We recently connected with Sheryl Brown and have shared our conversation below.

Sheryl, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

It’s Never Too Late

I always wanted to have my own business. My father was fearless about taking chances and starting businesses but as a wife and a mother I was much more risk averse. My last job was working as a business manager for a wholesale interior design studio. I learned so much – but I was still running only a part of the store and limited in terms of decision making. I “retired” from that position just before my 60th birthday. That was five years ago.

I lasted about 6 months without working before going stir crazy. I traveled to London with my husband on business. He is a professor and was teaching a course in London and we rented an apartment. I spent my free time wandering and shopping. I met a lovely woman in a covered market who was selling palazzo pants made from recycled saree silk and bought a pair. My son and daughter-in-law joined us a week later and we went back. She loved the pants too. It started me thinking about how this simple, repurposed product appealed to both a 60 year old and a 25 year old. Also, the London business owner was selling these with a Burning Man vibe. Being from Texas I envisioned styling with cowboy boots and denim jackets.

When we returned I couldn’t stop thinking about the concept. I found myself dreaming of business names. I talked to friends who had pop-up businesses about how to get into markets. Finally, I reached out to the London owner and arranged to start a partnership. She was very helpful getting me going and I am forever grateful, but the partnership only lasted 6 months. The cost structure was not good, especially the international shipping. And she dreamed of selling directly to the US.

I kept the palazzos as a first product and found a fair trade manufacturer for my own designs from India. I learned so much during this research and growth period. I was forced to start slow and learn the international shipping ins and outs with each order. But this let me develop at a good pace. I wouldn’t change anything.

Sheryl, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

At my age I realize that every experience and job I have had – including volunteer positions – have contributed to where I am today. I was much more creative when I was young and one thing I did was sew and make my own clothes. I worked part-time jobs in retail clothing stores and studied animal science, then finance in college. My first career was as a financial analyst. I learned to manage money and also to examine existing businesses for signs of future success or potential failure.

I didn’t work when my boys were young but I volunteered both in creative areas and in finance. I also sewed a lot of Halloween costumes and mended clothes. Boys are always ruining something.

When I was ready to work again it was in an Interior Design showroom. I loved the fabrics and the new products. I also became aware of the levels of waste. Upholstery manufacturers send out so many samples of fabrics. Eventually the samples end up in the trash. The green movement for commercial waste was in the early stages.

Now I can look back and see how managing money, working in retail stores, sewing, observing other businesses and many various volunteer experiences have provided my entrepreneurial education.

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

When I started selling my vintage silk products I envisioned my buyers looking like my daughter-in-law who is now 32 and tall and slender and gorgeous (I use her as a model for my photo shoots). Being in markets with other vendors I slowly realized that this type of stylish young woman can wear literally anything and look good. I had to learn who my “people” were.

My brand is very forgiving to different body types. The pieces are also one of a kind because they are created from vintage silks. The look is fairly “boho” but the prices are higher than similar boho looks from fast fashion retailers.

As I learned more about my clientele my products have evolved. I now offer two styles and soon three in women’s plus sizes. This is turning out to be a lightly tapped market and I am doing very well with my expanded sizes.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

My first order through my initial business partner was financed by a personal credit card. My family is debt free and I hated doing that but it was easier than borrowing against personal investments or taking out a loan. As soon as I sold enough products to “repay” myself I did. Since that time I have been blessed to operate with cash. It is easier for my business because I don’t have a bricks and mortar location and I work hard to keep my general expenses and overhead low.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://silk-ranch.com
• Instagram: SilkRanch
• Facebook: SilkRanch