We recently connected with Taj Noir and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Taj thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.
I have been a small business owner since the age of 18. Initially, I started with a boutique, but after relocating to Atlanta alone to pursue my dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur, I realized that many others were selling similar clothing items. Wanting to differentiate myself, I took a leap of faith and decided to do something unique. I found reliable vendors and placed an order for 100 sets. I must admit, I was quite apprehensive about this new direction and didn’t want to feel like I was giving up on my clothing boutique. Thoughts like “I won’t be able to sell it” or “I’ll just give it away as gifts” crossed my mind. However, my passion for clothing had diminished, and I recognized the lack of consideration for the environment in the business world. Consequently, I made the decision to sell all my inventory wholesale and embark on a journey to establish the first travel cutlery company. Along the way, I have had the opportunity to meet incredible individuals and even received a call from Shark Tank, which confirmed the potential of my venture. It has been one year since I started my business, and it has opened doors I never could have imagined.
Taj, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Greetings everyone, I am Taj Noir, the proud owner of Tahjer. My motivation for entering this industry was simple: to offer a unique product that contributes to the well-being of our planet. Each year, we consume over 40 billion pieces of plastic cutlery, none of which is recycled due to contamination issues. Unfortunately, in today’s society, people are often unwilling to compromise convenience for sustainability, which is why there are complaints about alternatives like paper straws. To address this, I have introduced a travel cutlery kit made from food-grade stainless steel. This kit includes a knife, fork, spoon, straight straw, bendable straw, chopsticks, and a straw cleaner, all neatly organized in a compact travel case and bag. With this innovation, you no longer have to choose between convenience and sustainability. What sets Tahjer apart from others is my personal approach. I actively engage with potential customers by conducting pop up shops and inform of my company and educatin them on today’s issues. When I mention that I have my own cutlery line, I often receive looks of confusion, but once I explain the brand and its mission, the response is consistently positive: “That’s different, that’s unique.” I urge everyone to stop using plastic cutlery, as it poses significant harm to our environment. Let’s make a conscious effort to protect our planet by embracing sustainable alternatives.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
I initiated my business using the proceeds from selling the inventory of my previous venture. However, those funds proved insufficient, prompting me to explore additional income streams such as Instacart and Amazon Flex. Despite attempting to secure a business loan, my personal credit history was unfavorable, and I lacked knowledge regarding business credit. Instead of solely focusing on rectifying my personal credit, I dedicated myself to understanding the intricacies of building business credit. While social media advice suggested obtaining funding with poor personal credit was feasible, I soon realized it was equally challenging. Consequently, I took it upon myself to educate myself on improving my personal creditworthiness. This enabled me to establish a solid foundation for my business credit and successfully obtain funding not only from Shopify, which serves as my website domain, but also from other reputable companies.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
Engaging in tradeshows and attending networking events has undeniably contributed to the establishment and enhancement of my professional reputation. Throughout my inaugural year in business, I have had the privilege of encountering and establishing meaningful connections with a multitude of individuals.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tahjer.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/tahjerco
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/tahjer
- Other: Tiktok: @tahjerco
Image Credits
Image Credit: Nike @Nikesmilez Also picture in the image