Sharon Rowe designed ECOBAGS, which responsibly made, durable reusable bags for lifestyle and promotional use
IMPACT: SUSTAINABILITY
I’m the Founder and CEO of Eco-Bags Products (ECOBAGS brand) and the author of The Magic of Tiny Business (You don’t have to go big to make a great living…or an impact).
In 1989, we started the business to kick-start the conversation on single use plastics. Our mission to “clean up the planet one bag at a time.” To date we have sold millions of bags. Tiny is Mighty!
We sell responsibly made, durable reusable bags for lifestyle and promotional use. We also offer custom print and custom style order services with our clean supply chain. We’re a certified BCorp, Best for the World.
What do you think is the biggest obstacle for female founders? How can we overcome it?
The biggest obstacle is yourself. Women need to get comfortable being uncomfortable, asking bigger and being more persistent. This needs to be combined with really embracing priorities and understanding that you can have your cake and eat it, too, but not always in the same sitting. Creating a business is for a long run. You may hit success right off or it can take years to build it. Articulate what your goals are for you, personally and for your business. Merge those goals. It’s your business to stay healthy so that you can grow your business.
How do you generate new ideas to stay relevant on the market? Is it important to innovate in your space?
The way to stay relevant is to listen carefully to the market for where you can make an impact. Sometimes this means starting a new venture. Sometimes this means joining a venture already in progress.
What are your short/long term goals?
I’ve been in my business for 28 years. My goal now is to expand my message with my book, the Magic of Tiny Business to get people started on using business as a platform for profit and good.
Was it difficult get capital/investors? If yes, how did you handle it?
I bootstrapped my company from 2K to 3m. I used whatever credit vehicles I could to build solid cash flow. Not all businesses can do this. It’s a matter of market accessibility and timing. There’s more capital now, than ever before, for women entrepreneurs but that doesn’t mean that OPM is right for your business. Jenny Kassan has written an excellent book, Raise Capital on Your Own Terms.