Last April 2009, i took a walk during my lunch break and reflected on life (sounds so cheesy, but it's true. haha!) I had a great full-time job and was enjoying life but something was missing. I didn't feel fulfilled. I knew that hands-on creativity was more of my forte instead of working a regular "9-5" office job so I decided to do something about it. At first I thought that making handmade cards would be a great business so I ventured off to the arts & crafts store that weekend to stock up on supplies. While I was looking around in the paper goods section, my bf spotted a t-shirt printing machine and said "why don't you just make t-shirts? you're a t-shirt kind of girl." I brushed the idea off and proceeded to look for paper goods. Weeks later, something brought me back to the t-shirt machine and I ended up getting it, completely scrapping my idea of making cards.
I have a machine, i have some supplies, but what would I call my business? My brother, bf and I brainstormed together and started out with really cheesy, "try hard" names and after awhile we just got tired and started fooling around by throwing out silly names. My brother, in his best asian accent, said "'herro?' you should just name it that! Herro Kishi! Kishi because your name starts with a K!" We eventually decided that it sounded too much like Hello Kitty and that might create legal problems for me down the road. We kept the "Herro?" part and I decided on "Hachi" for the second part as it means Bumblebee in Japanese which has a personal meaning to me. That same week, I marched to City Hall to apply for my business license, set-up an Etsy shop online and began blogging. I've come a long way since, thanks to many of you!
Anne from LOLANNE was one of my first few customers back when I started and when I created a "Boy Neenja" she requested that Boy Neeenja have a girlfriend so "Girl Neeenja" was born. She's now hosting a giveaway inspired by the two + many many more! Thank you Anne for thinking of me for this giveaway :)
Enter her giveaway here!
19 comments:
Awww thanks for entering my giveaway kympot :P
Kym! I've enjoyed following you and watching your shop grow! I love looking around your shop, even if I haven't made a purchase yet. You are great, Kym! Congrats on all of your success :)
wishful.divah.net
it's kinda weird but I found your etsy before your blog maybe...I dunno feels like awhile ago. Then I found your blog and I was like....why does Herro Hachi sound so familiar ^^? ahha but you've come a long way and I would so wear your shirts!
Wait...what? You had a night job??? hehe!
Kym you have accomplished so much in such a short time. I'm amazed and proud to be your friend. Someday I'll tell my grandkids that I knew you when you were first starting out...and they'll roll their eyes and ask grandma if she remembered to give me my pills that morning. =)
I lost track of Billy and his family after they moved. I did hear he was pursuing becoming a chef. I hope that worked out for him and he found happiness in his life.
i think that's so cool you started your own business by yourself! i always wanted to do that but maybe down the road after i finish college :) how much did a business license cost you? and yay i'll go check out anne's giveaway now!
Verrrrrrrry interesting!!! I didn't know why you opened up this business!!! And I totally agree with you about the part "hands-on creativity was more of my forte instead of working a regular "9-5" office job". I always think that it is lucky of me to have a stable job but like you, hands-on creativity is missing! That's why I enter the cooking contests... you know...
I have thought of starting my business, but I just was scared to create things for living. My creation is always good when I'm creating things for myself... hard to draw a line!
But your post made me think, without starting anything, nothing starts... yes you accomplished many things in such a short time!!!!!!! it's been more than 5 years since I first thought of quitting my job... maybe I gotta bestir myself and start something!
Oh, by the way, how old are you?! If you don't mind... hehe.
hi kym! it nice to know the full story behind HERRO. ;) I'm already in the printing business and we're planning on venturing into t-shirt printing too. Was it hard? or any tips at all? We haven't bought the machine yet though. im waiting for a sign.LOL
That is an awesome and inspiring story. I'm really happy for you that you could start a business doing somethinhg creative. I have never had the guts to quit the 9-5 to pursue my photography more, which sometimes I regret. Congrats again. that is great.
You've come a long way in only a year! It's so awesome that you were gutsy enough to take the plunge. Many would not :)
Tell me how you are high maintenance & win a pair of House of Harlow earrings in Part 1 of my Holiday Giveaway Bonanza!
http://highmaintenancewoman.blogspot.com/2010/11/holiday-giveaway-bonanza-part-1-house.html
Oh wow, I didn't know you had your own T-shirt business! :O That's so inspirational :) Congrats on making it so far in a year :D
x
How cool!! Congrats!!!
awesome giveaway. haha well i'm sure it'll never happen again. being orange isn't that pleasant either haha.
hehee i joined. some of her questions were hard though xD
I'm super proud to say I knew you when your awesome venture was just beginning.... your shirts are some of my faves I own!!!
And, since I know you love food as much as I do... you should be in America today. It's Thanksgiving here!!! I am already prepared in my elastic waist sweats so I can eat and eat and eat... and expand :)
It's amazing how far you've taken your shop! I still wear my "everybody loves an asian girl" shirt all the time, it's not even yellow anymore, it's like faded cuz I wear it so much now! :D
kympot??!!!! that's a new one!!!! lol. i'll stick with kymchi.
btw, kymchi, we need to talk business :) i need new sweater. do you make personalized sweater??
pretty please for me? =D
You are a bumblebee of inspiration. :)
I'm always proud of people who start their own business. Keep the enthusiasm going, Kym!
As the saying goes "Do what you love, and you never have to WORK for the rest of your life!"
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