Today’s dose of inspirational interviews is with Shelley Sykes. Shelley is the owner of the family owned online business called Favor Lane. Favor Lane specialise in modern, stylish and unique partywares and decorations for any occasion. Ever since Shelley became one of our stockist, I’ve seen her grow her wonderful business! I hope her interview inspires you.
Describe your business in 1-2 sentences.
Favor Lane is an online party store specialising in Modern, Stylish & Unique party and event supplies. Each collection has been carefully selected and sourced from all over the world, with a strong focus on quality and current trends.
When and how did you start your business?
After almost 12 months of market research, I started Favor Lane Party Boutique from a home office in April, 2012. We didn’t have a website at the time so all orders were placed via our Facebook Page.
How has your business evolved over the years?
The business has evolved so much in the last few years. Due to the volume of orders that started coming through, we realised fairly quickly that there was a definite need for a website. So I decided to take on the challenge and built a website and the business has continued to grow from there. Initially shipping within Australia only, we now ship worldwide due to the demand. We started out with around 4 or 5 brands are now carry in excess of 30 brands from all over the globe.
What did you do before starting your business?
Prior to starting the business I worked as a medical representative. This involved a lot of interstate travel therefore the thought of returning to this industry after having my children didn’t appeal to me.
What is one of your business achievements you are most proud of?
There are a number of them but a major highlight for me was being invited to sit on the Perth ‘Panel of experts’(believe me I’m no expert) at ‘Kara’s Party Ideas’ Australian Roadshow in 2014. I’ve always been a huge fan of Kara Allen. She is an incredibly talented business woman and someone I’ve been inspired by since my business began.
What do you love about running your own business?
I love the autonomy of running my own business. I’ve always wanted to be there for my children while they are young and dependant. The business has allowed me to do just that.
What advice could you offer to other small business owners?
Set yourself realistic goals. Think big, start small. Attend as many workshops as you can or join networking groups. There are so many great tips on social media and online blogs. Don’t ever underestimate the power of knowledge.
