Interview: Renee Fraser-Shepard's six tips to starting your journey as an entreprenuer

As part of Bdaily’s 12 Days of Christmas, I hear from Renee Fraser-Shepherd, founder of winter ski-wear brand, Sloobie, to find out more about her journey as an entrepreneur and the lessons she learned along the way.

Renee told me she founded her winter ski-wear brand after spotting a gap in the market for womens winter sports clothes which didn’t make her feel like a “hot sweaty mess half a day into skiing!”

The early days of founding Sloobie were tough as the costs of production added up quickly, Renee said, “Our products are made using the best seamless machines out there, in other words, they are not cheap to make.”

Unwilling to sacrifice on quality, it became clear that investment was of tantamount importance to get Sloobie off the ground and onto the slopes. Her University course was instrumental in providing Sloobie the helping hand it needed.

Renee said, “the Business and Entrepreneurship course at Northumbria brought in a panel for grant funding annually that you had the opportunity to pitch to, and I managed to receive a total of £8,000 from it along with my savings and some help from Grandma. That’s what got Sloobie off the ground!”

Founding Sloobie wasnt without its hurdles, Renee described how the companies tight budget has forced them to think outside the box to see the same results other companies might. This in mind, budget issues don’t seemed to slow down Sloobie as Renee said, “It’s a challenge, but it makes the outcome feel like even more of a success.”

Looking back on her entrepreneurial experience so far, Renee distilled the lessons she has learned down to six key tips.

Compare Suppliers Products and Quotes: “Seek multiple quotes from various manufacturers to assess quality and pricing. Small businesses can be targeted for higher prices, so collecting diverse quotes and samples is crucial. I would also allow buffer time for potential production delays (do not communicate this to the producer), especially in the early stages when adjustments may be needed.”

Prioritise Feedback: “Gather extensive feedback on your product or service before launch by utilizing focus groups and customer input extensively; for instance, when we launched, we considered over 60 designs based on feedback from 350 individuals, allowing for an unbiased selection of the top three designs.”

Market Understanding: “Grasp your market’s size, customer shopping behaviours, and competitor activities. This knowledge forms the foundation for informed decision-making and positioning within the industry.”

You won’t always know what you’re doing and thats okay: “Accept the uncertainty and learning curve inherent in entrepreneurship. It’s normal not to have all the answers at the outset. Growth and skill development occur gradually through experience.”

Spend time with experts: “Surround yourself with knowledgeable individuals in your field. Interacting with industry experts accelerates learning, mitigates risks, and expedites progress, whilst also giving yourself a support system.”

Leverage Social Media: “Establish a strong social media presence by posting consistently and interacting with your audience, if you can share your entrepreneurial journey too, even better. Analyze post engagement to understand what resonates with your audience. Experiment with emerging trends, including original content on platforms like TikTok, to maximize visibility and engagement.”

It’s clear that Renee knows a thing or two about how to build a brand, so I’m sure we’ll hear much more from Sloobie in years to come!

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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