An Interview with Quinn Conyers

Sylvia: Hi Quinn. I am super excited to interview you and in awe of your business! Love the concept! Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to interview with me.  Please tell us about yourself and your business?

Quinn: Hi Sylvia, thank you for interviewing me. I’m currently 8 months pregnant with my first child on the road to go from maternity to millionaire! My husband Isa Abdul-Raheem and I are owners of a booming bag business, the Purse Paparazzi. We specialize in offering custom magazine clutches for women organizations as well as offer trendy and fashionable handbags, purses and clutches for any woman’s special occasion!

 

Sylvia: Well, first, congratulations to you and Abdul on your pregnancy. I pray for a healthy delivery!  Also, congratulations to the success of your fast growing company. Speaking of success, what does it mean to you?

Quinn: Success means achieving certain personal and professional goals based on your terms!

 

Sylvia:  Absolutely! And that is the beauty of ‘success,’ each of us can define what it means to us. How do you create work-life balance?

Quinn: My typical day usually includes working my 9-5 then coming home and working my 5-9! In the mean time I usually cook dinner, attend a networking event or take care of odds and ends with my business. Now that I’m on maternity leave I have more time to focus on my business, husband and soon to be baby boy! When my husband comes home, “work” stops for me so I can see how his day was and make sure dinner is ready.

 

Sylvia:  Wow, you two have very busy schedules. I love the ‘9-5 to 5-9.’ When you are doing what you love as for your company, putting in those extra hours to develop and grow it, is well worth the time! What steps are necessary for a woman entrepreneur who wants to move her business to the next level?

Quinn: Get involved with a business that wakes you up in the morning and puts you to bed at night! Don’t chase the money but be motivated and inspired by the passion and business idea. Also invest in yourself by attending workshops, reading books on your business and be up-to-date on technology and E-commerce platforms!

 

Sylvia:  Yes, personal and professional development is necessary.  It is important to give back.  In what way do you give back to your community?

Quinn: In October of 2015, the Purse Paparazzi will launch “Clutches for a Cause!” This initiative will be centered around our custom breast cancer clutches we have created for survivors and supporters. I have already partnered with the Susan Komen Foundation of MD and will donate 10% of the proceeds earned in October to their organization.

This is just the beginning. We would also like to do this concept for other causes and groups widely supported by women like Autism, Lupus and Heart Disease.

 

Sylvia: I commend you… these are great causes! What steps do you think are necessary for an entrepreneur who wants to move her business to the next level?

Quinn: Willingness to fail, take risks and NOT play it safe! Most women entrepreneurs want the reward of success but fail to make the major moves to get them there. Women business owners MUST let the risk of the reward be greater than the comfort of complacency!

 

Sylvia: I love that! I agree that you can’t play it safe if you are serious about moving your company to the next level. There will be many challenges coming your way, so embrace it and be ready to overcome each.  What challenges and opportunities do you see in the present economic environment?

Quinn: There are entrepreneurial opportunities all around us. Challenges arise when people don’t have the knowledge, skill set or know-how to take advantage of theses opportunities. Or worse many people don’t really know how to transition their business from a hobby to an enterprise.

 

Sylvia: You are right. And there are resources available for people who need that push such as Small Business Administration (SBA). In addition, to resources, they have competitive loan programs specifically for new and expanding business owners. How do you promote/market your business?

Quinn: We market our products on 3 E-commerce platforms. We also run Facebook Ads and pay for table/booth space at vending events and tradeshows where our target market will be in attendance.

 

Sylvia: When did you see an explode or spike in your business?

Quinn: In April of this year we launched our custom magazine clutches for women in sororities! We are licensed vendors for Alpha Kappa Alpha, Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho Sororities Inc. We are working on getting licensed for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. In the 1st month of launching these clutches we sold over 225 clutch earning $10,100 in gross sales! We were super excited and finally figured out the perfect formula for our bag business!

 

Sylvia: Great! What books and resources would you recommend to other women in business?

Quinn: Investing in yourself is the key!  Books and resources really depend on your industry. I always recommend entrepreneurs look for specific learning opportunities versus general. Whether it’s hiring a business coach, attending a webinar or traveling to a conference, find out how you like to learn and feed your inner entrepreneur!

 

Sylvia: Good advice, Quinn! What advice do you have for women who are just starting out?

Quinn: Get advice from people already in business! Too often people starting out seek advice from friends, co-workers or family members who have no experience with starting or operating a business thus cannot give you insightful advice. Talk to people who’ve been there done that or more importantly doing it right now!

 

Sylvia: How do you stay connected in mind body and spirit?

Quinn: I have a positive circle around me and recently saw a confirmation coach to give me clarity on my business and next steps.

 

Sylvia: Yes, to have a positive support system is paramount! What is your favorite quote to live by?

Quinn: 

“If you light yourself on fire people will come watch you burn!” Don King

“The dream is free but the hustle will cost you!” Steve Harvey

I love both of these quotes because they capture the essence of what it takes to thrive as an entrepreneur.

 

Sylvia:  Share with us two industry or general business related tips that could help other women business owners.

Quinn: Join or attend groups that have a similar business interest as you do! Once you determine what business you want to pursue. Master it obsessively, read books about it, join webinars and connect with other who share a common business interest.

 

Sylvia:  You are amazing!  Thank you for sharing your time and expertise with our members and subscribers.  Please share your contact information.

Quinn: Thank you Sylvia!

• Website: www.ThePursePaparazzi.com 
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/thepursepaparazzi
• Twitter: twitter.com/PursePaparazzi
• Instagram: instagram.com/pursepaparazzi/
• Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/pursepaparazzi/
• Email Address: quinn@thepursepaparazzi.com
• Phone #: 444 449 4148