Interview with Agnes, Founder of Twopluso
Tell us a bit about yourself and your career background?
Before starting the label, I spent more than 10 years working in beauty, luxury fashion, and entertainment. You can say that this label combines my interests in fashion and running a business.
Tell us about your business?
Our company believes in responsible business practices and our goal is to produce items of a high standard while adhering to principles of sustainability. We create comfortable, well-designed apparel using high-quality, eco fabrics for people to live and play in. What I hope is for its wearers to enjoy the experience of wearing our clothes, while appreciating its quality and values.
What inspired you to start your business?
The twopluso® name is inspired by the names of my 2 children, whose names begin with the letter ‘O’. While I was living in Los Angeles, California for three years with my husband and children, I was inspired by the range of available eco choices. This was when I began toying with the idea of starting a contemporary eco-fashion label for children and adults. There are so many fashion labels, but in comparison, there are very few eco-fashion brands. Also, I felt that there were not enough eco-labels that feature well-designed clothing using high-quality, natural fabrics.
Tell us about your family?
We have 2 kids, 1 boy 1 girl. They are 3 years apart, we are always looking out for food and play adventure. As we believe in the power of PLAY.
What do you find the most rewarding about being a Mumpreneur?
Able to turn my dream into reality, and seeing the kids enjoy wearing our clothes. That’s the most rewarding feeling!
How do you manage running your business and family life?
I have learned to prioritize time between work and family. Work hard and passionately when you're at the office, but then leave it behind and be present when you return home.
What is the biggest business challenge you encountered in your business and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge was cash flow management. Even though the cash flow seems fine, it seems that you never have enough budget to market the company to its full potential. The key is to prioritize your marketing efforts with efficiency in mind — spend your money where it works — and reserve the rest for operating expenses and experimenting with other marketing methods.
What three bits of advice would you give to a mum wanting to start her own business?
- Focus on your dream. If you do nothing, nothing will happen.
- Set realistic expectations.
- Find the right support.
