Small businesses are often referred to as the backbone of the US economy. During the past year, that cornerstone came under pressure like never before. As the pandemic posed unique challenges, retailers were forced to adjust and adapt in true entrepreneurial fashion. In celebration of Small Business Month, Klarna is spotlighting a selection of small businesses within our network to share their stories of resilience and innovation.
Presenting Posh Peanut: Fiona Sahakian is the Founder & CEO of Posh Peanut INC. Born in 2011, this children’s boutique was founded by a mom of two who seamlessly blends fashion with comfort by producing hypoallergenic pieces parents adore. Not just for babies, Posh Peanut offers a sleepwear collection that allows the whole family to match in style.
How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Posh Peanut was founded in 2010 after I had my son. There was nothing on the market that was cute and stylish. Posh Peanut was created to bring sophisticated whimsical designs without compromising style! We love to play dress up with our babies from birth, but everything on the market has been stiff, muted, boring clothes that is rough on a child’s skin. I created Posh to reimagine your essentials and add some pizzazz with practicality in mind. As busy moms we don’t have time to think about it all. We want the best for our kids and create each piece with a mother in mind.
What’s the biggest challenge facing your business as a result of the pandemic?
Supply chain. This has been the biggest hurdle as manufacturing and ports are crazy busy and everything is delayed due to the pandemic.
Name a digital tool you couldn’t do business without.
Slack. During the pandemic and within our entire infrastructure we communicate with team members and outside agencies using Slack from anywhere in the world.
What have you recently read or listened to that has been an inspiration for your work?
I follow many entrepreneurs and people with much more years of experience than me and recently heard someone speak about not listening to outside voices. People are going to talk and always have an opinion on the decisions you make as a founder or don’t make. So just do it! They’re going to talk either way.
What do you view as the greatest benefit to being an entrepreneur?
The greatest benefit to being an entrepreneur is seeing something flourish that you’ve worked so hard to achieve! You are 100% in control of your destiny and success.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs on building and running a successful business?
There are going to be more failures than successes, but with every bump in the road it teaches you something valuable about the future. Don’t ever stop. Hire the right team members. You are only as good as your team. Hire people who will take you to the next goal, who believe in what you are doing, and want to be apart of the growth.
Are you a small business owner? Apply for your chance to be a part of Klarna’s Small Business Impact Initiative here.