So as you all know I love to support local and started a segment where we could share, learn and inspire! It is so important to support local and share your findings with others.
During lock down, we are going to do a whole lot of these to highlight these businesses – many of which are taking HUGE strain during this time – and shed some awareness and love to all.
So today I am sharing an awesome online platform with you, that sells gorgeous locally crafted items from small businesses. They currently are selling accessories, clothing and beautiful jewellery! And their range is expanding. So check it out!
Please support this wonderful online store and share with your friends! Please check out their website here and also follow them on Facebook and Instagram, they would appreciate the love. We chatted to the lovely Danell, the #girlboss behind Urban Ocean and she had this to say to us!
Tell us about your business and what products you are selling?
I was lucky enough to have worked in the fashion world all over the world. After working for a corporate business in Cape town, moved to the UK and then back to Cape town I have decided to try and find good, local designer brands and start an online platform where you can buy something that you won’t find on other commercial sites and that is not mass produced.
Urban-Ocean launched with the idea to showcase talented designers where our customers have a chance to explore niche brands and be extraordinary as life’s adventures. The name was inspired by the natural beauty and vibe of the city. A city with the perfect balance between nature and urban.
Our aim is to discover an eclectic mix of apparel and accessories with a strong emphasis on local designers and share unique, handpicked pieces we sometimes find on our travels. We are delighted to introduce designers whom you might not always find on commercial sites, we also offer customers a simple online service to easily purchase your favorite designs. We also offer once-off pieces, so you will not look like everyone else. We pride ourselves on a personal experience with excellent quality garments, most of which is hand-made or made in small sample rooms.
I am completely inspired how creative and innovative some of the designers are. Making shoes from cork, bags from plastic, hand-stitch garments, really is world class.
At the moment we have a handful of designers we work with, selling only designer women’s clothing but hope to expand into men’s clothing soon.
What are the top 3 learnings you have had to find out the hard way since starting your own businesses – I know it’s early days but perhaps some insights?
1. Working with the right people – I had a few costly experiences by not working with the right people, however I also had so many good experiences working with the right people. I must say, from my experience as a startup business you want to do things as cheap as possible, but it might end up costing you a lot more. Work with the right people that get the job done!
2. Time is money – this is such a cliché but so true. Spending your time on the right stuff is crucial, you are one person and working hard is inevitable, but you can work hard and not use your time properly … it will cost you.
3. You WILL fail and that is ok. Yes, you will not get everything right, a small mistake or circumstance can make you fail in a task but all you must do is find a solution for the problem. I know for a fact there will always be something that does not work out but changing the way you think instead of freaking out is a good lesson.
What is your advice to individuals out there wanting to start their own businesses but are too scared?
The one thing I have seen is that so many people have so many ideas on a business they want to do but will never. Just take the first step, stop talking about it and start doing something towards your idea. You don’t even have to give up your work or career yet, just stop talking and start doing. Starting a business don’t just happens overnight. It takes months to get to a point where you launch, so prep work is key. If you are not scared, then you did not do your homework because there is no way that you can start a business without being a little scared. Start small, being scared is not the worst thing in fact it is a good thing.
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