In the first episode of the FoundHer Podcast, D & Heather introduce themselves and how they came to be business partners for their 7-figure business, Only Prettier Design.
 
D started her professional career in Athletic Training and left for Retail Management for about 20 years, and Heather had a 21 year career in nursing and left to be fully present with OPD at the tail end of the pandemic.
 
D loves line dancing, football, and NASCAR and H enjoys being outside with the ocean and mountains. They each have 4 kiddos!
 
D and Heather met via their mutual friend, Katie, for a class. Heather was there to help with photography, and D was there to help with the flowers. At the time, D was making flowers for events out of her garage, and Heather was decorating houses and doing photography.
 
It only took them three years to scale their business to 7 figures, and now they want to share their knowledge with other small business owners.
 
They have experience as moms in business and are passionate about providing tips and strategies for quickly improving your business by sharing what they wish they knew when starting out.
 
There will be a No Question Off Limits Segment where they will answer any questions you throw at them! No question is off limits!
 
The name FoundHer came from finding themselves and each other. They have an incredible business partnership and friendship. Together, they are female founders who have cracked the code of growing a small business from the ground up (debt-free), and are here to help you succeed!
 
Tune in next Tuesday for Episode 2!

FoundHer Podcast Episode 1 - Intro

In the second episode of FoundHer Podcast, D and Heather discuss the beginnings of their co-founded company, Only Prettier Design.

They dive into their multiple income streams:

Weddings (what started it all!)
Their boutique
Interior Design (added during the pandemic)
Floral Services
Ecommerce
Podcast
Online Education
& something fun coming soon

D's cousin told her to have at least 7 income streams and she has never forgotten that important message!

D and her sister-in-law came up with the name and it started taking form in 2014. D wrote it down on a napkin alla Dale Ernhardt Jr.

When an opportunity to run a booth at a local shop came up, D and Heather said they would go for it only if they could get the big back wall space. They both believe in signs, God winks, and receiving affirmations to help guide them on their journey. When they were presented with the back wall spot, they jumped in head first and even made their own wine for the event!

They did another booth and enjoyed it so much, D started looking for a storefront. When she moved back to Norfolk in 2015, she would drive down a road with a perspective spot for their boutique. Without telling Heather, she emailed the company who owned the building and they said it would be available at the end of the month.

D had a connection with the owner, and with how everything was working out, Heather agreed to look at the space. She loved the wallpaper, the floor, and how small it was. People ended up calling it "the little shed."

As they were going into business, D and Heather discuss their faith and how it played a part in their partnership.

When looking to expand their storefront to have more room for inventory and a meeting space for clients, D & Heather went to an antique shop to get advice on how to grow their business. The women had been in business for 22 years and the following week said they would be retiring.

The No Off Limits Questions this week:

What was the worst part of working night shift? (for Heather)
Heather discusses how driving after work was the hardest part and how it led to a couple of accidents.

Where did Only Prettier come from?
D and her sister-in-law listed out names, and since D's background was in merchandising, her goal was always to make things prettier. She chose the name and went with it (she is very decisive). Heather doesn't really love the name, but she likes OPD and they both refer to the business as OPD.

Feel free to submit questions to us on Instagram @found.herpodcast!

Tune in next Tuesday for Episode 3!

FoundHer Podcast Episode 2 - How it started

D & Heather come back for Episode 3 following their third visit to the Atlanta Market. 

They are planning to release a YouTube video that will include how to prepare for a market, what to do when you're there, and how to handle everything once you get back. Subscribe to their channel so you don't miss it! 

They also just did a news segment with Channel 4 to discuss their philanthropy in their business. Keep up with them on Instagram to see when it is live! 

D & Heather expand on a question they were asked in their Channel 4 interview: How do you get along as business owners?

They describe themselves as having strong personalities. They are both bold and passionate (and stubborn) women, but they tend to agree. They both have a similar eye in all fields of their business, which is something you can't teach. 

The only thing they seem to disagree about are small things, but they always talk about it (whether Heather wants to or not)! 

They know that they never have bad intentions when discussing conflicts. In a business with a partnership, it is important to recognize that it is your business together, and you need to have conversations even if they are difficult because every decision impacts both of you. 

D & Heather discuss how important it is to not let your team members hear you arguing over anything important. They might think you're bickering like an old married couple, but they should never feel the stress that comes with running your business. 

As far as going into business with a partner, D & Heather say it is very possible to create a business by yourself, and you should not search for someone to join you in a business venture. Just like D & Heather, if God wants you to have a business partner, He will place that person in your path. 

Also, when you are hiring team members, look for people who have a strength in something you are weak in. This allows you to maximize your financial investment and create a well-balanced team. 

D & Heather discuss how you need to just start. If you have a business in your heart, you cannot sit and wait around for time. They share how they worked their full-time jobs until they were able to transition to working with the business full-time. They were both in a financial situation where they needed to bring in an income, and they were still able to run the business together while managing their jobs, families, and finances. 

Heather says that at the end of the day, you're never going to have your ducks in a row, and if you wait too long, your time is going to pass. 

Now, they are going on eight years in business together. One mindset that worked for them was to recognize that everyone has their own story. Whatever you need to do to get your business off the ground, it's okay, because YOU get to write your story however YOU want.

D quotes her mom who said, "No one will ever know if you did the dishes tonight or tomorrow morning."  D uses that thought process because the work will always be there. You get to decide your priorities in your business. 

D & Heather also discuss a controversial take on work/life balance... if you're looking for work/life balance, this is not the job for you. Running your own business will not bring you work/life balance, but they will do an episode focused on how to manage your time where you can separate yourself from your business. 

They discuss meeting the founder of a massive vendor at the Atlanta market who started by selling out of the back of their car. Everyone has a starting point in their business, and they are here to provide tips so you can grow into the business you desire for yourself. 

D brings up how Howard Schultz went to 242 investors and was rejected by 217. If he gave up, Starbucks would not be a household name. Business is challenging, but so worth it if you have a business idea that you want to pursue. You should never give up on your dreams of owning your own business. 

We'll see you next Tuesday for Episode 4!

FoundHer Podcast Episode 3 - And that's ok

D and Heather start their conversation with what information they wanted to know and how they could improve before they hired anyone. 

They talk about people who have inspired them and D says when it comes to processes, they love Jessica Zimmerman. They took her cause and created processes that they still use and can tell the difference when they don’t. 

They both mention how they talk about Jenna Kutcher all the time, and D mentions the importance of her view on time. 

Heather mentions Gary Vee and that he might not be everyone’s favorite, but they have pulled value from him. 

D says she wishes there was a “WWDD” bracelet for “What would Dave (Ramsey) do?” They highlight how Dave Ramsey and his teachings have been a guiding light in their business. They have spent the majority of their time debt-free. 

D starts the discussion on how hard it is for small businesses in the market right now. People aren’t talking about it, but they agree that right now is harder than the pandemic. Heather brings up how we’re in a convenience focused market. They remind you that they are not here to sugar coat. They always bring a positive outlook to their business, but it’s important to acknowledge the current reality. 

These are the platforms they can’t live without:

Canva
Google Sheets
Lightroom
QuickBooks
Mailchimp
Wordpress
WooCommerce
Elementor Pro
Later
Thrive (previously Shopventory)

When Heather and D started their business, they used Voxer to communicate, even before they had a team. 

You can hire people, but you have to learn how to do it yourself, first. It’s most beneficial with knowing how much time it takes to do things. You don’t need to do anything, but for some things, you need a measurable expectation.

It’s good to be hands on in the beginning and have clear brand guidelines so it’s easier for others to know your brand and how you want your brand to be represented. 

No Questions Off Limits: 

Should I take out a loan to start my business? 

Heather starts by explaining why it makes sense that people would want to take a loan out in the beginning. D immediately says the short answer is no. D says that if you are interested in starting a business, you immediately need to start researching. Heather mentions how all entrepreneurs are risk takers, but it’s important to have a plan.

D asks Heather, what would you do for a job instead of this and nursing? 

Heather says even though nursing was lucrative, she wouldn’t want to go back. She mentions being a gate agent and her whole family could fly for free. 

We’ll see you in next week’s episode!

FoundHer Podcast Episode 8 - Stop Winging It

We’re Heather & Dianne 🎙️
Founders of @onlyprettierdesign 🌿
Here to make your small biz dreams come true 🤩
New episodes every Tuesday 📣

FoundHer Podcast Episode 8 - Stop Winging It

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