Founder & Owner of an Online Fashion Entrepreneur: Gagan Bassi
In the Women Entrepreneur series Mentor Moments, female founders sit down to chat with their own mentors (and us!) about how and why the relationship developed, and the lasting impact it’s had on their careers.
Here, the women Gagan Bassi look back on the Entrepreneur and relationships that brought together, the growth that comes with making mistakes and following your instincts.
1. Tell me about yourself. University (what did you study if you went to uni), what are you doing now? Is it something you have always wanted to do?
I went to Ryerson University and studied Fashion Communications. I currently have an online store, selling women’s vintage clothing. It’s not what I had in mind going into university, I was actually really interested in art direction.
2. When & how did you get the idea of starting your own vintage clothing store?
I’ve always had a strong interest in vintage clothing and the idea of recycling really appeals to me. One of my favorite things to do is to find and alter vintage pieces to make them interesting and new, so vintage is the perfect fit.
3. Did you have another job when you started this business? If yes, how did you manage your time?
I was still in University when I opened the store. It was definitely challenging going to school full time and having the store. With this I found myself going to the store between classes, and any spare time that I had was devoted to it.
4. What were some of your biggest challenges when starting Bridge & Bardot clothing? How did you overcome them?
The biggest challenge was finding the right employees to manage the store and building the B+B team overall. I’m still working on this; it takes time to find people who you can work well with.
5. What advice do you have for something who aspires to start their own business?
Do it! This is the time to make mistakes and learn from them. Try as many things as you want and explore all of your options.
6. Do you have any productivity tips or tricks that you use to get work done?
I like to make daily to do lists, they might not get done every day but if it’s written down it helps you organize your thoughts. I also make monthly to do lists to remember the bigger goal at the end of the month. I also try to make sure my phone is put away when I’m working; it’s definitely the number one thing that distracts me.
7. Once you created your website and store, what are some marketing strategies that were successful for your business?
I’m still working on what works best for me. I’ve worked with a lot of fashion bloggers, which I really like. We’re able to collaborate and create some really cool photos, and I learn on some ways on how to style my pieces.
8. What are some pros and cons of being an entrepreneur?
Having your own hours and being your own boss is definitely a pro. However, this comes with constantly motivating yourself to ensure you’re on top of your work because there is no one there to tell you when and what to do.
9. How do you find people to bring into your organization that truly care about the organization the way you do?
I don’t think that there is anyone that will truly care about a company as much as the person who founded it does. However, there are individuals who do believe in a company and will work hard for it’s success, and finding those people just takes time.
10. Can you give us some tips about running an online e-commerce store? What are some factors of success online?
Staying on fashion trends, but not getting consumed by them-still keeping your own style. Always listening to customer wants/needs.
