Getting your first client is an exhilarating experience, but it’s also an experience that far too many aspiring entrepreneurs never experience. Sometimes, the difference between an idea dying in the idea stage or going on to change the world is getting that first customer – the first tiny win that creates the momentum to make an idea real. So, we connected with some of the smartest folks we could and asked them to tell us the stories of how they got their initial clients.
Auretha Callison
I was stationed inside a Nordstrom for a special events day. I was at a table and an attractive, fit woman came up to me and solidly landed her hands on the table. She said, “Can you help me get ready for a hot date tonight? I’m a teacher and a fitness instructor and I have NO IDEA how to dress for a date and I need to be ready in 4 hours! ” Read more>>
Liam Hoole
How I got my first client isn’t particularly interesting but the story of how the shoot itself went is somewhat funny. That was a day of many lessons learned and mistakes I try not to repeat. I think it’s healthy to think about the bad shoots as a reminder that I have in fact improved significantly over the years. During my sophomore year of high school my two buddies and I started a “production company.” I use that phrase lightly as it was in no way a legitimate business. Regardless, this first job was for a local Lacrosse team that wanted some promotional material for their website and they paid us $400 which we were over the moon about. Read more>>
Javonne Sanders
The first dollar Toss It Up ever made wasn’t planned—and that’s what made it so special. I was attending and participating in a local organization event when I struck up a conversation with a woman who was also involved. Naturally, I started talking about Toss It Up and the salads I was creating. She seemed intrigued and asked if I could bring her one sometime. Read more>>
Sami Heller
We started our social media accounts before launching and ran some ads—that’s how we got our first customers. We’d been posting updates and reminders about our launch day of December 1st, 2022 and we were worried that we weren’t going to get any orders at all. We felt so much relief and excitement when our first ever order came through on launch day! Read more>>
Kathryn Peters
My first client was not a friend or family member. I was hosting an open house for another realtor in a stunning custom-built craftsmen style home with an amazing pool. I had only hosted a handful of listings since obtaining my real estate license but had a lot of confidence due to nearly a dozen personal transactions over the years. I had great traffic that afternoon and collected 1/2 dozen names of buyers who had some interest in this home or my help in finding something different. When the open was finished and I was backing out the driveway, a car came speeding up the drive and asked if she could please see the home – she had driven a long way to get there. I agreed and opened the house and gave her a tour. Read more>>