“When you run your own business, not everything is going to be perfect … there’s going to be days when there are losses and you have to understand that, as a business person, that’s part of the risk that you take … that’s probably one of the biggest learning things — just trust the process and put your faith into it.” — Sasha Senior
Covid-19 has created an interesting era for business. While many businesses have unfortunately been forced to shutter, others have found ways to adapt to the new normal ... or even grow! Sasha Senior actually LAUNCHED her business at the start of the pandemic, and her story is both a source of inspiration and a practical guide to savvy entrepreneurship.
A skateboarder since the age of 13, Sasha had never dreamed about owning a business — until she realized that Windsor did not have a local skate shop. It was a golden opportunity that she couldn’t pass up.
She researched costs and found a perfect location, opening in March of 2020 — the start of the global pandemic and economic shutdown. Yet she managed to not only stay open, but thrive.
By the time of her grand opening, people were getting orders to stay home. “We probably had less than 10 people, including staff, and it was because of those orders,” she remembers. “So, it was a little discouraging. But it was still awesome, because I still had my first sale that day.” When full lockdown began, she knew that she had to go online.
She found the transition challenging, but didn’t let that stop her. She used her Instagram and Facebook profiles to guide people to the new online offerings, offering both curbside pickup and delivery.
The community was responsive and continued to support the shop, likely because they recognized Sasha’s passion in addition to the convenience of finally having a local shop catering to their sport.
But Windsor skaters weren’t the only ones making orders.
Sasha soon found herself shipping to places like Jamaica, Mexico, and California. Through her Instagram, she managed to create an amazing international community that has translated to almost overwhelming sales.
How did Sasha achieve this incredible success — and what practices has she adopted to better handle the major changes in her life?
In this episode, you’ll discover:
- How Sasha leveraged her Instagram account to build an international audience hungry for her products
- Mindfulness practices to help you handle swift business growth
- The major lessons that Sasha learned through opening during a pandemic — and why she would do it again
About Sasha Senior
Sasha is carving a new path as an entrepreneur. She’s a single mother of two and works full-time with the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as owning Bliss, a skateboard shop located in Windsor, Ontario. Follow her on Instagram @bossladysk8.
Highlights:
- 02:25 Introducing Sasha Senior
- 04:45 Sasha’s lightbulb moment
- 06:32 What is your lifelong passion?
- 08:02 Launching in a pandemic
- 10:55 Timing is everything when it comes to Instagram
- 12:36 The biggest impact on Sasha’s business — and where it came from
- 14:17 Handling growth and change
- 16:07 Sasha’s biggest lessons so far
- 18:17 If you knew then what you know now, would you still open?
Links:
Bliss SK8 Shop
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