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

Taylor, appreciate you joining us today. Owning a business isn’t always glamorous and so most business owners we’ve connected with have shared that on tough days they sometimes wonder what it would have been like to have just had a regular job instead of all the responsibility of running a business. Have you ever felt that way?

As both a business owner and someone with a regular job, I’ve experienced firsthand the distinct challenges and rewards of each role. Being a business owner demands unwavering dedication and countless hours of hard work and creativity to achieve success, requiring constant foresight to navigate obstacles like limited inventory and market saturation, particularly in the world of vintage, which present unique challenges.

Opting for a 9-5 job was a practical decision, offering stability while allowing me to pursue my passion on the side. It’s a fine balance between pragmatism and ambition. While a regular job provides security and structure, owning a business offers independence and the chance to bring your vision to life. Both paths have their merits, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore both realms.

I share this because it was a decision I deliberated over for years. I hesitated to step away from Sohud Collective, fearing I’d be abandoning a dream. However, I realized my 9-5 job provided the structure I needed. With limited time after work, I delved deep into my business, evaluating what worked and what didn’t.

I discovered that while I cherished vintage, the profitability lay in events. Investing a few hours a week in events generated the same revenue as spending over 40 hours sourcing vintage. It was a tough realization, as vintage was my passion, but I can always return to it. In business, adaptability and insight are key, and this journey taught me the importance of recognizing where my efforts yield the greatest return.

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?

Hey there, I’m Taylor.

Let me take you on a journey from uncertainty to passion-fueled success. Picture this: fresh out of college, I found myself caught in a cycle of running a restaurant by day and losing myself in nightly indulgences. I felt adrift, lacking purpose, until the pandemic forced me to pause and reflect. It was in that stillness, I unearthed a burning desire for fashion and entrepreneurship.

Sohud Collective was born. What began as a seed of inspiration sprouted into a thriving event planning venture and a one-of-a-kind vintage store housed within a 1998 blue bird school bus. This side project transformed my life, infusing it with meaning and direction while providing invaluable experience and connections across the nation.

Sohud Collective wasn’t just a project; it was a catalyst for my career in the fashion world, shaping my journey and opening doors I never knew existed. Today, it stands as one of the coolest endeavors I’ve had the privilege to undertake, a testament to the power of following your heart and embracing the unexpected twists of fate.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Ah, this is a great question. Having a mentor or someone you deeply respect is crucial for success as an entrepreneur.

Interestingly, I’ve never met my mentor in person (crazy, right?), but one of the most influential figures in my life is RuPaul Charles, the queen of drag. Now, I know this might seem unexpected, but hear me out. RuPaul taught me one of the most important philosophies for being a successful business owner: “If you don’t love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?” If you don’t love and respect yourself, how are you going to give the love and respect that a business needs to grow and be successful.

Taking the time to discover yourself is truly one of the greatest things you can do if you want to find happiness and success in your business.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

We started sohud collective with $1000 on a credit card. I was working on Sohud during the morning and on weekends, and I was waiting tables at night. I was exhausted, but I was happy to be doing something that allowed me to be creative and feel successful!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sohudcollective/

Image Credits
@jtolandphoto