Socks and Success

I recently spoke to Cynthia Kim, founder and president of Love Classic. For every pair of socks purchased, Love Classic donates a pair to Doorways, a Virginia based shelter that helps women escape homelessness, domestic violence, and sexual assault.

Adam: Thanks again for taking the time to share your advice. First things first, though, I am sure readers would love to learn more about you. How did you get here? What experiences, failures, setbacks or challenges have been most instrumental to your growth?

Cynthia: I started in the Fashion Industry by receiving a BFA in Fashion Design from Parsons School of Design. My dream has always been to branch out and start my own company, but still wanting to experience more in life, I put my dream on hold and started working for fashion companies in NYC and LA. It was really through these daily experiences of living and working in these two major cities that shaped who I am today.

Life has been a huge rollercoaster ride of many different experiences from the good to the bad, and what I’ve learned to do is simply understand that each experience comes with lessons and opportunities to grow!

Adam: How did you come up with your business idea? What advice do you have for others on how to come up with great ideas?

Cynthia: I fell into socks because of their small size when they’re packaged and saw this potential to be a great gift idea. The concept had an opportunity to be vibrant, getting your creative juices flowing! It was the idea of adding a fun, exciting element into people’s lives with socks!

My advice would be that it’s simpler than it seems. Find what fuels your passion and what has the potential growth you’re looking for.

Adam: How did you know your business idea was worth pursuing? What advice do you have on how to best test a business idea?

Cynthia: Once I wrote out the concept behind Love Classic, I was able to piece together my full vision and see its long-term potential. That’s when I decided to kick start Love Classic.

From my experience, the best way to test an idea is to start small. Try and gather constructive, informative feedback and see if this is something that can grow into something larger.

Adam: What are the key steps you have taken to grow your business? What advice do you have for others on how to take their businesses to the next level?

Cynthia: To stay on track and grow my company, I’m always setting milestones and goals to work towards.

My advice would be to first figure out what kind of growth you’re looking for, what it would look like, and what that very next step is. Don’t get discourage if you miss a step and see it as a challenge, a problem to solve!

Adam: What are your best sales and marketing tips?

Cynthia: A major aspect of my company is getting the sales to keep everything running smoothly, For us, sales is about constantly looking for opportunities, while making sure it’s the right one for your company. Equally as hard and just as important is getting to know your market from every angle. Getting to know your competitors and your customers. Finding out what they’re buying from you and why they should be buying from you!

Adam: In your experience, what are the defining qualities of an effective leader? How can leaders and aspiring leaders take their leadership skills to the next level?

Cynthia: Keeping in mind it’s teamwork that builds a successful company, my door is always open. I keep myself available to listen and work through challenges together. Another important aspect is keeping the lines of communication open.

Being clear with what you want to achieve for your company will help your teams full understand the vision.

Adam: What is your best advice on building, leading and managing teams?

Cynthia: Take as much time as you need to find and build your teams. Finding the right candidates to fill these open positions is vital for your company’s health and growth! There are no time limits!

Adam: What are your three best tips applicable to entrepreneurs, executives and civic leaders?

Cynthia: My three tips would be, don’t forget to live a balanced life, constantly expand your knowledge and expertise, and finally don’t lose your confidence!

Adam: What is the single best piece of advice you have ever received?

Cynthia: “You have what it takes, don’t stop now. It takes patience and a lot of time to build a successful company!”