do business with the people they trust. Even though it is often out of my comfort zone to attend events in the community, I do it anyway. From this, IRON ELK has grown into a name you can trust. You would never know that going to events and walking into a room full of unknown situations would make me hesitant and nervous…but it does. Many of us feel this. Show up anyway – just make the effort – smile and engage!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building an audience on social media does take time and patience. It’s hard to believe but a few years ago, I was not even on LinkedIn. Turns out that it is my largest social media tool of all for my business. I have over 17,600 followers now – still shaking my head over this! Three times a day I would stop and invite professionals in the industry to connect with me. The time on LinkedIn has really paid off. I have struggled with providing relevant content over the years – thinking that what I have to say doesn’t really make a difference. But it does – it can – it will. It’s about engaging and sharing stories and experiences that resonate with the reader. Although it is still very uncomfortable for me to post content, I make myself do it – if not for marketing, then to share what I have learned in the process. This will be an ever-changing platform for IRON ELK. As we grow, so will our message. Reaching the masses of industry professionals using social media has seriously helped grow our business.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ironelk.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironelksafety/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IronElkGVL
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-biggerstaff-13bbab43/