Boston Entrepreneur Curates the Ultimate Retail Store for Men, with Wares Proudly Made in the USA

Best Success Story:

Since the beginning of the company the brand was always an online store. One day I was walking in the Historic North End of Boston and I came across an old building located just 100 yards from Paul Revere’s house.

A few months later we would open the doors to the first Ball and Buck brick and mortar location. Within a couple months we doubled our sales and have gained a lot of great press in addition to positive feedback by local area fashion bloggers.

Biggest Startup Challenge:

When people think about startups they immediately are thinking about technology companies. Starting a clothing brand amongst the newest social networks and file sharing startups makes you the odd duck out.

Without the support network brought by the numerous tech incubators and excited VC’s that are laser focused on investing in the high tech industry it makes the hill that much tougher to climb. The great thing is that you are able to establish your brand before you even show up on your competitors’ radar. And when you do you’re already very attractive to investors.

#1 Tip for Entrepreneurs:

Here are several tips:

First, be passionate. People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.

Develop a culture of accountability. Set expectations and deliver on them. If you can do this in everything, your customers and vendors will respect and trust you, both of which are crucial for success.

And don’t forget to execute. Too often I come across people who are so busy reading and planning to actually get the ball rolling. If you go out and do something, and learn while you are doing it, you can often discover a new and better way to do something.

Remember, the idea is only 10 percent. People often spend too much time thinking of the million dollar idea, when the reality is that a good idea is only a small portion of a successful business. Great businesses are made in the execution on ideas and delivering on the vision.

Also, invest in people because they are the most important part of your business.

Lastly, to win big, you must be willing to lose big. If you try to run your business too conservatively you will limit your ability to succeed. The bigger the chance for you to fail, the bigger the chance you have to win big.

Stay connected with Ball and Buck on Facebook and Twitter.

Did you enjoy this article? If so, subscribe to YFS Magazine and never miss an update. Don’t forget to make our friendship official and join Young, Fabulous & Self-Employed entrepreneurs on Facebook.