Show Summary
In this episode, Ciara Stockeland shares her entrepreneurial journey – from selling rocks in the front yard to selling a business.
To compete, you have to have something that sets you apart. Ciara’s piece of advice is to think creatively. Sell what you’re good at or what your skills are and it will generate additional revenue. Sell a solution to a problem.
She also talks about her top Profit First tip: Set up an inventory account. Inventory is the lifeblood of product-based businesses.
Ciara Stockeland has owned and operated businesses since her early teens. As a serial entrepreneur, her business mindset and tenacity led her to open her first store, Mama Mia, a high-end maternity store located in Fargo, ND in 2006. Shortly after, she developed and opened MODE, a designer outlet store located next to Mama Mia. In 2008, Ciara chose to merge her two concepts into MODE and developed the concept into a franchise. Her vast experience in both retail and wholesale industries led her to launch the first to market wholesale subscription box for boutique retailers, which she built and sold within 18 months. Most recently Ciara has launched the Boutique Workshop, a coaching program for retailers.
Ciara has been recognized as a Small Business Champion through SCORE and most recently was awarded the Outstanding Franchise Small Business Award. She is active with SCORE, an organization that is the largest network of expert business mentors across the nation.
Additionally, Ciara has been an active member of the International Franchise Association and an advocate for small businesses with her seat on the United States Chamber of Commerce Small Business Council.
She has twice had the opportunity to testify before two U.S. Senate Committees regarding the “joint employer” standard for businesses and its effect on small businesses and franchises. Additionally, in 2015 she represented small businesses at a White House Summit on Worker Voice and again in 2018 for a Summit on Economics.
Through her coaching program, the Boutique Workshop, Ciara strives to motivate boutique owners to dream big and build simply. She was recognized by Prairie Business Magazine in 2015 as a recipient of the 40 under 40 for her business leadership and its 2016 40 Under 40 Women in Business.
She currently resides in Grand Forks, ND with her husband Jim, their two amazing children Harrison and Isabella, and her Great Pyrenees Bentley.
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Corporate Partner:
SweetProcess – Document processes, procedures, and tasks in one place so you can stay focused on growing your business. – visit https://www.sweetprocess.com/.
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