We had the good fortune of connecting with Cassandra Ross and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Cassandra, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
This was something that I originally struggled with. I am human right? We all have moments where we want to give up- especially when things start to get tough. I, just like many other entrepreneurs, took a big jump and started a business in the middle of the COVID crisis. When more people start businesses, they do not start them in the middle of a crisis. When you start your business, you have a gleaming outlook on the success of it. You are positive and motivated, and just downright excited! For me, this process was a bit different. I was very unsure whether or not my sewing subscription box was going to “make it”. I started this in the middle of many Americans being furloughed, but I saw a need. That need kept me going because I knew that many of the fabric stores had closed due to the pandemic and fabric and sewing notions were needed. That is how my sewing subscription box got started. During this process, I have had a lot of ups and downs but that didn’t stop me from pursuing my goals and keep going. I know that there is big light at the end of this tunnel, and it’s my job to get to the light. Many people will tell you that your ideas aren’t good enough, but never let that stop you from pursuing your goals and keep moving forward. Once you make it, those are usually the people that come to you asking for an opportunity at the business that they originally stated wouldn’t make it. I also look at my children and I do this for them. I keep going because I want them to know that they can do anything that they put their minds to.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am the founder & owner of ThreadCrate, the ultimate garment sewing subscription crate. ThreadCrate is a garment sewing subscription box that contains everything you need to create a particular garment each month. We have options for Women, Men, and Kids! We are the only sewing subscription box that offers a men’s & kids option, plus 3 yards of fabric! We also offer size-inclusive patterns, because we want to make sure to include everyone! ThreadCrate was started in the middle of a pandemic and has grown substantially, which is sight unseen. We started when we saw that fabric stores were closing and you literally had to purchase everything online. Attempting to color match fabric, thread, and notions online is a beast within itself, so we decided to take care of that! Starting ThreadCrate in a world of unknowns was tough. Not knowing whether or not people were going to subscribe, or stay subscribed was a worry, and just finding inventory due to all of the shortages was another worry. However, when I launched, and I got my first 50 subscribers, I was super excited. Then the worry of keeping those 50 people started to kick in. I managed to overcome a lot of challenges and the numbers are currently flying through the roof! Persistence seems to be the key to building ThreadCrate. Staying above the rim and ahead is another key thing that adds to the success of ThreadCrate. I’ve learned that ultimately, when building a product-based business, essentially you have to make it about what your customer wants and not necessarily what you want. Getting my subscribers involved in the month-to-month options has helped tremendously because now it is like a group effort and family all at the same time! ThreadCrate is not your regular sewing subscription crate, we are the ultimate sewing subscription crate. We want to make sure that the world knows that this is an inclusive subscription crate. We do not leave anyone behind & we want to let everyone experience the world of sewing and creating something that is made especially for you!
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
A few of my favorite spots in the city would have to be the Riverside area. There are a few good rooftops restaurants and just a nice vibe where you can walk around and just outright enjoy yourself! Of course, I would have to say the Beach since we are so close to it! There is a beach located about 45 minutes away – St. Augustine Beach! There’s so much to do in the little historic town of St. Augustine such as eat, horse & carriage rides, and tours of the town. I would literally spend all 7 days at the beach if I could!
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I could list so many people, but there are just a few people that stand out the most. My family. There were many times that I wanted to give up but they definitely keep me motivated and moving forward!
Website: www.ThreadCrate.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/thread_crate
Facebook: https://facebook.com/ThreadCrate
Image Credits
Hair: Toria from Bold N Classy Hair Babylock Sewing Blended Thread Fabrics