Sheena Garg Edwards is the owner and designer of the Lizzie Lou Shoes. She is a mom to three kids, Emily, Lizzie, and Vince. After having her first child in 2000, Sheena decided to stay at home full-time and put her career on hold. In 2008, the idea for Lizzie Lou Shoes was born, and her first line of shoes was brought to the market in May 2009. Read on to see how this mom became a shoe designer.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your entrepreneurial journey.
I’m a stay-at-home mom to my three kids, Emily, Lizzie, and Vince. My journey began one July afternoon in 2008 while I was out shopping with Lizzie (aka “Lizzie Lou”), who was then a shoe-obsessed five-year-old when we stumbled upon the most beautiful pair of crystal flip flops. Lizzie asked if they came in her size, and at that moment it dawned on me to create a mother-daughter line of crystal flip flops.
It took nearly a year to bring the shoes to market, and my fabulous jeweled flip-flops launched at high-end specialty boutiques in San Antonio, Texas, and online in May 2009. Since then, we’ve produced 17 different styles of women’s shoes, and we have more in development for 2011. We’re also working on some new product lines that we will be launching soon.
How did you fund your business?
We dipped into our personal savings and took out a home equity line of credit for use when needed. I’ve also taken care of as many aspects of growing my business as I know how to, and in the process learned a great deal more in order to keep expenses low.
What did you do before launching your own shoe business?
As a stay-at-home mom who hadn’t worked for nine years, getting back in “the game” has been a learning experience. I have a bachelor’s degree in communications, but things have changed a lot in the past 15 years since I graduated. Luckily, social media has been a good experience for me. If only I could master all the new software programs I use daily!
How many hours do you work a week, and how much is spent in your home office?
I’m not sure I would call it an office since I often have several kids at the desk with me or trying to take over the computer. How much I work depends greatly on the time of year and the number of orders. September through December is my slow season, but now we’re in high gear again, preparing for the spring and summer seasons. I would say I average 30 hours a week, but I’m usually doing more than one thing at a time.
How would you rate your success?
Designing my own shoes and having friends and family wearing them … well, it just couldn’t get much better than that! I love doing something that I can share with so many people. I’ve had more support from my fellow moms than I ever could have imagined. The best is when someone I’ve never met tells me how much she loves her Lizzie Lous. It’s fun to see people out and about sporting my beautiful flip-flops.
What has been your biggest business struggle as an entrepreneur?
I constantly struggle with having enough time, keeping organized, and managing stress when it’s busy. Of course, not having a big marketing budget also makes it hard to properly promote my business, so I have to do a lot more things myself, which then takes up a lot of my time. Time is something that I need more of every day.
What advice would you give to a new entrepreneur?
Do something you love because having your own business is a lot of hard work and sometimes with a little financial incentive. If you don’t like what you are doing, then you are going to have a hard time putting your heart into it.
How do you manage all of your personal and business activities?
I wouldn’t actually call it “manage”; it’s more like juggling. Some days I juggle better than others, but that’s just kind of how it goes around here. I know my priority is my family and my three kids, so if something comes up or one of the kids is sick, work has to wait. During my busy season, I will be working in the evenings a lot more to keep up with orders and workload. I don’t mind the hard work, but I do get tired.
Are you interested in bringing a product to market? Would you like to become a fashion designer? Check out these articles to get started!
Love my Lizzie Lous! Wear them all summer and fall…and on the warmer winter days if my toes are painted ;)! They are a comfortable flip flop that goes with just about everything!
I have one pair Of Lizzie Lous and I LOVE them. They are comfortable and so stylish. I’m constantly being stopped by strangers asking where I got them. I love big, bold accessories, and these babies make a big bold statement.
A work of art! Each pair is beauifully designed and comfortable to wear. Make sure you get a fresh pedicure to go with your Lizzie Lous becaue people will notice your feet!
I own four different syles of Lizzie Lou shoes. Not only are these shoes beautiful and stylish but are so comfortable too! These are the perfect flip flops to wear with almost any outfit. Love them!
Great shoes. I’ve owned a couple of pair of those and they feel and look great.