“I wouldn’t be doing this for 32 years if I didn’t love it. [I love] the people. On any given day, you can see the mayor of the city, you could see just an everyday person, or you could see Harry Connick Jr… Extra large chocolate - he knows what he likes.”

What advice can you give to other women interested in starting their own business?

“Be dedicated, be strong, be wise, put your heart into it, and give it all you got.”

www.plumstreetsnoball.com | 1300 Burdette St., New Orleans, LA

“I think as women we can be our own worst enemy by not believing in ourselves and allowing others to intimidate us or talk us out of what we know is right for our business. We also need to let go of the myth that we can ‘have it all’ –- I don’t know any female business owner that successfully juggles work, family, health and spirituality (whatever your spiritual beliefs may be). One (or more) of the four always suffers and we need to be gentle with ourselves and less judgmental. We can have it all- just generally not all at once.”

www.decipherinc.com | @kristinluck | @deciphertweets | facebook | linkedin 

How has social media changed the way you do business?

“I think social media is the most powerful tool a business can have today. It’s one thing for someone to drive by a sign, but social media allows a brand to actually interact with their customers. You can see exactly what types of things your customers are excited about, while interacting with them about your own story and mission. And when your customers are talking about it, your platform is instantly expanding.”

31 Bits is a Community Based Organization, based out of Gulu, Uganda who works with displaced women who use their talents to create beautiful jewelry made from recycled paper. 31 Bits is centered around using the creative art and entrepreneurship already present in the women, which empowers them and enables them to have a sustainable income.

www.31bits.com | Facebook.com/31bits | @31bits

Where do you find inspiration?

“I find inspiration first and foremost from my daughter who inspires me to pursue my dreams and be the best example I can be for her. She finds joy in the every day things that we as adults tend to forget…it reminds me to tap into my inner child and really stay with the things that make me the most happiest. I also find inspiration in my travels - one of the main reasons I started Runway 68. My mother gave me the gift of travel at a very young age, and with that she opened up a new channel of wonder, beauty, culture, food and experiences. Everywhere I go, I am inspired by the people, colors, smells and passion and that is what I want to bring to my customers through the jewelry I sell at Runway 68. We want to tap into the unique vibe of each location and share that in accessories found in various corners of the World. For example, Hawaii is one of my most favorite places and inspires me in color, scent, activity and overall spirit! Lastly, I find inspiration from women who are really living and breathing a full life (like my mom) - they don’t take no for an answer and they make their life their own. Their spirit inspires me to live the best life I can for myself and my children!”

www.Runway68.com | @runway68 | facebook.com/shoprunway68

(photo: left: Monica’s mother, right: Monica)

“I think women have nothing to lose. We have fewer guidelines and restrictions than men, even though it doesn’t seem like it. If you think about it, men have just as many, if not more, societal expectations forced upon them—how they should work, live, succeed. Thanks to the rules that women broke in previous decades, we have a lot more license to be creative about how we live our lives. I’m thrilled to be benefiting from this societal shift.”

Red Room

What advice can you give to other women interested in starting their own business?

“As women, we often feel like we have to do it all—it’s in our nature. When you start a business, this only gets amplified. Hire a coach or find a mentor (trust me). I would not be where I am today, both personally and professionally if it weren’t for all the work I have done on myself. I am not talking about plastic surgery; I am talking about internal work.”

The Cookie Guru | @thecookieguru | Facebook - Aurelie, The Cookie Guru

How has social media changed the way you do business?

“Social media has reminded me that we need to practice what we preach to our own clients. Our focus is on using social media as a relevant resource to generating meaningful content. We blog about ideas and opinions related to loyalty marketing and to our individual areas of expertise. But we’ve learned generating Facebook fans isn’t  a worthwhile expenditure of time as a marketing company. It’s always important to understand how consumers engage with these tools—be it social media, mobile, or email marketing—and to use them wisely and strategically, not to be trendy or cool ‘just because’.”  

www.EagleMarketing.com | @loyaltymarketer | Facebook

What advice can you give to other women interested in starting their own business?

“The second year is the hardest. I have started two businesses and both times my first year was relatively easy. My businesses started because I had clients that needed my services. During the first year I was so busy serving my clients, setting up business practices, hiring staff and developing an identity for my company that there was little time for anything else. It was an exciting time and everyone is excited for you. However, the second year all the hoopla of start-up is over and you have to make sure you keep the momentum of growth going. That’s when reality hits and hard work begins.”

www.RonstadtPR.com | @Ronstadtpr

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be more creative?

“When I’m stuck creatively the best thing for me to do is to re-create someone else’s piece of art—whether it’s a graphic, a blog layout, or a song. By going through the steps they took to create something, I begin to see the possibilities of how to make it my own. For me, it opens up a new toolbox, and a structure to work with that focuses my creative ideas. If you aren’t sure where to begin, I think this is good place to start.”

The New Limb 

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be more creative?

“It all begins with just one step. Listen to the voice that tells you to make something. Even if you hate it, you tried and learned from the experience. Repeat until you are happy with your creation and process. And most of all, don’t listen to ‘no’.”

www.LisaDragani.com

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be more creative?

“Your most creative work comes out when you are yourself. Just let it happen, don’t force it. Take what inspires you and make it your own. Whether it’s a hairstyle or outfit, you own it, it doesn’t own you. Understanding why something inspires you opens the door to your own creativity. Listen to your instincts and take risks with what you know.”

Stag Hair Parlor | 7223 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA

How do you integrate art into your business?

“As an architect I’m constantly tasked with both the art and science of the profession. On one hand you need to make something beautiful and striking, while on the other it has to eventually get built, and with a certain budget. I try to stay inspired through the entire process and find the beauty and art not just in conceptual phase of the project, but all the way through to the way it gets fabricated and built. From the idea in my head, to the drawing on the paper, to the way the materials come together, there is art.”

How do you integrate art into your business?

“My team and I have a very open forum where we explore projects and concepts. Everyone can express their ideas, play off each others ideas and fine tune concepts until they are just right. We are designers, but ultimately what we create is art - our concepts tell stories visually and emotionally.

With früute, we have created edible art in the form of mini tarts. I collaborated with my mother, the pastry chef, and my sister the fashion designer to come up with a very visual concept that takes something traditional – the humble fruit tart – and turns it into something exquisite. Food, dessert especially, is about more than just taste, it’s an all sensory experience that combines art with passion. I love when I hear customers say our tarts are as delicious as they are beautiful.”

www.fruute.com

Sarah’s so nice, we posted her twice!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be more creative?

“Make mistakes. The creative process is all about experimentation and getting it all wrong is often one of the most effective ways to eventually get it right.”

www.srainwater.com

Who, in your opinion, is able to combine art and business well?

“Anyone who stays true to themselves in both art and business. Taking a smart approach to each means knowing where they intersect and where they should stay separate. Making art can (and should) be personal and emotional, but being able to also step back from those emotions and set rational business goals is what brings success.”

www.srainwater.com