Episode 38: How To Grow a Business Through Community & Collabs
This episode is brought to you by Dove
If you have an idea that you can’t stop dreaming about, this week’s episode is the inspo you need. We chat with Ashley Freeborn, the founder and CEO of the renowned fashion brand Smash + Tess, about all things brand building, entrepreneurship, using fear to fuel your fire, and tapping your network to help get your idea off the ground.
You’ve probably seen people rocking Ashley’s rompers on instagram, or heard about her epic collabs with Jillian Harris, Sarah Landry of The Birds Papaya and Hilary Duff, just to name a few. Her brand started the #romperrevolution but here’s why we honed in on Smash + Tess for today’s episode: Ashley isn’t a serial entrepreneur or longtime business or fashion mogul, she just had an idea to fill a gap in the market, and made her dream a huge reality. What she created is so much more than a clothing company, it’s a community, a lifestyle and an inclusive brand that empowers women to live their best lives.
Ashley is a fellow Canadian, who worked as a teacher and then in the finance sector before going all in on her passion project, Smash + Tess. Smash + Tess has since grown from two employees into a team of 40+ in five years, and in 2020, the company achieved 66% YOY growth, surpassing $16.5 million in sales. In 2020, Ashley was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40, led Smash + Tess through their biggest growth year, and was listed in The Globe + Mail’s Top Growth Companies in 2020 – being the #1 woman-led company on the list! She is passionate about creating clothing that celebrates femininity, strength, style, and comfort in women of all shapes and sizes.
Tune in as we chat about:
How Ashley made the leap to quit her 9-5 and go all in on Smash + Tess
The journey of bringing Smash + Tess from an idea to a best-seller
The secret sauce to cultivating a strong community
How to use social media as a listening tool for growth
Tips for entrepreneurs to overcome impostor syndrome and use fear or rejection as fuel
The 3 most important traits to crush it as an entrepreneur
How to know when it’s time to go all in on your side hustle
Why you don’t necessarily need professional background in the industry you’re breaking into
How to avoid burnout as an entrepreneur
How to create successful collabs that move the needle
We hope this episode inspires you to pursue that side hustle and Smash (& Tess) all of your biz ideas and goals!
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