kaminiray10: The Interviews: Being So Rad!

Today?s interview is truly? So Rad! Meet Jasmine. She is an entrepreneur who started her baby clothing company, So Rad, in 2009. She offers tips and advice that not only budding entrepreneurs should hear, but also anyone who wants to start something new. The first step you take can lead you into a life changing journey. Enjoy the interview!

Thanks for joining us Jasmine! Tell us about yourself, your career and business.
I?m Jasmine Bashaj, the owner of So Rad. I design baby clothing styles and the prints that go on them to create seasonal collections that are functional, fun and stylish. I have 3 jobs and 2 kids with another baby on the way. I?m a digital illustrator by trade and I continue to do freelance for a stock company in the US. I?m a professor at a local college in Toronto and I?ve got So Rad to keep me busy ? since I?m not busy enough;) I teach Photoshop, Illustrator and a studio simulation class.

Describe your most recent business success and tell us about your next big goal!
Picking up a store in Japan and one is Scotland is pretty cool. I?m also always amazed that I do continuous business with a store in the Yukon. I have a few next big goals. Most of them are creative ventures. I?d like to try towels and bedding. I?m really excited about my fall and winter 2013/14 collection. It?s got a lot of new designs and I?m happy to be taking a slight step back from the staples I usually create.

What does a day in your business life look like?
This depends on the day, depends on if I?m teaching on what is in the schedule. Everyday is different which I love. I did the whole office work gig before and I got bored fast. Some days I head to the sewers to go over what?s being made and check up on production ? I love that I can just drive there to see how my creations are turning out. I am generally doing something with inventory or shipping as well and I have recently decided that I want to learn how to sew! That?s right ? I am not a sewer, funny isn?t it? I?ve learned so much from the sewers I have worked with and I?ve been very fortunate to have some friends that know sewing well and have helped me along the way.

Is owning your own business as glamorous as it sounds?
I guess it depends on how you look at it. Probably not as glamorous as most might think, but it still makes me happier then any other job I?ve had. I love finding little places to buy things and try things. I also love seeing my creations come to life. I think lot of business owners have a couple skills, and are great in business. For me, I am the artist who makes everything tactile to see how it goes.

What is your favorite travel hot spot?
Anywhere! I love to travel. My husband is from Albania, so that?s the last place we went ? for a month! It?s very different from Canada. Nice beaches there as well. Before that was the Mayan Riviera in Mexico ? really, really amazing! We?d go back there for our next sunny holiday.

Can you offer any advice for new entrepreneurs?
If something doesn?t work, be open to suggestions and tweaks.

Research
Ask around
Research!
They say it takes about 5 years, so patience also.

About So Rad:

So Rad (shopsorad.com) offers stylin?, creative, simple product designs on adorable dresses, jumpers, play suits, bath accessories, blankets and kimono onesies to name a few. The ?ninja-in-training?outfits are just one of the best sellers, ready for take-out in a reusable cotton ninja bag! Products are designed to be functional and help in everyday parental madness.

Each item created was carefully thought out and designed to match features Jasmine Bashaj liked as a parent and found useful in parts of existing clothes, putting it all together in the So Rad collection.

Public Relations for So Rad:?Talia Pickett, Pink Pearl PR.