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Entrepreneur Fridays: One Busy Bootstrapper

WHO: Kalika Yap

WHAT: Serial Entrepreneur: Citrus Studios, Luxe Link and The Waxing Co.
Yap is also a mother of two.

WHERE: Santa Monica, California and Honolulu, Hawaii

WHEN: Yap started her first business, an interactive design agency, Citrus Studios in 1996. Her second venture, Luxe Link, which makes handbag holders, launched in 2006. Her latest business, The Waxing Co., Honolulu’s only salon dedicated solely to waxing, opened just over six months ago.

HOW: When Yap started Citrus Studios, all it took was a used computer, $400 she borrowed from her parents and a passion for web design. At the time, Yap was working at a museum and doing freelance web design projects on the side. When the amount of money she made from freelancing exceeded her regular salary, Yap knew it was time devote all of her efforts into pursuing her passion. “I really should have quit six months earlier than I did. I thought, ‘I need a job. What happens if something happens?’ I was trying to be careful.” Looking back, Yap says that it’s transitioning from your 9 to 5 job into entrepreneurship that makes your business that much better. “The moment that you take the leap it forces you to align everything. When you’re working without a net you’re a little more careful. When you have a job you always have a backup.” Thirteen years after taking that leap, Citrus Studios does well over $1 million dollars in business every year.

Luxe Link, Yap’s second business and a joint venture with her former NYU roommates, was launched More…

Entrepreneur Fridays: Pea Soup

In 1999 Marcy Cohen started making hair clips for her daughter for fun. Today, Cohen and her sister Lori Rockoff are partners in Pea Soup, a line of children’s clothing and accessories. Read on to see how they turned their hobby into a half-million dollar a year business.

Who: Marcy Cohen and Lori Rockoff

What: Pea Soup Accessories for Kids; a manufacturer of handcrafted children’s hair clips, bows and more. You might have seen their designs on the offspring such celebs as Gwyneth Paltrow and Jennifer Garner.

When and Where: Ten years ago in Chicago, IL

How: In 1999 Marcy Cohen was working as a teacher. Her sister, Lori Rockoff was doing social work. For fun Marcy started making hair clips for her daughter and from there, Pea Soup was born. “I found myself going in my restaurants and people would stop me and say where did you get this bow…we didn’t start with a plan. We were buying materials, going to craft stores. Our first customer was a children’s hair cutting salon. We brought our items in and they placed an order.” That first order may have only $150 but the satisfaction they got from this taste of success was enough to spur them on. “We were so excited. It’s still exciting,” said Cohen.

From there, the orders only got larger. “When we first started we were the ones making the clips. We were in LA a year and a half into it when we got our first big order. It was about $1,200.” After a weekend spent on the floor of Lori’s apartment assembling the clips, More…

Be Your Own Boss

It’s often said that times of economic hardship are the best times to start your own business. Saving money by hiring interns, finding investors to back your business and having a unique product or service are all great ways to get yourself on solid financial ground and help your business take off. Watch the video below for more.

Calling All Entrepreneurs!

Did you take your great idea and turn it into a real moneymaker? If so, we’d like to hear about it! Next Friday we’ll kick off a blog-series profiling a different entrepreneur each week. If you’re an entrepreneur and would like to share your story, click here.

Talk to Me Thursday

No topics are off limits this Thursday as Jean takes your questions and listens to your comments for the full hour. Join the conversation by tuning in at 12pm EDT on XM 156 or SIRIUS 195.